Aggression? Dominance?

[codmaster]

I have a question about "dominance".

Friend has a dog who is about three years old.

One morning the dog was laying in the doorway to her bedroom. She started to walk over or by him to get into the room to get ready to go to work.

She was late to get to work that day - the dog would not let her by him to go into the room. Every time she tried the dog growled at her and she was actually afraid of her own dog. Couldn't get into the room until the dog moved.

The question is - Was this a case of a dominant dog?

Or maybe just an aggressive one?

Now, keep in mind, the dog did not have any food or any toys or any other thing with him in the doorway, he just didn't want to move or didn't want the owner to step over him.

[Packen]

Dog owns her, she needs to learn quick how to handle him. Otherwise it will get worse and he will end up in the pound.

[codmaster]

Unfortunately, very true. The dog bit all three of them at different times - man, wife and teenage son.

Most of the time a very, very nice friendly dog - until you wanted it to do something it didn't want to do. i wouldn't call it "aggressive" - not usually; but a VERY DOMINANT dog (esp. in it's own mind!).

I often wonder how a Positive Only trainer would handle a dog like this? What I heard from a couple of such trainers was "to offer the dog a 'higher value' treat to get him to learn he shouldn't guard the doorway"! Yea! That would work - unless he happened to be full at the time.

This is an example of what I would call a "dominant" dog (Alpha?).

[Packen]

Originally Posted by codmaster

Unfortunately, very true. The dog bit all three of them at different times - man, wife and teenage son.
This is an example of what I would call a "dominant" dog (Alpha?).

I would not go that far against the dog, it's a weak handler. A PVC pipe will "positively" get the message across.

[doggiedad]

how do you use the PVC pipe???

Originally Posted by Packen

I would not go that far against the dog, it's a weak handler. A PVC pipe will "positively" get the message across.

[Castlemaid]

Agree, this isn't a dog issue, it is a clueless owner issue. Not so much that the dog is aggressive or dominant, more that the owners have utterly failed at establishing themselve's as alpha and gaining the dog's respect. They need the training more than the dog.

Would they be open to getting a professional in and have this person observe their interactions to point out all the little bazillion everyday stuff that is going on where they unknowingly allow the dog to think he is in charge?

[FG167]

Originally Posted by Castlemaid

Would they be open to getting a professional in and have this person observe their interactions to point out all the little bazillion everyday stuff that is going on where they unknowingly allow the dog to think he is in charge?

This is what I would advise.

[Mom2Shaman]

Tell her to start with, there's a command called MOVE. Make the dog move and not her step over. Not out of fear, but out of who has the right to pass through or lay whereever. I wouldn't necessarily say the dog is a natural alpha, or it could be, but it has become one. The family should have consult with a trainer who will help them readjust pack dynamics. Training or a refresher training course would also help the dog understand who is in charge. If the dog is highly reactive and short-ciruits to violence, that is a different story. However, this sounds more like the dog has just learned to push everyone around and they let him. No PVC pipe needed, just growling out commands such as MOVE with some authority is adequate.

[Packen]

Originally Posted by doggiedad

how do you use the PVC pipe???

Very easy, you just lightly tap the off switch.

[Mom2Shaman]

Dogs have an off switch? I wish. That would be so convenient when you have to leave, put them neatly in their crate and hit the off switch and head off for the weekend.

My dogs learned a command growled kind of low from me means seriousness. Leave it is an important example of that -- like with the toad in the potty area this evening. They just need to learn to not be a pushover around the dog.