This leads to territorial aggression and can be a vicious cycle because aggressive canines are often kept isolated. As a dog ages, isolation will cause dominant dog behavior to intensify. Some canines may be genetically predisposed to developing dominant dog behavior. Dominance and aggression can be passed down through specific breeds. Some canine breeds have a specific need for a strong alpha as their owner. Otherwise, they will take on the role of alpha dog. Aggressive behaviors among dogs is usually a result of a lack of leadership.
As a dog owner, you must establish respect and authority through firm rules, boundaries, and limitations. Constantly remind your pet that you are the pack leader. Certain medical conditions may trigger dominant behaviors and aggressive tendencies in dogs.
Thyroid issues and testosterone imbalances are common medical causes of canine dominance. If your dog suddenly lashes out after being touched, it may be a cry for help. Many physiological disorders can cause chronic pain in dogs and irritability. Have your vet conduct a thorough exam to see if your pup is suffering from a medical cause of dominant dog behavior.
Dominance aggression can be dangerous and should be addressed by a professional. If your pet is exhibiting aggressive behaviors, a veterinarian will likely want to collect information about their behavioral history.
You should also document particular incidents when your dog shows dominant behavior and which circumstances trigger aggression. A complete physical exam is typically performed by a veterinarian before diagnosing a dog with dominance aggression. Treatment for dominant dog behavior that is related to a medical condition will depend on the trigger of the aggression as well as the severity of the behavior.
For cases of severe canine aggression, a safety muzzle may be recommended to prevent biting. Treatment for dominant dog behavior should be a collaborative effort between you and your vet or an animal behaviorist.
Avoid scolding or physically punishing your dog when he exhibits dominant behaviors. Harsh punishments may increase the dominance and aggression. Providing your pup with more physical activity and regular obedience training can be an effective way to treat dominant dog behavior. In some instances, aggression issues and dominance may require psychiatric medications to help curb the behaviors.
Anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants may be prescribed. Most psychiatric canine medications will take several weeks of use before improvement is noticed. Medications most commonly used to treat symptoms of dominant dog behavior are benzodiazepine derivatives and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Unfortunately, some dogs will become immune to the compounds in these medications making them less effective for long-term treatment.
Many signs of dominance aggression are obvious to pet owners, but many behaviors may go completely unnoticed. Set Rules, Boundaries, and Limitations Again, rules, boundaries, and limitations are even more important for dominant dogs because it focuses their dominance and gives them a way to express their confidence without using it on you. With dominant dogs, you can take it a step further with things like agility training , which allows them to use up excess energy while leading themselves through the obstacle course.
Remember, in the pack, the leaders do not approach the followers. The followers come to the leaders. If your dog is dominant, the best approach is to ignore her. When she wants attention, she will come to you, and this reinforces your role as the Pack Leader. Use Meal Time to Your Advantage In the pack, the leaders eat first , and the same should be true when the leaders are humans. For dominant dogs especially, you need to create a boundary around the family table, with the dog not allowed to approach while the people are eating.
This can be as simple as having them wear a backpack on the walk, or you can train your dog in agility, search and rescue, obedience, herding, Treibball, and more. If your dog is dominant, then you need to be an even stronger Pack Leader. Keeping these five points in mind will help keep you on top and your relationship with your dog happy and balanced.
Noelle Ciocchetti had issues with her dog, Angel, being dominant. August 6, Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest. More From Cesar's Way Videos. Regardless of the behavior, if you feel uncomfortable about how to work with your puppy, do not hesitate to work with a qualified behavior professional who can teach you about how to communicate with your puppy and develop a behavior modification plan.
Always seek to work with professionals who follow the American Animal Hospital Association's guidelines on canine and feline behavior management, which stresses using low-stress, low-fear and non-confrontational approaches that disavow aversive training methods and dominance concepts.
Dogs All About Puppies Understanding Dominant Puppy Behavior People's understanding of dog behavior has changed significantly over the past few decades. What Is Dominant Behavior in Dogs? Adorable Mini Beagle Puppy Pictures. Why Has the View of Dominance Changed? What Does This Mean for Dogs? Common Problem Puppy Behaviors and Dominance There are many behaviors puppies can exhibit that were previously interpreted as dominance.
Resource Guarding. Aggression to Other Dogs. Aggression to People A puppy that shows aggression toward people , such as growling, snapping, or biting, could be doing so for a variety of reasons. If you have a dog showing aggression to strangers or family members, try the following: With a puppy that shows any type of aggression toward people, it's important to remain calm and not stress the puppy more. Usually a dog that displays behavior such as growling is trying to communicate his discomfort with a situation.
Punishing this behavior can not only make it worse, but also teach the puppy not to show warning signs that he is uncomfortable, such as growling, and move straight to biting the next time he is upset. You also want to make sure you stay safe and do not get yourself or anyone else into a situation where they will get bitten. Aggression is best dealt with by working with your veterinarian and a behavior consultant who is experienced working with aggression and uses modern, non-confrontational methods.
Not Listening Trainers often hear owners of puppies complain that they "don't listen" and ignore commands and ascribe this to dominance. Other Types of Aggression Two less common forms of aggression that may be blamed on dominance are idiopathic aggression, which is aggressive behavior that truly appears to have no clear trigger, and aggression based on medical issues. Tips to Train a Dominant Puppy Training a dominant puppy is more difficult than training a submissive puppy, but with the tips listed below, even the most dominant puppy may be taught to be a loyal, obedient companion.
Begin training a dominant puppy as soon as you bring them home. Enrolling the puppy in a puppy manners course can assist with both training and socialization.
If the puppy is not going to be a show dog and is not intended to have puppies, spay or neuter them as soon as possible. Excess hormones in the dog's body may be contributing to the dominant behavior. When you're walking your dog, take the lead. Fit them with a tight collar and a leash, and urge them to walk behind you as you move one step ahead of them.
Give your puppy plenty of opportunities to run around. Allow them to run in the yard throughout the day and burn off excess energy by taking them for walks in the morning and evening. Never strike or reprimand your puppy physically.
Physical punishment is not only frightening, but it can also permanently injure your puppy and damage the bond you share.
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