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Home Pets The Woof
Gang The
WOOF Gang: 'Demythifying' dog behavior

The
WOOF Gang: 'Demythifying' dog behavior

Tuesday, 15 December 2009 10:00
Laura Garber

Today’s pup
culture surrounding dog behavior is steeped in myths that are doing anything
but promoting greater understanding between our two species.
Instead, we distrust and demonize the motivations of our dogs as they jump on
us, pull us down the street, rush through the door ahead of us, and curl up
comfortably on the couch.  It’s time to demystify the myths so that we can
reestablish trust with our furry friends.

Over the course of two
articles, we'll examine some of those myths.

The
Guarding Myth

Some dogs growl,
even bite, when people approach their special person.  Chihuahuas are
notorious for guarding the lap of their loved one as if it were their
throne.  While it may seem flattering that a dog jealously spurns the
contact of others, think of this in the context of the dog guarding his person
as he might a desired bone, toy, or location and it seems quite a bit less
gallant.

Laura
Garber

The coveted human must
communicate to the dog that access to her is not the dog’s to grant or
deny.  By extracting herself from the dog’s company, the human is showing
very palpably that she is not the dog’s to give.

To do this safely, start
with the dog on-leash with the leash tethered to something stable.  Have
someone approach the coveted person with the dog on her lap.

Should the
dog show any guarding behaviors (stillness, a hard eye, lifting a lip, growling,
or snapping), the person should abruptly rise, letting the dog drop softly to
the ground, and walk away out of reach.  As little physical contact as
possible should be given to the dog while shooing the dog from the lap, as
touching could be construed as reinforcing the bad behavior.  If the
visitor can safely approach the dog at this point, have him offer tasty treats
so that future approaches might prove more welcomed.

The
Protection Myth

Some dogs bark
and lunge when passing dogs on the street and their behavior can be worse when
they’re being walked by a family member.  This behavior is often
misconstrued as the dog protecting their people from other dogs but this is
rarely the motivation.  On-leash reactivity is usually an expression of a
dog’s insecurity around other dogs and frustration that their natural greeting
behaviors are being thwarted by the presence of the leash.  These insecure
dogs often feel more empowered by the company of their family pack rather than
the dog walker so that they tend to display a more aggressive behavior.
Pet parents often feel that something in their own behavior or handling must be
fueling the dog’s aggressive behavior and, though this can be a contributing
factor, it could simply be the dog’s feeling of empowerment in the company of
his bonded human family.

A dog may also
get snappy or testy with other dogs when those dogs approach their humans in
off-leash situations such as at the dog run.  This should be evaluated as
their guarding a prize possession, similar to the Guarding Myth (above).
The best approach is to keep contact with all other dogs very low-key so as not
to trigger the behavior in the family dog and to reward the dog with pets and
happy vocal encouragements for quiet, non-reactive behavior.

Warning: If your dog has the potential to do real physical
damage to other dogs in these situations, you should not bring him to the dog
run!

Coming soon: Part II
of "Demythfying Dog Behavior"

Dog
trainer Laura Garber, CPDT, is committed to deepening the bond
between dogs and their people. For this reason, she regards training as an
exercise in building relationship rather than obedience. Such an approach
promises greater understanding and symbiosis within our family packs, and this
is what inspires much of her writing.   Laura lives in Hoboken, NJ and
works with private clients in the Hudson County and beyond.  For more
information, log on to www.myWoofGang.com or contact her at

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