my 4 year old shih tzu is aggressive. He as become the master of the house help!!!!?

Question

I think I have been to soft with him and now I cant change him. My husband died nearly three years ago and his behaviour as steadly got worse.

I have been told to reward him for his good behaviour which I have done but now it seems he plays me for a reward. I think he knows if he is naughty and aggressive he will be given a command and a reward

Answer 1

Enroll your dog in a basic obedience class to learn the 'Heel,' 'Sit' and 'Stay' commands.

2. When your dog is learning a command, say 'Good' the instant she exhibits proper behavior, and then follow up quickly with a reward of treats and more praise.

3. Begin increasing your expectations very slowly. For example, lengthen by a few seconds the time your dog must sit before you shower praise.

4. Reward even the slightest sign of effort your dog is making to meet your increasing expectations.

5. Move on to other commands once your dog is comfortable with 'Heel,' 'Sit' and 'Stay,' and with training in general.

6. Train throughout the day, when you have free time, in a quiet area free from distractions. Limit each session to 5 to 10 minutes.

7. Train in a busier environment only after your dog understands the command entirely, but realize that you may need to start from scratch ' dogs are situational learners.

8. Reduce food rewards gradually, but always give an abundance of praise.

Leadership exercises can confirm humans as the heads of the family pack. Once you establish this relationship, your dog will seek you out. He will want to be with you and will treat you with respect and affection. After he learns to submit to handling, all other tasks such as grooming, nail clipping, cleaning ears, and medicating will be easier to accomplish. But first he must learn that you have the power to handle him, and that handling will not lead to any harm. He must come to trust you entirely.

These exercises will help establish leadership but should not be used with an older pup who has learned to use his teeth to get his way. Exercises one and two are recommended only for small puppies up to three months of age. Exercises three and four are suitable for pups up to six months of age as long as there's no problem with aggression. Be gentle but firm with all exercises, as you would with a baby human.

Sit on the floor, then pick your pup up off the floor with both hands supporting him just behind his front legs, facing you. Hold him away from you at arms length. Look directly into his eyes. Growl at him if he struggles, using a low guttural sound. Hold him till he relaxes. Vary the time you hold him in this position from 15 to 45 seconds. Vary the location.
Sit on the floor and cradle your pup, placing one hand under his head and the other supporting his back so that he is upside down on his back, and up in the air. Hold a larger puppy across your lap. Hold the pup for 15 to 45 seconds, using the same growl as in exercise 1 if he struggles. Hold him until he relaxes.
If your puppy is large, substitute this exercise for the first two. Straddle your pup, with one of your legs on each side of him. You should be facing the same direction as your dog. Lock your fingers together under his chest, just behind the front legs. Lift his front legs off the ground for 15 to 45 seconds. If he struggles, growl at him till he is quiet.
Place your dog on the floor with all four legs pointing away from you. Hold him firmly by the neck with one hand, and press down on his midsection with the other hand. Talk to him softly after he is quiet. It might take two or three minutes to get him to relax. If he exposes his belly to be rubbed, you are on the right track. Do not allow him to struggle, get up, or nip. Always praise him lavishly in a quiet tone when he relaxes. Now is also a good time to handle all four paws and look briefly into his mouth so he can get used to tolerating your handling him gently. Be sure to do this exercise four or five times a day at first. Taper off as the pup gets more used to you and accepts your leadership.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The stare
Eye contact is also one of the ways order is kept in a wolf pack. Only an alpha animal may use the stare to remind everyone who is in charge. When you initiate eye contact, you express your alpha position. Encourage your pup to maintain eye contact for several seconds, making it a pleasant experience. Do not force him to do so. Use the term "watch me" and always praise him the instant you have eye contact. However, you do not want to try to do this with a dog who thinks he is already in charge of things. The dog must know you are the leader first. Otherwise you will begin a stare-down contest. An alpha dog will not be willing to be first to avert his eyes. If you are the first to avert or even blink your eyes, it will help confirm the dog's alpha status.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alpha discipline: Pack leader activities
There are many pack leader activities you can use as part of a daily training routine. Probably the single most important command your dog can learn is "sit." You can incorporate "sit" into everyday situations as a reminder that you are in charge of things. Tell your dog to "sit" before you feed him, before you play, before he goes out the door. This shows the dog that he must respond to you before indulging in his own pleasures. If he is obedience trained, put him in a down-stay while you prepare his dinner.

