"Agression Is A Dirty Word" Interesting article to read..
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"Agression Is A Dirty Word" Interesting article to read..
Submitted by Elaine on April 21, 2010 - 12:31amAggression is a Dirty Word
Words can hurt, and when someone calls your dog aggressive it can hurt a lot. Examining the word and its various permutations can help clarify what is and is not aggression.
Though it would seem to be contradictory, the vast amount of behavior labeled aggressive is actually defensive. For instance dogs like people have a personal space. If you intrude on that space, some dogs become somewhat alarmed youre too close for comfort. A dog that feels uncomfortable because another dog or person is too close has just two options to flee or to ask them to back off. If she decides to flee, she has to have somewhere to go, which is practical if shes not on a leash and shes in a large enough space. However, if the dog is on a leash or in a confined area and someone intrudes on her personal space, she must use her communication skills to move them away. Lacking language, her choices are again limited, although other dogs and people can (and should) learn to read her body language. Her first choice is likely to be freezing in place. She figures this should communicate that she does not welcome the strange dogs proximity, and shes deciding what to do next. Often, the dogs mouth will close as she freezes. (The only time freezing isnt a warning is when dogs are playing in which case its accompanied by play bows, widely wagging tails, and open mouths.)
If the intruder (for so she sees it) doesnt heed the warning, she may growl, and may or may not take on an expression that is very difficult to misread its called an agonistic pucker. Her lips will retract and shell show her weapons her teeth. Growling and snarling do NOT mean the dog will bite; they are intended to communicate that she wishes the intruder to stop or to retreat. If he doesnt, then stronger action will have to be taken. Generally, thats an air bite. She snaps, but intentionally misses. If that doesnt work, she may put on a display, acting as though shes fighting, but never biting down. Finally, if nothing else works, she may have to bite. A bite is almost always a last resort.
Imagine youre at a restaurant, and someone you dont know walks up to you and says, Hi. You might nod politely at him and say, Hello, back, then return to your meal. You signaled him by your body language that you dont wish to chat. But instead of retreating, the stranger comes closer and sits in another chair at the table. Youre still trying to be polite, so you tell him you dont want any company, and look pointedly away from him. He takes your hand. Now you actually must do something he has intruded into your personal space and youre feeling alarmed. You stand up and tell him in no uncertain terms that you want him to go away. If he persists, you might actually yell at him. An onlooker who didnt see the whole scenario might think youre acting aggressively. You know that everything you did was defensive you had to take action.
Now put yourself and your dog back on that walk and think about a young dog bounding up to your dog, trying to be friendly. However, your dog doesnt want to visit with anyone. She goes through the whole warning progression to no avail. When she reaches the air bite stage, the other dogs owner accuses your dog of being aggressive. Because, of course, everyone knows that all dogs are supposed to be friendly. Truth is, dogs are like people and dont get along with every other dog.
Another sort of aggression is possessive aggression food or toy guarding. This is, also, actually defensive. Heres a human example: Youre back in the same restaurant, and calmly eating your meal. As you pause between bites, your rather overly enthusiastic waiter comes to remove your plate. Youre not finished, and you remonstrate. Normally, hed back off. Instead, he continues to take your plate. Depending on your personality, you might ask him to put the plate down, grab him, grab the plate, or even raise your voice. Some people might actually display a real temper tantrum.
We require our dogs to be civilized when we take things from them, but possession is natural they must be taught to share with us. Generally speaking, they go through the same progression from objection to anger that they do when being approached uninvited. First, they cover the food (or object) freezing over it. If that doesnt work, they stare at the food and growl. This is telling us that the food belongs to them, and to back off. Sometimes theyll start eating very fast. If you continue to approach, the growl grows louder, and theyll look up at you. If you once again dont heed the warning, they will snap, and some will bite.
You can almost always teach a puppy to share. It can be much more difficult to teach an adult, who has a history of successful guarding behind him.
