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DOMINANT
DOGS
For some
people, the phrase "top dog" isn't just a saying. It actually
describes their dog. If you've got a dog who likes to boss you (or others)
around, chances are you've got a dominance aggression problem in your
household-a problem that could endanger you, your family, and others.
Most dogs
assume a neutral or submissive role toward people, but some dogs will
challenge their owners for dominance. A "dominant" dog may
stare, bark, growl, snap, or even bite when you give him a command or
ask him to give up a toy, treat, or resting place. Sometimes even hugging,
petting, or grooming can be interpreted as gestures of dominance and,
therefore, provoke a growl or snap-and this is true even though your
dog may still be very affectionate and often solicit petting and attention
from you.
To understand
why your dog behaves in these ways, it's important to know some things
about canine social systems. Animals who live in social groups, including
wolves and domestic dogs, establish a social structure called a dominance
hierarchy within their group. This hierarchy serves to maintain order,
reduce conflict, and promote cooperation among group members.
A position
within the dominance hierarchy is established by each member of the
group, based on the outcomes of interactions between themselves and
the other pack members. The more dominant animals can control access
to valued items such as food, den sites, and mates. For domestic dogs,
valued items might be food, toys, sleeping or resting places, and attention
from their owner.
For your
home to be a safe and happy place for pets and people, it's best that
the humans in the household assume the highest positions in the dominance
hierarchy, particularly with dominant dogs.
Is Your
Dog Dominant?
You may have a dominance issue with your dog if he:
- Resists
obeying well-known commands.
- Won't
move out of your way when required.
- Nudges
your hand, mouths your arm, or insists on being petted or played with-in
other words, he "orders" you to obey.
- Defends
food, toys, or other objects from you.
- Growls
or bares teeth under any circumstances.
- Resists
handling by you, the veterinarian, or the groomer.
- Gets
up on furniture without permission and won't get down.
- Snaps
at you.
What
to Do If You Recognize Signs of Dominance in Your Dog
If you recognize the beginning signs of dominance aggression in your
dog, consult an animal behavior specialist immediately. Avoid using
any form of physical punishment on your dog. Getting physical with a
dominant dog may cause the dog to intensify his aggression, posing the
risk of injury to you.
If your
dog has shown signs of dominance aggression, take the following precautions
to ensure the safety of your family and others who may encounter your
dog:
- Avoid
situations that bring out the aggressive behavior.
- Back
off and use "happy talk" to relieve the intensity of situations
in which your dog acts aggressively.
- Supervise,
confine, and/or restrict your dog's activities as necessary, especially
when children or other pets are present.
- Use
a head halter or muzzle to help control your dog when you're outdoors.
Brand names of head halters include Gentle Leader, Promise Collar,
or Halti.
- When
you're indoors with your dog, control access to parts of the home
by using baby gates or by crating your dog.
- You
can also use a cage-type muzzle, head halter, or leash for control
purposes-but do so only when you can closely supervise your dog.
Dominance
aggression problems are unlikely to go away without your taking steps
to resolve them. Because dominant-aggressive dogs can be potentially
dangerous, treatment of dominance aggression problems should always
be supervised by an animal behavior specialist.
Becoming
the Leader of the Pack
Use the following techniques-none of which require a physical confrontation
with your dog-to help you gain some control over your dog and establish
yourself as the "pack leader":
- Spay
or neuter your dog to reduce hormonal contributions to aggression.
Understand that, after a mature animal has been spayed or neutered,
it may take time for those hormones to clear from the body. In some
cases, long-standing behavior patterns may continue even after the
hormones or other causes no longer exist.
- Use
a training technique called "Nothing In Life Is Free" to
establish your leadership in a safe, non-confrontational way.
- This
technique requires your dog to "work" for everything
he gets from you.
- Have
your dog obey at least one command (such as "sit") before
you pet him, give him dinner, put on his leash, or throw him a
toy.
- If
your dog doesn't know any commands or doesn't perform them reliably,
you'll first have to teach him, using positive reinforcement techniques,
and practice with him daily.
- You
may need to seek professional help if, after two or three weeks
of working on a command, your dog does not obey each time you
ask.
- Don't
feed your dog people food from the table and don't allow begging.
- Ignore
barking and jumping up.
- Don't
allow your dog on the furniture or your bed unless invited to do so
by you, because this is a privilege reserved for leaders. If your
dog growls or snaps when you try to remove him from the furniture,
use a treat to lure him off. Otherwise, try to limit his access to
your bed and/or furniture by using baby gates or a crate, or by closing
doors.
- Always
remember to reward appropriate behavior.
- Consult
your veterinarian about acupuncture, massage therapy, or drug therapy.
Your veterinarian may prescribe the temporary use of medication to
be used in conjunction with behavior modification.
- Consider
enrolling your dog in a training class. This may help establish a
relationship between you and your dog in which you give commands and
he obeys them. Be sure to choose a trainer who uses positive reinforcement
methods. Understand that obedience classes alone, however, won't necessarily
prevent or reduce dominance aggression.
A Note
about Children and Dogs
From your dog's point of view, children, too, have a place in the dominance
hierarchy. Because children are smaller and get down on the dog's level
to play, dogs often consider them to be playmates rather than superiors.
Small children
and dogs should never be left alone together without adult supervision.
Older children should be taught how to play and interact appropriately
and safely with dogs. Under no circumstances, however, should a child
be left alone with a dog who has displayed signs of aggression.
©2002.
Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists
at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.
