Dog ownership

Dog aggression is often misunderstood by owner and onlookers, alike. On the surface, it is scary and, of course, threatening.

It is important to understand that aggression can be the result of many issues, often not obvious to the owner. It is all too easy to adopt the wrong approach for an aggressive animal.

I can give an example from today’s walk with Ziggy (my rescued deerhound cross) in a large, open part of woodland (safely fenced off, making it ideal for some dog training and observation).

We came across a lady with a rescued lurcher, quite a large male. At distance he was fairly relaxed, however, as we got closer, the dog (he was called Storm), lunged forward, on his lead, bearing his teeth and barking aggressively. On the surface, an aggressive individual.

However, after talking with the owner, it was clear that this dog was exhibiting fearful aggression, in other words he saw each dog as a potential threat and was acting accordingly. We have to remember that dogs default to two clear approaches — flight or fight. This fearful dog could not take flight, he was on a lead and harness, therefore he defaulted to his other option, fight.

So, what can be done? The first point to make is that aggression, from whatever source, can be difficult to deal with; it needs an experienced person who understands how a dog functions. I would strongly recommend seeking the help of a canine behaviourist in this case (not a trainer).

This dog, after my dog backed off quickly became calm again, although still alert. He was friendly with me, a complete stranger, and was happy for me to give him a treat and to stroke him, gently.

I would suggest, that this dog is another example of an animal that, probably, has not been socialised properly in earlier life. He was being taken on group walks (with a trainer) with other dogs. But here’s the rub, these dogs were never being let of the lead — essential, in my opinion, to allow dogs to socialise together in a pack type environment. Therefore, this dog was never of the lead, allowing him the chance to behave as a dog with other dogs.

My suggested solution would be to muzzle the dog with a baskerville muzzle, then take the dog for walks with another, relaxed dog — but keeping significant distance between them, gradually decreasing the distance as Storm becomes more relaxed with the situation (systematic desensitisation). After this — both dogs should be let off the lead — any response from Storm should be dealt with calmly. Eventually it will be possible, after meeting other dogs of the lead, to remove the baskerville muzzle.

What an owner should not do is comfort a fearful dog when another approaches — this will just make matters worth — you will be reinforcing the behaviour that you wish to eliminate.

Finally, I would strongly suggest that professional assistance is sought in any case of aggression. Proper assessment is paramount here, including veterinary examination (many medical conditions can be the source of aggression).

So you want your first dog…

Taking on a dog for the first time is a serious matter. There’s a vast choice. Do you want a designer dog like a Labradoodle or another breed treated as a fashion accessory? If your thinking is along those lines, here’s my advice: Get a new handbag/manbag or a smart new phone.

DO NOT THINK ABOUT GETTING A DOG.

When you take a dog into your home, you’ve got a major responsibility to give that dog the best life you can. It is not a child substitute, it is a sentient being, an entirely different species.

We should not treat dogs as accessories to our lives or as a replacement for children.

Cesar Milan (the Dog Whisperer) described the dog in simple terms: animal > dog > breed. Research the type of dog carefully. You won’t necessarily want to go for an established breed. Find one that suits the way you live, your family, your work and your environs.

Too many people, fail to understand dog development stages. That’s vital to having a well-balanced, happy dog.

The critical period — 3 weeks to 14 weeks of age for the development of a puppy’s temperament and social development, is poorly understood by many ‘breeders’. That results in dogs that go on to develop various behavioural issues as they get older.

Unfortunately, many owners do not understand what to do when their dogs develop problems; a situation compounded by receiving poor advice from so-called dog trainers. There are many good ones out there and, unfortunately many bad ones. When looking for a trainer, tread carefully.

Do not forget the many dogs in rescue centres. They need a caring and understanding person to give them a good home. Many people assume that rescued dogs will be difficult to take into a home with children or other animals.

This is, more often, not the case — a rescued dog can prove a fantastic addition to any home. However, take advice from the rehoming centre and a good dog behaviourist who can assess and help you with what to expect and give you guidance on how to introduce a dog to your home.

Dogs of any type, be they puppies or rescued, need a great deal of time and effort to help them learn to live with another species (us). Think carefully and take a dog into your home, only after serious consideration.

My final thought: A dog is for life — it is your responsibility to get it right.

For me, there is nothing quite like seeing a dog enjoying the water. Their sheer exuberance is a joy too see, never mind that it is excellent exercise for them.

But here’s the thing — this should not be something forced upon a dog. I mention this because, over the past few days I have seen a number of dog owners getting this horribly wrong. When the weather is fine, Ziggy (pictured) and I regularly go swimming in the river, often with other dogs and Sue (my better half) looking on, somewhat bemused.

Ziggy would not go near the water a couple of months back (when she came to us from a rescue centre). By encouraging her, very gently, by entering the water myself, Ziggy started paddling, as she grew in confidence she has transformed into a canine version of Mark Spitz!

Yesterday, I saw, yet another example of how not to do it. A couple (late 40s) with their Cockapoo (maybe 9–10 months) came to the place where Ziggy and I were romping in the water. On seeing this, he tried to force the dog into the water (he was more concerned in getting it clean — not interested in some fun for the dog). I encouraged the pup into paddling depth with a ball — he thought this was huge fun.

The owner, driven by his need to ‘clean his dog’, regardless that the water was doing that already — grabbed the dog and forcibly ‘washed it’. Result, the dog became nervous and would no longer enter the water. This fool also informed me that he had thrown the dog into the sea — yep, that’ll work.

From a behavioural point of view, this little episode demonstrates a staggering lack of understanding how a dog thinks. The poor puppy, obviously quite keen to play in the water, had his fun turned into an unpleasant experience through the forced ‘washing of him’.

This type of owner behaviour is a surefire way to turn your outgoing puppy into a nervous dog, afraid to do some the the most fun things. So, think before you do anything to cement a fear in your dog, as a direct result of what you do.