At any rate, its obviously best if a dog doesnt bite. Its even better if we dont put them in a position where theyve run out of other choices.
Trish King
Director, Behavior and Training
Marin Humane Society Novato, CA
I don't rescue animals because I want to feel better about myself, or morally superior to anyone. The best part of my life with animals is the humility they teach and the humanity the foster.
Jon Katz "Soul of a Dog"
Oh, this is one of my "pet peeves"
no pun intended.
Owners that insist that their dogs are friendly/only wants to play and insist that their dog meet/greet every other dog. Drives me nuts!!! For some reason people think that they are "socializing" their dogs or that it's appropriate social behavior. So, I ask them if they introduce themselves to everyone in the supermarket and their answer is always, "well, no I don't do that" so my response is always "why do you think your dog should be doing it. Stumps them everytime.
Lynn King CPDT
A similar story about Brad was posted on a Rottweiler forum I fr
The moral of the story is don't put your dog's leash in the hands of someone you don't know, whether they are on TV or not.
.
As an owner of a breed that is often demonized in the media (Rottie) this article certainly hits home. My Rottie is very sound around other sound, calm dogs... however, he does not tolerate other dogs rudely getting up in his face (except for our Bullie). Anytime he does show any of the warning signs (I normally intervene on his behalf before he feels he has to defend himself, as I am his advocate and avoid putting him in those situations) all of a sudden he is just another vicious Rottie.
My expectation is not for my dogs to go up and greet every dog out there, but to be calm and well-mannered and paying attention to me. I have found the people you meet on walks yelling out "he/she's friendly" as their crazy dog approaches us at the end of a flexi leash in particular are the ones who have the least friendly and mannered dogs
Just my two cents.
How sad for that puppy
what an idiot. Amazes me what an owner will allow someone to do to their dog in the name of "training". Hopefully, they don't follow that guys instructions.
Lynn King CPDT
what a great article
I think that this sort of "bluffing" or "back off" posturing is incredibly helpful to know about - the fact that it's natural and not a dog "being bad". Most people start freaking out if a dog doesn't bound up, tail wagging, to every stranger, and growls and air snaps are punished harshly. But it's these bluffs that are signals to respect a dog's space, and when the bluffs are punished, a dog will learn to simply move to the final resort- an "attack" without any precursor or warning.
That's why I get so mad at the way some "trainers" teach owners to punish the bluffs under the guise of "good manners". Like that guy Brad from "At The End of My Leash". Ohhh, that lame-o just gets my back up every time I see the way he manhandles puppies in an effort to "teach them who's in charge". A friend of mine was attending an animal behaviour convention, where he was a guest speaker. A teeny Dachshund pup was brought up as an example of a "bad mannered" dog who "couldn't make friends". Brad then brought out a fully grown Mastiff to introduce to the Dachshund, who started the usual bluffing - light growls, stiffness, etc. Brad reached down and smacked the puppy's head so hard, my friend could hear his teeth click together from way in the back. The only lesson puppy learns here is to hide that he's afraid and goes straight for the other dog's face the next time he's feeling unsociable.
my Marine brother is staying with me :-)
it's so great to see him when he comes home.
Cathy
when she first came home
LOL! Now you have made me chuckle!
Well good! I am happy for you then that he is coming to visit. May you have a wonderful time, and may he eat all he wants:-)
Amy and Sophia
Oh yes, it's a real good thing
he loves to visit here and have breakfast at his favorite restaurant. The first time he came here, he ordered so much food that the waitress asked me if it was O.K.. He ate every bit of what he ordered.
Lynn King CPDT
Not really.
Sophia was very sick when she came to my house as a rescue. She had not been socialized at all due to extended hospital stay and then recoup at my place. As she got older she just got less inclined to be social at all, even with the dogs I had that she DID grow up with. Now she is almost 4 years old and getting less patient daily! She is just not a "dogs" dog!
