Dog problem!!! monster maltese!?

Question

my dog is a 5 lb maltese who is very aggressive to other people. She barks at everyone in our apartment complex, she goes berzerk when other people come inside the elevator with us, she barks at joggers, the only time she behaves is when we are in the park. She thinks she's the pack leader!! how do we solve this? walking her (as dog whisperer suggests is not enough to establish my self as the pack leader) help pls thanks!

Answer 1

smack her with a newspaper every time she shows aggression.

Answer 2

Find a GOOD training class. Ask a couple vets in your area and see if there is a consensus. It's not difficult to establish yourself as the 'alpha.' I have a very headstrong American Eskimo, and established myself as 'alpha' quite simply. When he behaved as you mentioned, he was instantly reprimanded-- never struck, but there were times I pinned him on his back to show who was boss. When he behaved well, he was heaped with praise. At first I even used one of the 'pinch' collars which was very effective. Used correctly, it is not cruel and gives an instant reminder of when a behavior is bad. In no time he learned it was much more desireable to have the praise, which he gets, to this day. Unless your dog simply has mental problems (which some do), demanding she act acceptably in social settings is the best thing you can do for you and HER. Good luck.

Answer 3

I have a Dakota Shepherd who was like that.... We wanted him to stop growling and biting at people and aniimals that came into the house so we trained him not to... We practically tried every training technique to stop this and the only thing that worked was this...

Wolves are dogs distant cousins and they are able to dominate eachother and live together peacefully as long as the wolves know who is the Alpha..... Well when you have a regular dog you are its Alpha... Now when wolves scowld eachother it can be in ways of fighting....or they will stand over the other lower raning wolf and bare their teeth and the wolf begins to understand...


So what we did is everytime our shepherd indi growled at the dog we would get on the ground to its level and place our body over the dog and make the dog lay down saying No. Do not yell at your dog... just get ahold of its collar make it lay down and instintly say know... make sure that you do this everytime your dog growls at someone or bites or anything... Do not let your dog go wondering around with other people being afraid of it... Make sure your dog understands that you are pack leader. Do not let your dog get away with it even once make sure that you instintantly take care of the problem!!


I hope this helps!!

Answer 4

Enroll in a basic training class and discuss the aggression problem with your instructor. People think small dogs don't need training in obedience and being a good citizen, but they do just as much as big dogs.

Who knows, maybe some day your little Malti will be an obedience champion!

Answer 5

The Maltese is spirited, lively and playful. Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master and highly intelligent but you have to show her "who's the boss"....every time when she barks, you tell her to look at you and say "wrong" in the strong voice or use your finger hit her on the mouth (not too hard) but she needs it sometime. Maltese is very good listener.
My Maltese bark a lot too but that what I do, it's work every well every time I use the word "wrong" they're sitting down.
Good luck ....

Answer 6

theres more than one way to be the leader. here's a few tips.
1. Teach basic comands like Sit, Stay. Lay Down, and Come
2. In and out doors or up and down stairs, You need to be in front. If she tries taking the lead, gently but forcibly move nudge her away with your foot, using a leash to keep her behind
3. make her work for dinner. Make her do a Sit/Stay combo when putting down the dinner dish. Even when the dish is down she is NOT to approach the food with out you saying it's ok first.
4. Keep her off the furnature. Give her a stern NO! and shove her down and keep her there.
-keep watching Ol Ceasar Milan though, he's got good tips!

Answer 7

my sister has a maltese and i have heard that "toy" breed of dogs. can be aggressive and "bossy". you dont say what you have tried but i have found that her dog is a bit afraid of plastic bags....now i know just listen. i love dogs...we keep the plastic bag...(like grocery bag) in our pocket. when the dog acts up all we have to do is take it out and shake it...and she becomes submissive...maybe there is something your dog shys away from ...maybe smacking a newspaper...but remember when you do this type of disipline..and they respond you must reward them. hope this helps.

Answer 8

Good info on this link.
I have a 90 pound mutt monster who is dominant and aggressive, so condsider yourself lucky that you only have a Maltese!

Answer 9

I would suggest puppy classes. Also, make sure that she doesn't have a biting problem because some states have severe laws against biting problems in dogs and it could lead to having to euthanize her. I would suggest training her or taking her to puppy classes.

Answer 10

Here are some articles on attitude adjustment:

Attitude adjustment
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/attitude.html

10 tips for Problem Behavior
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/probtips.html

Leadership Basics
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/leadership.html

Aggression: A case history
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/casehis.html

Handling on-lead aggression
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/onldagg.html

Aggression basics
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/aggressionbasics.html

Some reasons for aggression
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/aggreasons.html

Teaching self-control
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/selfpg.html

Answer 11

Please, please, PLEASE consult a behaviorist or trainer who does problem solving in your area. Aggression is nothing to fool around with; treating it requires experience, skill, and impeccable timing. Some of the suggestions provided are good ones, but they are difficult for a novice to implement correctly. A trainer can train you in proper methods. Go to www.apdt.com to find someone near you or ask your vet for a referal.