Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Aggressive Behavior In Dogs

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UNDERSTANDING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN DOGS
Growling, baring teeth, snarling, snapping and biting are all aggressive behaviors. Although aggressive behaviors are normal for dogs, they’re generally unacceptable to humans. From a dog's perspective, there’s always a reason for aggressive behavior. Because humans and dogs have different communication systems, misunderstandings can occur between the two species. A person may intend to be friendly, but a dog may perceive that person's behavior as threatening or intimidating. Dogs aren’t schizophrenic, psychotic, crazy, or necessarily "vicious," when displaying aggressive behavior. Dominance aggression is motivated by a challenge to a dog's social status or to his control of a social interaction. Dogs are social animals and view their human families as their social group or "pack." Based on the outcomes of social challenges among group members, a dominance hierarchy or "pecking order" is established. Fear-motivated aggression is a defensive reaction and occurs when a dog believes he is in danger of being harmed. Remember that it’s your dog's perception of the situation, not your actual intent, which determines your dog’s response. For example, you may raise your arm to throw a ball, but your dog, perceiving this to be a threat, may bite you because he believes he is protecting himself from being hit. A dog may also be fearfully aggressive when approached by other dogs. Protective, territorial and possessive aggression are all very similar, and involve the defense of valuable resources. Territorial aggression is usually associated with defense of property. However, your dog's sense of territory may extend well past the boundaries of "his" yard. For example, if you walk your dog regularly around the neighborhood and allow him to urine-mark, to him, his territory may be the entire block! Protective aggression usually refers to aggression directed toward people or animals that a dog perceives as threats to his family, or pack. Dogs become possessively aggressive when defending their food, toys or other valued objects, such as Kleenex stolen from the trash! AHS: Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs Rev. September 27, 2007 AHS: Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs Rev. September 27, 2007 This type of aggression is relatively common, but is a behavior that pet owners may not always understand. If a dog is aroused into an aggressive response by a person or animal that he is prevented from attacking, he may redirect this aggression onto someone else. A common example occurs when two family dogs become excited, bark and growl in response to another dog passing through the front yard. The two dogs, confined behind a fence, may turn and attack each other because they can’t attack the intruder. Predation is usually considered to be a unique kind of aggressive behavior, because it’s motivated by the intent to obtain food, and not primarily by the intent to harm or intimidate.


DOG AGGRESSION ... Because aggression is so complex, and because the potential consequences are so serious, we recommend that you get professional in-home help from an animal behavior specialist if your dog is displaying aggressive behavior.

Types of Aggression
Dominance Aggression:
If your dog perceives his own ranking in the hierarchy to be higher than yours, it’s likely that he’ll challenge you in certain situations. Because people don’t always understand canine communication, you may inadvertently challenge your dog's social position. A dominantly aggressive dog may growl if he is disturbed when resting or sleeping, or if he is asked to give up a favorite spot, such as the couch or the bed. Physical restraint, even when done in a friendly manner, like hugging, may also cause your dog to respond aggressively. He could, also interpret reaching for your dog’s collar, or reaching out over his head to pet him, as a challenge for dominance. Dominantly aggressive dogs are often described as "Jekyll and Hyde’s" because they can be very friendly when not challenged. Dominance aggression may be directed at people or at other animals. The most common reason for dogs in the same family to fight with each other is instability in the dominance hierarchy.

Fear-Motivated Aggression:

Protective, Territorial And Possessive Aggression:

Redirected Aggression:

Individual Variation

Dogs differ in their likelihood to show aggressive behavior in any particular situation. Some dogs tend to respond aggressively with very little stimulation. Others may be subjected to all kinds of threatening stimuli and events, and never attempt to bite. The difference in this threshold at which a dog displays aggressive behavior is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. If this threshold is low, a dog will be more likely to bite. Raising the threshold makes a dog less likely to respond aggressively. This threshold can be raised using behavior modification techniques. How easily the threshold can be changed is influenced by the dog's gender, age, breed, general temperament, and by whether the appropriate behavior modification techniques are chosen and correctly implemented. Working with aggressive dogs can be potentially dangerous, and should be done only by, or under the guidance of, an experienced animal behavior professional who understands animal learning theory and behavior.

What You Can Do



  • Check with your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for the aggressive behavior.









  • Seek professional help. An aggression problem will not go away by itself. Working with aggression problems requires in-home help from an animal behavior specialist.








  • Take precautions. Your first priority is to keep everyone safe. Supervise, confine and/or restrict your dog’s activities until you can obtain professional help. You’re liable for your dog’s behavior. If you must take your dog out in public, consider a cage-type muzzle as a temporary precaution, and keep in mind that some dogs can get a muzzle off.