Amy and Sophia
Did something happen to make her that way
or is it just 'her'. I really hope we will be able to work through it with Audrey! I don't take her places when I know there's going to be a lot of dogs, like to see Santa at Christmas. Halloween was a nightmare for her, and that's when it finally dawned on me that it was the dog park attack. I don't know why I didn't associate her increasing problems with it.
Cathy
when she first came home
Sophia has never gotten past that stage:-(
So I don't include her in my outings, for her sake, not mine:-) She just can't handle being out around other animals AT ALL!! She is aggressive even with my humongous horses! She acts like they are smaller than her and can't kill her dead with a single smack of a hoof. So....I just keep her away from anything that could be a problem.
If I want a dog that I can be social with, I probably would get a lab or similar!! Sophie just ain't a gonna do it!
Amy and Sophia
So his visit is a good thing, right?
I hope so:-)
You know I am a laugh a minute Lynn. Anytime you need a chuckle, call me. Or go give yourself a swirlie. Not sure which will make you feel better!! And hey, if life wasn't weird a lot, it would be pretty dang boring, wouldn't it:-) Well, boring in such a good way though, huh:-)
Amy and Sophia
I really don't know if Audrey will ever be comfortable around ot
and it does make me sad. I'm not mad at her about it, and my disappointment isn't at her, it's because I enjoy taking her with me to go meet my 2nd mom and her dog and getting a sandwich or getting an ice cream and letting the dogs see each other. I really do hope we are going to be able to get her past wanting to attack other dogs.
Cathy
when she first came home
Amy, I so needed that chuckle
now that you mention it, I guess that is when it will get weird. LOL. Got a call from my nephew, he is a Marine and I mean ALL Marine, is coming to visit me. Great kid.
Lynn King CPDT
Thanks Elaine!
I am having a hard time with Audrey, and this is very helpful to me!
Cathy
when she first came home
Wait. You said you were calling me this week. Is that when it ge
I might be insulted but I'm not sure yet!! LOL!
I will hug the big guys for you. I am getting 4 more in as soon as the legal issues are pushed aside and the welfare of the horses is put first. Should be interesting:-)
Amy and Sophia
The 1st and only time I went skiing, I broke my leg
so, that's out of the question.
Sure, I'll be home tommorrow and then the week gets kind of weird.
Lynn King CPDT
lol
we are doing ok, we are having some light flurries for the last few days, but nothing serious, I think you should come see me, get in some skiing, and cure my dog, she is a pistol, hope you had a merry christmas and a happy new year Lynn. Can I give you a call this week????
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Hey, I'm still looking for that "Disney Dog"
How are you, how is the weather up north. We are having snow that just won't quit.
Lynn King CPDT
Hi Lynne & Amy
and I thought Lily was a "disney Dog" lol, hope things are well with you both,
![[linked image]](http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m389/ammamom2008/GetAttachment1.jpg)
It's the "Disney Syndrome"
breaks my heart to see owners forcing their dogs to do things that the dog just can't handle.
I don't think the world is ready for our suggestions, not quite yet anyway. LOL
I'll call ya sometime this week.
Hugs to the giant crew.
Lynn King CPDT
Too true Lynn. Many dogs just aren't the social butterflies we w
And then we are mad at them for it:-) Ugh!
Hey Lady, time for a chat soon?! We could finish solving the worlds problems maybe? I think we are dang close to getting there!
Amy and Sophia
Thank you Elaine, great article
Years ago, dogs were family dogs/farm dogs, stayed at home. Then our expectations changed, society wanted to take their dogs to family gatherings/daycare/beaches/dog parks etc., etc., We all too often don't or forget to respect the fact that dogs are highly intelligent animals with a very real emotions and it is us that puts our dogs into situations that they are ill equipped to handle and then of course, we are either angry or disappointed in their behavior. Thankfully, dogs are forgiving of our behavior.
Lynn King CPDT
I have previuosly read this article.. great Elaine.. thanks for
.
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