Your dog will accept you as pack leader as long as you are consistent and fair in your demands. You must never permit him to growl or snap. If he does, a severe scruff shake is necessary, followed by no attention from you for 10 to 15 minutes. The scruff is the loose skin around the dog's neck. If your pet growls or snaps and you are not afraid to handle him, grab him firmly by the scruff with both hands, stare him in the eyes, and shake him. Then put him in his crate for 15-20 minutes and ignore him.

If your dog growls or snaps and you are afraid to discipline him, seek professional help. Don't ignore the incident; a dog allowed to threaten his family can easily become a biter.

Never overlook any challenge to your authority. Most dogs will test their owners, usually in adolescence. When the issue is settled immediately, it usually ends the matter.

Answer 2

It might just be a coincidence that she has become aggressive at the same time as the boyfriend on the scene. She should be checked out at the vets as it could be something else. She may have an abscess in her mouth or suffering pain with arthritis. I am not ruling out jealousy because dogs can be possessive. If she was mine I would check her out at the vets just to make sure. If she is okay there then she will have to be re-trained to accept your boyfriend and her new surroundings. I have a Shih Tzu and they have strong personalities. They can try to rule the roost sometimes. Small but feisty little dogs. Give her some special TLC.

Answer 3

I think aggressive behavior is common in that breed. Our neighbor had one for years and he was very aggressive and the owners seemed to have little control over him (he had a mind of his own). Although I got irritated with the owners for not "controlling their dog" I can see now as a parent and a dog owner that it can be difficult to control another individual, even a dog. But I believe it is possible to mold a dogs personality by training. Also if he gets aggressive with you never show fear. If you jump back when he growls he may be more likely to snap the next time he's not getting what he wants. Establish that you are the boss keep a firm tone in your voice make sure he knows that you are Alpha. And you may look into some obedience classes. Good luck :-)

Answer 4

I know aggravating it can be. My husband has a 10 yr old pom/shitzu mix. The shitzi is more dominant. But he, too, thought he was "above" me and was aggressive. He still, even now, will growl or snap at me. Because he is so old and set in his ways, there isnt much I could do. So I mainly just keep him away from me. I think he had a problem with me because I "took away" his owner (my husband) in a way so that my husband didnt pay as much attention to him. And he could sense that. I know alot of people will tell you not to hit your dog, which most of the time I'll agree as well. But if a dog bites, he needs to get his butt beat. You smack him (not hard) on the bottom, say "NO SIR!" and put him in his crate or make him go lay down away from you. Shitzu's are very needy, so sending him away from you is punishment enough!!!!!

Answer 5

Any dog big or small needs to know who the boss is. If you are soft on him he thinks he is the boss. All dogs can be aggressive.
More people are bit every year by thier small cute dogs than any large dog becasue they are cute and small and could not hurt any one. I have stickes in my leg now becasue someone thought it was alright to let thier cute little dog run loose and not train it. Take control and your shih tzu can be your baby dog again.

Answer 6

Have you had the dog four years? Is this a recent behaviour problem? Have you had any recent changes in your household? Someone new to the family? Someone left the family? Other pets? If you havent had any recent changes in your household, then take the dog to the vet.

Answer 7

The only thing that will solve this problem is to move to another state and don't let your shih tzu know where you went. Disguises sometimes work but they're pretty smart, so I'd move if I were you. Good luck.

Answer 8

Have you ever seen Ceser Millan "The Dog Whisperer". If not check him out, his show is on cable (National Geographic-I think)
His videos are also available in Wal Mart now. Your dog thinks he is the lead dog and you need to educate him, otherwise he is a nuisance and danger to others.

Answer 9

Shih Tzu are protectors of their master and domain,its in their nature.He feels that it is his job to protect you and the house.Try to put him in behavior classes.

Answer 10

Well, you have to train him/her by by being non-agressive.