Aggresive Behaviour

Crossy

Good news is that Buster the Beagle has had the "snip" two weeks ago and there were no problems at all.

However, last night he managed to jump on my sons bed with the intent of sleeping with him, my son objected and I tried to get him off the bed by pulling on his collar (shouting at him did no good!), he promply snarled and growled at me and I am sure he would have snapped as well if given the chance.

He has always been a very placid pup (he is 8 months), he also did this behaviour when I tried to take something from him he shouldn't have.

My first response was to whack him, but I realise you shouldn't treat aggression with aggression. What should I do if he does this again?

Thanks

cally1978

Try having a look at cesar milan website, his methods whilst might not suit everyone worked straight away with my dog, also maybe a check up at the vet......sore stiches????? Good luck but please do something, I am sure someone will be able to give you more advice than I can.

orlao

I agree with speaking to your vet in case there is a pain issue,also they should be able to advise on behaviour.

But at 8 months old your dog is a "teenager" with all the attitude problems that can bring and training is so important at this stage! Some dogs tend to forget all their manners around now and they can get a bit pushy as they try their luck. Needless to say that is NOT acceptable and I've always found that you have to really reinforce all their training and be very consistant ie if they're not allowed on the bed, they are never allowed on the bed at any time......

If you had problems teaching a leave or drop command you could train by swopping the item Buster has with something of higher value to the dog, for instance if he has a toy, offer him a really tasty treat so that he is rewarded for giving up the toy IYSWIM.

You didn't say how old your son is but of course his safety is paramount so it is important that they are not left unsupervised as Buster may "try it on" with him more than an adult and kids aren't usually as quick to spot an angry/ upset dog as an adult, I'm sure you're aware of that already though:D

Beagles are known to be a stubborn breed so IMO persistance will be required and I do think you were right not to thump him. When my dog was at that stage ( 8-14 months:eek: ) if he played up he was banished from the room I was in for a couple of minutes and ignored. His recall went out the window too for a while so he was quietly put back on the lead when I caught up with him rather than him learning he could just ignore me! TBH there times when I would have paid someone to take him ( only joking....I think) but he's turned out great so there is hope for anyone;)

The other thing that was helpful was dog training....at least I got support and helpful tips when he was trying to rampage through the hall.....but take advice and trust your instincts about which class to go too....there are some awful ones out there.

HTH

O x

WeirdoMagnet

Crossy wrote: »

However, last night he managed to jump on my sons bed with the intent of sleeping with him, my son objected and I tried to get him off the bed by pulling on his collar (shouting at him did no good!), he promply snarled and growled at me and I am sure he would have snapped as well if given the chance.

He has always been a very placid pup (he is 8 months), he also did this behaviour when I tried to take something from him he shouldn't have.

My first response was to whack him, but I realise you shouldn't treat aggression with aggression. What should I do if he does this again?

It's very difficult for anyone to advise on aggression but ...

I'd get your vet to check that his neuter wound is healing properly. If you feel that this behaviour is out of character, I'd also get your vet to do a full examination and blood tests - some physiological problems can cause agression.

Hard to believe, but the fact that he is snarling/growling is a good thing! This is a warning that he's unhappy - you don't want to stop him warning you at all, you want to amend his behaviour so that he does what you want because it is rewarding for him.

I think in the short-term, you need to manage his behaviour. Don't allow him to be in a position to practice this behaviour, if necessary stop him going on the furniture, but if you do allow him on, instead of shouting at him or pulling him off by his collar, throw a tasty treat on the floor. If you feel that you may need to remove him from places he shouldn't be, a house line (a short lead) attached to his collar would be useful.

Teach him to jump off the sofa/beds by luring him off with a treat, and then twinning that with a cue word, like 'off'. Using positive reinforcement will help him to learn much quicker than being shouted at or pulled off by his collar.

Training everyday things will help him become a more biddable dog too, and more likely to listen to you all of the time, not just when you *need* him to do something.

As you say, 'whacking' him is not the best course of action. That will only teach him that you should be feared, and will likely escalate his 'aggression'. Teach him a reliable 'off', and a reliable 'drop' (by swapping what he has for a treat) and the situations should never really arise.

I wouldn't advise using Cesar Millan's methods - they are based on outdated pack theory, and by adopting some of his practices you are more likely to bitten. For good advice using non-coersive dog training, have a look at The Training & Behaviour Forum on DogPages, or The Refuge.

Let us know how you get on.

Georgie

MrsTinks

Sorry but I certainly wouldn't recommend going on dogpages and if you do wish to visit an animal based forum then the refuge is much better IMHO...
Personally I've found Cesar Milans methods to be firm but gentle and they worked for me. I don't think they are out dated but ideally you should get a dog behaviourist in AFTER ofcourse you've made sure it's not a pain causing this behaviour...

pboae

Yes of course you should get him vet checked first, but you shouldn't have to shout at your dog, let alone drag him off by the collar. Train him to get off a bed/furniture/on command, and you won't need to resort to force.

The main reason I am so against methods like those of Cesar Milan is that my dog was originally trained with them, and I am still living with the consequences. His first owners used to drag him by his collar (and later tie him by it when they beat him). Violence begets violence, and once you start down that route, if it doesn't work at first, you have little choice but to keep ramping it up.

Using harsh methods didn't teach my dog who was the boss, it taught him that human hands on a collar mean pain, and that when threatened with pain to defend himself first and ask questions later. It was a major breakthrough when he started growling, having previously been belted for it, he'd learned not to give warnings, which made it very hard to read him.

It took me many months of training to be able to handle his collar, and even now several years later, he still flinches if he thinks a stranger is going to touch his neck.

I taught him to move off furniture using the 'touch' or 'target' command using clicker training. First, I taught him to touch his nose to the palm of my hand, for a reward. Once he was good at doing that, I started using it in different situations, when he was lying down, or I had my back to him, etc. When he was doing it consistently, I would call him to 'touch' when he was on the sofa. He would get up and come over to do the touch, without me ever having to order him off the sofa.

Later I started to add an 'off' command to it. So when I called him down off the sofa I'd say Off just as he was getting down. Soon he associated 'off' with getting off the sofa, and now he will do it on command.

If he hadn't been pulled off things in the first place, I could probably have skipped the target stage, but I didn't have that option.

There is no need to handle a dog roughly or train them harshly, especially not in a breed as bright as beagles. But if you opt to go down that route, don't be surprised if your dog responds by digging his heels in further.

If you want further advice without getting caught up in the current political bickering on some of the boards try
http://www.victoriastilwell.com/phpBB2/index.php
or Taking the Lead http://www.ttlntl.co.uk/forum/

They are much smaller boards, but both have some excellent trainers and behaviourist posting there.

JennyW_2

I agree with the training tips you've been given here by the other posters. Your pup needs to learn basic commands just as you would teach children manners when they are growing up - it's the same thing. Dogs don't come ready made knowing all the rules

I have 2 rescue dogs and I know that one of the them was badly treated as a youngster, so please don't feel the need to "whack" him, plus I'm sure you wouldn't want your children to grow up assuming it's ok to hit dogs.

With some patience and using consistent commands, your pup will soon learn right from wrong.

cally1978

Just wanted to add that I use Cesar Milans method and have never had to be aggressive or violent toward my dog, this is not something that I condone nor does Cesar

pboae

Then you must have been very selective as to which of his methods you used. American Humane sum it up well enough
http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nr_news_releases_dog_whisperer

"Several instances of cruel and dangerous treatment -- promoted by Millan as acceptable training methods -- were documented by American Humane, including one in which a dog was partially asphyxiated in an episode."