Dog Agression

[RockysMom]

I'm in desperate need of advice.
Rocky has become more and more dog agressive as time goes on.
He will scream at other dogs, lunge at them and overall act like he wants to tear them apart. 
I cannot ever have him around any other dog besides Rex.

I'm at my wits end and need some advice!!!

[Kathy]

Is this when you are out on walks? Is he like this on and off leash?

[RockysMom]

He's like this on walks (on and off leash) and when we visit my friend Tricia who has a 10 month old boxer.  It's brutal and scares me.  He is worse with large breed dogs.  In fact, I took him to a Pug Party in Kingston at Christmas and he wasn't agressive with the other pugs......acted more like he was afraid of them and other than one little snipe with one of them who was sniffing him a bit long his behaviour was good.

I'll do anything to help resolve this.

[lmcpug]

Awww   Cst Rocky the under cover mission is stressing you
out?? Time to reel you in little Buddy!

This is what Lisa (luckiest1) and Ringo are going through too!



     

[Kathy]

Personally I have found that "aggression" as you are experiencing is more to do with Rocky being afraid than actually aggressive.

To me it sounds like a fight or flight reaction, when you describe him being like this on leash and with bigger dogs and not ones his size. 

They can feel vulnerable so they become the aggressor trying to scare the other dog off. Has he had a bad experience with big dogs?

What have you tried in attempting to deal with this?

[RockysMom]

He hasn't had a bad experience with bigger dogs.
His big brother Rex is a 104 lb Shepherd/Malamute and they are the best of friends.
My only response to this type of behaviour so far has been to remove him as quickly as possible as I'm terrified that it will escalate to the point that he gets injured or killed.

I'm reluctant to agree that he is afraid as he is the one approaching the bigger dogs initially (but I'm no expert in anything regarding canine behaviour so maybe it is).  He is actually barrelling right at them and getting in their face.  Is this a fear response?  If it is, it's not a smart one!
I'm at the end of my rope adn terrified of the consequences someday!

[Kathy]

Do you know of a good behavourialist in Kingston?

[Kathy]

I would not want to give bad advice and make things worse. Sometimes its best to see an expert and get some advice from them.

[blanche]

Angela:
I'd get your hands on a good behaviourist.  You don't want to mis-diagnose this.  We use Joan Weston of Fangs but No Fangs.  www.k9shrink.ca.

I don't know if she goes as far as Kingston and Ottawa, but it would be worth shooting her an email and asking who she might recommend in your area.  This is something you do want to be working on and getting a handle on.

[RockysMom]

Thanks Blanche and Kathy,
I e-mailed Joan Weston today and am waiting for a response.

[blanche]

Thanks Blanche and Kathy,
I e-mailed Joan Weston today and am waiting for a response.

She's terrific.  She's done some training with us foster folks and we use her to evaluate our rescues when we have concerns.  AND she has a pug so knows the breed well.

[wildwoodvictoria]

This sounds exactly like Jackson. We had a session with Joan. It has helped, but old habits die hard and you have to be constantly working on the leave it command.

Joan will have lots of things you can work on.

[RockysMom]

This sounds exactly like Jackson. We had a session with Joan. It has helped, but old habits die hard and you have to be constantly working on the leave it command.

Joan will have lots of things you can work on.

I'm curious, how is Jackson doing with this now?  I can't tell you how worried I am!

[SpeedyPug]

Geeg is like that with big dogs, too.  With her, i know its a fear issue- Geeg is afraid of everything and her "come big or go home" attitude is her way of compensating.  That said, i don't thnk Geeg will ever be a "normal, well-adjusted pug".  She has issues due to her early kennel years that we work around.  No dog parks, always on leash and a very careful intro to big dogs- she'll try and go for them every time.  And they look at her like, "HEY! Snack-food!  Calm down.  You're going to give me indigestion!".  Little dogs, not near the problem and no issues at all with other pugs.  Its weird, eh? 

I know i can only expect so much of Geeg so we work (continually) on calming down, paying attention to sqeeks or treats and focusing on me instead of the big dog- and its a constant process.  Like you, i worry that if Geeg did get to a big dog, they'd gulp her but most of them just look at her like she's nuts.  Hopefully Rocky has more sense and can get over his "little man syndrome"! 

[RockysMom]

Geeg is like that with big dogs, too.  With her, i know its a fear issue- Geeg is afraid of everything and her "come big or go home" attitude is her way of compensating.  That said, i don't thnk Geeg will ever be a "normal, well-adjusted pug".  She has issues due to her early kennel years that we work around.  No dog parks, always on leash and a very careful intro to big dogs- she'll try and go for them every time.  And they look at her like, "HEY! Snack-food!  Calm down.  You're going to give me indigestion!".  Little dogs, not near the problem and no issues at all with other pugs.  Its weird, eh? 

I know i can only expect so much of Geeg so we work (continually) on calming down, paying attention to sqeeks or treats and focusing on me instead of the big dog- and its a constant process.  Like you, i worry that if Geeg did get to a big dog, they'd gulp her but most of them just look at her like she's nuts.  Hopefully Rocky has more sense and can get over his "little man syndrome"! 

Is Geeg a barker?  Rocky is a horrible barker and reacts strongly to any noise he thinks is foreign in the house by barking his fool head off and posturing like he's a Rottie.  Maybe it is a fear thing with him.  Geez I hope to get this figured out!