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Topic: Fear or aggression? Should I be worried?
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ruth27
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posted June 24, 2004 07:56 AM
My 6months old pug has been giving me and my hubby tons of laughs these past few weeks! He started barking at himself recently which we found to be so hilarious! He would also bark if a sudden noise came out from the tv or at anything unusual. When we would have guests unfamiliar to him, he would stand up straight and start barking away, but never in an attack position, just always in a guarded way. Whenever I watch tv and some sudden noise vomes up like a gunshot or whatever startles him the least bit, he will bark at the tv for 10min max! At first we found this so funny but now as I really think of it, I was wondering if this was an symptom of a personality disorder that I should be worried about. My pup has never bitten anyone and I think his edginess is more of fear than aggression. When he sees a stranger, he will bark away but when the stranger goes near him, he will immediately cower back yet still continue barking every now and then. Should I be worried over this or could I just take it lightly and see it pass in time? Thank!
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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MadnessBunny
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posted June 24, 2004 08:48 AM
It's a very common problem with small sized breeds. It ussualy happens in consequence of lack of self-confidence. he knowns very well that if pretty much anything would for whatever reason decide to attack him, he is so small that he would have no way to protect himself.
Please tell me, how does he act when he is barking? does he maintain eye contact with the someone or something that he is barking at? does he run behind or near someone he trusts (family member) while barking? Is he ussualy gnarling when he barks?
Another few questions:
1. How often does he see people?
2. How often does he do physical exercise?
3. Is he a friendly dog to his family?
4. Did he ever recive any smacks, or was he ever beaten? Was he ever attacked by a human or bigger dog?
5. Did you check at the vet' if your dog's hearing is hyper sensetive? Some dogs have over-developed hearing, which makes them hear some/all noises more loudly.
6. does he react with barking to particular types of noises, or only some? If he does, what kind of noises does he react to most?
After answering these questions it will be easy to determine what causes your pug to bark frequently, and act as he does.
MadnessBunny.
Posts: 50 | From: Somewhere over the rainbow | Registered: Jun 2004
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sambucca/whiskey
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posted June 24, 2004 05:18 PM
dont rule out fear all fears need to be dealt with Whiskey is fear aggressive of men. no underlying reason ive had him since 6 weeks
never had a bad moment with a man just doesnt trust them so we have to work up to it, when people come to visit make him sit and have them toss him a couple treats and then ignore him have them hang on to a couple treats and sit as he snoops around and smells them they can give him more only if he is friendly.
Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted June 24, 2004 07:28 PM
Only half way thru book #2 but here's what the first one said. We should neither try to calm them or correct them for this aggressive behaviour.
If you try to calm them then we teach them that there was something to be excited about. If we correct them, then we reenforce that bad things happen as a result.
This author believe the only way to get over this is re-direction (acceptable behavior) and de-sensitization. For example for whiskey - take a toy with you and before the male walks by go off the sidewalk a few steps and have him concentrate on his toy - holding it in his mouth. Let him see the male walking by but far enough that whiskey isn't triggered to lunge. Keep this up letting the male walk closer each day.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted June 24, 2004 08:53 PM
To sambucca/whiskey - I like the second book much better. It's called "DOG PROBLEMS" by Carol Lea Benjamin. Excellent real life tips.
Here's what she says:
Some dogs exhibit a fear of opposite sex of their owner. .... problem can be alleviated by correction the expression of fear or aggression and praising the dog for making friends. It will take the dog a few friendships before he begins to generalize. It's a good idea to have dog worked and given commands by the gender he fears.
So far it is a great book from aggression problems to car sickness, etc.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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ruth27
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posted June 25, 2004 07:37 AM
Madness Bunny, I got boozer when he was just 4weeks old so I'm definitely sure he was never abused in any way. He barks alot at his image in the mirror or if he sees something peculiar like the flickering light of the tv in the living room etc. He's a very friendly dog infact he instantly runs to the door whenever the doorbell rings to greet whoever has arrived but if by chance he was elsewhere when this stranger came in and he suddenly sees him/her already in the house, that's when he'll start to bark! And yes, he does maintain eye contact. He will bark at a distance, never in an attacking mode. Always ready to run away if the stranger moves nearer. Its startling coz sometimes he'll be sleeping then just the slightest sharp sound from the tv will wake him and initiate his sudden barking!
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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sambucca/whiskey
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posted June 25, 2004 05:43 PM
quote:
Some dogs exhibit a fear of opposite sex of their owner. .... problem can be alleviated by correction the expression of fear or aggression and praising the dog for making friends. It will take the dog a few friendships before he begins to generalize. It's a good idea to have dog worked and given commands by the gender he fears.
actually I have a prong so he self corected 3 times and now i tell him make nice and he is doing much better. At least i know I have a fighter if somebody ever broke in ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004
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MadnessBunny
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posted June 26, 2004 03:22 AM
Ruth - I assume your dog is not doing this out of agression. I think he is just over-suspicious of strangers, and very capitalistic of his territory.
How large is your house, if I may ask?
Can you please answer the other questions I asked in my earlier post?
(1. How often does he see people?
2. How often does he do physical exercise?
3. Is he a friendly dog to his family?
4. Did he ever recive any smacks, or was he ever beaten? Was he ever attacked by a human or bigger dog?
5. Did you check at the vet' if your dog's hearing is hyper sensetive? Some dogs have over-developed hearing, which makes them hear some/all noises more loudly.
6. does he react with barking to particular types of noises, or only some? If he does, what kind of noises does he react to most?)
MadnessBunny.
[ June 26, 2004, 03:23 AM: Message edited by: MadnessBunny ]
Posts: 50 | From: Somewhere over the rainbow | Registered: Jun 2004
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