Pet Education

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Aggression In Puppies   

I would like to first state that some aggression in puppies can be caused by lack of oxygen during the birthing process.  This can not be fixed.  It is a permanent birth defect.  Recently I watched a fascinating story about the real "Horse Whisper".   He was amazing.   He could fix behavior problems in almost any horse.  But not all.  He met up with a horse who had been deprived of oxygen during the birthing process.  The mare died giving birth to this colt.  The colt grew up to be a very mean horse who could not be dealt with.   It is important to first rule out medical causes for aggression.   

I have not found aggression to be a problem with any of my Tibetan Terriers.   But the different lines and pedigrees of dogs can come with different inherited issues.  It is important to ask about the temperament of the sire and dam of the litter before you purchase a puppy.  

Now lets talk about early socialization.  I pick up my puppies every day, from the day they are born.  I spend a tremendous amount of time with them.  This is not always the case with some breeders.   Know where your puppy is coming from.  Ask your breeder all the right questions.

Here is a story I shared on my "Growling Puppy" link.   I suggest that you read that link as well, because all the same information also applies to aggression in dogs.

** When I was a child I went to play at a friends house.  This friend had baby kittens living in their barn.  We thought of how fun it would be to play with the baby kittens, so we tried to catch them.  The kittens ran, hid, scratched, hissed and cut our arms to bloody shreds as we tried to catch them.   Huuuum.  Not as fun as I thought it was going to be.  I thought all kittens were cute & fun to play with.  What was the difference between these wild kittens and the cute playful kittens I had met before?  Early socialization.  So remember this story if you think socialization does not matter as much as the look of the dog. **

NEXT....Ask Yourself these Very Important Questions...

Did the puppy display signs of aggression when you first got them?   

Did the puppy grow more aggressive over time?  

The simple truth is....YOU are the part of the problem.

 Things to Remember:

#1.  Tibetan Terriers are very smart dogs.  They remember everything!  If you had a very bad day and you gave the puppy a bad experience...They will remember it forever.  Everything you do has the potential to do damage to your puppy.

#2.  Tibetan Terriers are very sensitive dogs.  Fact to Remember:  Aggressive discipline creates an aggressive dog.  Example:  Your puppy pees in the house.  You take a rolled up newspaper and hit the puppy or use it to scare the puppy.  You do this because that is how your grandma did it and it worked for her.   Bad Idea.  You just used negative aggression to mold a behavior.  You now triggered negative reactions in your puppy. Your problem...Not the puppy's problem.  

Remember this....You do not want your puppy to fear you.   

Always use positive reinforcement behavior training.   The method I prefer is the "Hands off Training Method.   

I highly recommend "The Dog Training Secret".   Here is a link...Buy it today and get started!    http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/tips?ga_campaign=branded&ga_adgroup=dog+training+secrets&ga_keyword=dog%eg

I remember a parenting seminar I went to many years ago.  It was called "Lets FIX the Kids".  Parents showed up by the hundreds.  All of them hoping for the perfect solution on how to fix their children's behavior problems.   The title of the seminar alone...Drew a crowd.   Everyone was buzzing with hope.   They were sitting in the benches discussing their children's behavior problems with each other.   When the speaker began to speak....Silence filled the room....Anticipation grew....Excitement mounded...Hope for enlightenment....YEAAAAH!...LETS FIX OUR KIDS!!!!  

Then the speaker began to deliver the most eloquent speech I have ever heard.  He shared his personal parenting disasters and heartaches.  As he began sharing his son's story of rebellion and the heartache it caused him as a parent, the faces in the room beamed as everyone listened and understood his pain.   

Then the speaker got down to business.  His speech took a turn.   Instead of being about "Fixing the Kids"....It was about his personal parenting mistakes.  His heart wrenching admission that he was the biggest part of the problem.  Instead of teaching his son that choice has accountability, he used heavy handed control methods to force the behavior he wanted from the child.   And being the free spirits people are, his child rebelled in every possible way.   Instead of hearing a seminar of how to "Fix the Kids", everyone heard a seminar of "How to Fix the Parents".   His point well delivered.   We need to recognize our errors and fix ourselves first.   

Now let me use a quote from the "Dog Whisper"....This is how he begins each segment..."I Train the PEOPLE....I rehabilitate the Dog.   

All that being said...You need to consider first and foremost....That you and your training methods could be a big part of the problem.  

Train yourself first.  Train your dog second.   You did not buy a dog from an animal shelter that has had a horrible beginning of being abused....You bought a puppy whom YOU started to mold from the minute it walked through the door.   If you gave your puppy a bad beginning of scolding, daily abandonment & negative energy...That may never go away.   

Take personal accountability.  Educate yourself BEFORE you get your puppy.  

Do not wait until you get your puppy, then panic because things are not going well and you do not know how to train them.  It is usually the people who screw up the dog, not the other way around.   

True Aggression in dogs is a complex subject.  The most important thing you need to understand is that "Aggression is a FEAR Reaction".  Exactly the same with people.  Remove the fear, replaced it with trust, and the aggression often goes away.  Building a firm foundation of TRUST between you and your dog is the vital link in dealing with true aggression.  I will try to cover true aggression at a later time.

For now....Remember:   "Energy is Everything"   

I cover the importance of using Positive Energy in my "Growling Puppy Link".  

Please read it also.