Dealing With Aggressive Dog Behavior In Small Breeds
Large breed dogs often get a bum rap for being aggressive, violent animals, but in many instances, it is really the smaller breed dogs that actually bite. Smaller dogs’ reputation as devoted, lovable, cute companions might be deserved, but a badly handled small dog is often a lot more unsafe than a pit bull. Understanding the factors behind aggressive dog behavior can help owners lower the chances of their dog harming another person and help to stop the aggression entirely.
As funny as it sounds, lots of small dogs actually do suffer from insecurity due to their size. If you see aggressive dog behavior only when people are standing or walking around, odds are, your dog is frightened of getting stepped or sat on. Be careful to not pick up or coddle the dog when it starts barking at other people walking by; it may identify that as a reward, and rather than calming down, will just grow to be even more obnoxious. As an alternative, remove the dog from the area when individuals are moving around and pay no attention to the barking. Allow your dog back into the room only after it has quieted and everyone is seated.
Yet another basic reason smaller dogs have a tendency to bite is because they’ve been mistreated by a prior owner. This is especially true of dogs that are naturally loud and “yappy.” Again, the best method will be to remove the dog from the area and ignore any attempts to get your attention until finally your dog is calm. Provide a quiet, safe place where the dog can observe you and your guests until it determines that no one is really a threat.
Charging is actually an aggressive dog behavior that must not be tolerated for any reason. Smaller dogs will often charge at strangers, and even close members of the family, to show their dominance. Under no circumstances permit a dog to dominate a human! Address charging swiftly and firmly; keep a spray bottle of water close to the door and any other place where charging is very likely, and use it. Spray your dog directly in the face and tell him, “no,” using a loud, clear voice. Water will startle your dog, and it will quickly understand that charging is inappropriate. If this strategy seems cruel, bear in mind that smaller dogs can be killed with a single kick by a frightened child.
Even though mouthing might be playful in certain dogs, and is usually harmless, dogs need to find out that using their teeth on a person is completely wrong. Mouthing can from time to time lead to accidental biting, particularly when small kids are playing with the dog, so all kinds of mouthing, nipping, and biting should be discouraged. If licking is okay in your household, you could encourage licking as opposed to biting by placing bacon grease, butter, or salad dressing on your hands. Permit the dog to lick it off, but move away and say, “no,” if your dog tries to nip or mouth you. In due course, the dog will understand that biting results in losing a treat, and will stop trying to bite.
With dogs that are genuinely out of control, skilled training could be the next step. An effective trainer will work with you and your dog to figure out the causes for the aggression, and can then work one step at a time to train your pet to behave. As a final resort, however, some dogs may require regular medication to control their behavior. In the event that training doesn’t help, talk to your vet about prescribing a mild sedative, and buy a good kennel to help keep your guests safe.
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