  • Avoid exposing your dog to situations where he is more likely to show aggression. You may need to keep him confined to a safe room and limit his people-contact.


    If your dog is possessive of food, treats or a certain place, don’t allow him access to those items. In an emergency, bribe him with something better than what he has. For example, if he steals your shoe, trade him the shoe for a piece of chicken.


    Spay or neuter your dog. Intact dogs are more likely to display dominance, territorial and protective aggressive behavior.


    What Not To Do
      Punishment won’t help and, in fact, will make the problem worse. If the aggression is motivated by fear, punishment will make your dog more fearful, and therefore more aggressive. Attempting to punish or dominate a dominantly aggressive dog is likely to cause him to escalate his behavior in order to retain his dominant position. This is likely to result in a bite or a severe attack. Punishing territorial, possessive or protective aggression is likely to elicit additional defensive aggression.


      Don’t encourage aggressive behavior. Playing tug-of-war or wrestling games encourages your dog to attempt to "best" you or "win" over you, which can result in the beginning of a dominance aggression problem. When dogs are encouraged to "go get 'em" or to bark and dash about in response to outside noises or at the approach of a person, territorial and protective aggressive behavior may be the result.

      
      Pet Sitting in Phoenix, Arizona
      In-Home Pet Sitting By A Professional Pet Sitter For Your
      Dogs, Cats and Household Pets

       


      Pet Sitting, Pet Sitter, Dogs, Cats, Phoenix, Glendale, Tolleson, AZ

       
      Providing quality affordable pet sitting for your dog, cat, pets *Daily Visits, Live-In, Work Breaks*, Bonded & Insured. Phoenix, AZ.
       


         Providing quality affordable pet sitting for your dog, cat, and household pets.  "Love Your Pets Too" is family owned and operated since 2004.  We are qualified, professional pet sitters, bonded, insured and certified.  We offer Daily Visits, Live-In, Work Breaks and Overnights in Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Laveen & Litchfield Park, Arizona. 
      For more pet tips visit our web site at:  http://www.petandhousesitting.com/

      Walking Your Dog

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      Pet Sitting in Phoenix, Arizona
      In-Home Pet Sitting By A Professional Pet Sitter For Your
      Dog, Cat and Household Pets




      Pet Sitting, Pet Sitter, Dogs, Cats, Phoenix, Glendale, Tolleson, AZ

       
      Providing quality affordable pet sitting for your dog, cat, pets *Daily Visits, Live-In, Work Breaks*, Bonded & Insured. Phoenix, AZ.
       

         Providing quality affordable pet sitting for your dog, cat, and household pets.  "Love Your Pets Too" is family owned and operated since 2004.  We are qualified, professional pet sitters, bonded, insured and certified.  We offer Daily Visits, Live-In, Work Breaks and Overnights in Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Laveen & Litchfield Park, Arizona.  
      For more pet tips visit our web site at:  http://www.petandhousesitting.com/

      We're affordable too, see our "Services and Rates" page for a list of prices and services we provide.
       Also, see our "Client Comments" for ratings and reviews on our pet sitting services.

      Love Your Pets Too
      Pet Sitting In Your Home
      623-695-3079

       Fortunately, a head halter can be very effective in helping you gain the upper hand. A head halter is a special kind of collar with a strap that goes around your dog’s nose and another strap that goes around his neck, just behind his ears. The leash fastens to the halter under his chin to a ring that’s also attached to the nose strap. When your dog begins to pull, the design of the head halter causes the dog’s nose to be turned back toward you, which makes it physically difficult for him to continue pulling. The head halter is completely humane, as it doesn’t cause any pain, and works much better to prevent a dog from pulling than a choke chain or prong collar. Brand names for head halters include "Gentle Leader," "Promise Collar" and "Halti." WALKING AN OUT-OF-CONTROL DOG IS NOT A "WALK IN THE PARK!"
      How Will Your Dog React?

      Most dogs will resist a head halter, at first. The amount of resistance varies for each dog. When you first put the head halter on, your dog may try to get it off by pawing at his nose or rubbing his nose on the ground, on you or on anything your dog can get close to. The best strategy is to keep his head up and keep him moving by using positive verbal reinforcement and treats. Most dogs eventually accept head halters. When your dog associates the halter with going for a walk, he’ll begin to react positively to it. Soon, both you and your dog will enjoy taking walks together!

      Things to Remember






      1. Make sure the head halter is fitted properly and according to the manufacturer's directions.























      2. A head halter is not a muzzle.























      3. A dog wearing a head halter can still eat, drink, pant, bark and bite, if he chooses.























      4. Never use a hard jerk with the head halter.























      5. Don’t use the head halter with a retractable lead.























      6. If your dog runs quickly to the end of the lead, it may give itself a hard jerk.























      7. Your dog should wear his head halter only during on-leash walks with you and/or when you’re directly supervising him.























      8. If your dog wears the head halter around the house, he’ll have plenty of time to work at getting it off, and will eventually succeed.

















      9. Read the information sheet that comes with your head halter.










      10. The head halter must be properly fitted to be effective and comfortable for your dog. The neck strap should be as high up on your dog’s neck as you can get it, just behind his ears. The strap should be just tight enough for you to fit one finger between it and your dog’s neck. The nosepiece should be adjusted so that when your dog’s mouth is closed, it can slide down as far as the beginning of the skin on his nose, but not so loose that it can slide off the end of his nose. The nosepiece will sit naturally, just below your dog’s eyes. Make sure that the metal ring to which the leash attaches is underneath his chin.
        For more information, please visit
        Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists 
        www.azhumane.org

        Friday, July 29, 2011

        Separation Anxiety in Dogs

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        Pet Sitting in Phoenix, Arizona


        In-Home Pet Sitting By A Professional Pet Sitter For Your
        Dogs, Cats and Household Pets. 


        We're affordable too, see our "Services and Rates" page for a list of prices and services we provide.
         Also, see our "Client Comments" for ratings and reviews on our pet sitting services.
           Providing quality affordable pet sitting for your dog, cat, and household pets.  "Love Your Pets Too" is family owned and operated since 2004.  We are qualified, professional pet sitters, bonded, insured and certified.  We offer Daily Visits, Live-In, Work Breaks and Overnights in Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Laveen & Litchfield Park, Arizona.  
        For more pet tips visit our web site at:  http://www.petandhousesitting.com/
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        Pet Tips- Separation Anxiety in Dogs
        The term separation anxiety in dogs is a term to describe the stress and anxiousness in a dog brought on by separation from the primary pet caretaker. Separation Anxiety can vary from mild to severe.
        Mild to Moderate Separation Anxiety
        For mild cases of separation anxiety, don’t make a big deal out of arrivals and departures. For example, when you arrive home, ignore your dog for the first few minutes then calmly pet him.
        For moderate separation anxiety:
        1. Practice leaving without opening the door. Put on your shoes, pick up your keys, and walk to the door, but don’t leave. Do this a few times per day for weeks or months to quell your dog’s anxiety.
        2. Walk into closets and close the door behind you. Wait one minute and then reappear.
        3. Exit via an outside door that you normally don’t leave through. Wait one minute and then walk back in. If your dog doesn’t appear anxious, add time if the dog continues to be comfortable with it.
        4. Start working on walking out the main door and returning after a short period of time. Again, gradually increase the time according to how your dog handles it. Practice as many absences as possible that last less than 10 minutes.
        Additional tips to improve your chances of success:
        • Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Being physically tired will help him relax.
        • Provide a Kong toy stuffed with treats before practicing the leaving-and returning exercises.
        • Ignore the dog before and during the exercises.
        • Provide background noise (the radio or television) during the exercises. The background sounds may provide a reassuring cue that you will return soon. You can also use a word as a cue. Say the words (“I’ll be back” or “Later”) every time you exit.
        • Keep your arrivals and departures as quiet and calm as possible. Don’t indulge in long goodbyes or excited greetings.
        Severe Separation Anxiety
        Use the techniques outlined above. Teach your dog the sit-stay and down-stay commands using positive reinforcement. This training will help him learn that he can remain calm and happy in one place while you go to another room.
        Create a “safe place” to limit your dog’s ability to be destructive. A safe place should:
        • Confine loosely rather than strictly (a room with a window and distractions rather than total isolation)
        • Contain busy toys for distraction such as a Kong or Buster Cube.
        • Take your dog to a doggie day care facility or kennel when you have to be away.
        • Leave your dog with a friend, family member, or neighbor when you’re away.
        Remember that punishment isn’t effective for treating separation anxiety and can make the situation worse. The destruction and house soiling that often occur with separation anxiety aren’t your dog’s revenge for being left alone; they’re part of a panic response.

        See our web site for more pet tips:
         http://www.petandhousesitting.com/
        Love Your Pets Too
        Pet Sitting In Your Home
        623-695-3079
        Providing quality affordable Dog sitting, Cat Sitting, Dog Sitter, Cat Sitter for your dogs, cats, and household pets.  "Love Your Pets Too" is family owned and operated since 2004.  We are qualified, professional pet sitters, bonded, insured and certified.  We offer Daily Visits, Live-In, Work Breaks and Overnights in Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Laveen & Litchfield Park, Arizona.