Dog becoming agressive?

Question

My chow/lab mix is 6 years old and is becoming more agressive. Bit the neighbor girl this summer and now just bit their pug/beagle puppy through the fence. Is humping our other dog (male) whenever they play. What behaviour mod can I do with him and what makes him more agressive?

dog is neutered and girl was reaching over fence into aour yard and puppy was running up and down fence line trying to get in our yard

Answer 1

I agree with Liberty. You are not the Pack leader. Check out Cesar Milan on National Geographic - read his books or watch his shows.

Chances are - your dog isn't getting enough exercise thereby he is acting out. Dogs need regualr exercise - and the best way is to take them for a walk (not just let them run around the yard!!) During the walk you keep them NEXT to your leg. Not on an extenda leash, not running all over the place. They follow you. At all times. That asserts you as Pack Leader.

The more exercise they get, the less "bored" they will be, the less energy they will have.

But you need to always keep an eye on your dog. If he is not good with children (not all dogs are!) then make sure you have him on a leash when kids are around. Not all dogs like other dogs - just like not all people like other people!

Check out Suzanne Clothier's comments as well. Many dogs exhibit bite inhibition and they are simply letting other dogs (albeit it sounds terrible to us) know that they are going to be the dominant one. They bite/nip. If the other dog doesn't end up with torn skin, it may just be an assertion of his dominance. Keep that in mind too.

Good luck - and definitely talk to your vet and consider training/obedience classes! And go for those walks!

Answer 2

I read all the other answers first, i suppose i come from a generation where neutering was never the first thing on the menu, yes it can work, but i have seen aggressive dogs neutered and it has not worked. From what you say it seams to be a matter of dominance, and this needs to be addressed correctly. By all means seek advice from a professional, but first do some research into the different training methods. As i said before I'm from a different generation, where harsher methods were the norm, that does not mean being cruel, just very firm. I think Cesar Millan's approach fits some where between the two. I have owned five very dominant dog in my lifetime and two whilst i had small children, none of the dogs were neutered and none of my family have Been bitten. But it is an issue that you must address straight away, it won't go away it will just increase. Best of luck

Answer 3

Is your dog neutered? If not I would suggest you have him fixed, this will not only calm him down it is healthier for him. As far as biting, there are so many variables, what was the dog doing? eating sleeping etc, was the girl annoying him? and almost the same for the puppy, your dog may have had enough of the puppy and was telling him/her to stay away. Your dog is almost a senior citizen and like most of us, we get a bit grumpy in our old age, and I'm not saying because he's old that gives him the right, but without more details it's kind of vague. Humping is a way a dog can show domination. Make sure your dog realizes you are the pack leader and exercise discipline and affection the the road to take to become the leader of your pack. I hope this helps, best regards KG

Answer 4

Contrary to the ninny above, these are not the signs of rabies. they are, however, the signs of a Chow who is getting older or is in pain.

I doubt that hip xrays have ever ben done but dysplaisa is VERY common, particularly in labs. If he is having some paiin from the early on set of arthritis from dysplaisa, yep, he is goiing to get very cranky and very dominant (as in humping the other dog.) He needs to establish that he is the boss and that he is to be left alone when he wants left alone.

You need a FULL physical to eliminate any physical causes of the behavior like pain.

By the way, Chows are not good with children - the neighbor girl ,and they don't take kindly to little puppies that yap yip and leap.

You never get a Chow when they have to put up with kids. They are a guarding breed and not amused by fast moving things or people or sudden noises or sounds.

I've a Chow/Australian Shepherd -Keeshond (now nearly 15) and the older she got, the more she gave new meaning to the word b - - ch. She is fine with kids - if they don't try to restrain her physically or get to rough -petting nicely is fine -but she terrorizes my young dog who is twice her size (and that lummox adores her for it.) She loathes little dogs and puppies that yap and leap - thinks they should all be removed from the earth. Older she got, the bossier and more dominant she got.

If it merely that he is an aging Chow, nothing you can do but really get after him if he is dog or people aggresive. (don't worry about the humping- if the other gets sick of it,he'll ge outof the way or let the Chow have it.)

Answer 5

If he is a male and not neutered, he will be aggressive, the part of Chow is an agrressive dog and will bite. If he is not neutered, I would suggest to get him neutered, that will help some aggression and the humping is a dominance factor, he is showing he is the dominent one. If that don't work I would suggest a muzzle so he won't bite anyone and also consult with your vet.

Answer 6

The first step in any modification for aggressive dogs is called a risk of injury assessment. Bites to small children, bites to the face and unprovoked/unpredictable aggression have incredibly poor prognosis and should be approached with extreme caution. Aggressive dogs are never 'cured'; they're simply taught what responses are unwanted and, in a perfect world, kept in check.

You must first identify what triggers these aggressive displays. Dogs who are left to roam a yard (confined or unconfined) without supervision are very likely to exhibit aggressive displays toward other people or animals who they feel are encroaching on their territory. My recommendation is to no longer let him outside without being on a leash with an adult holding the other end. If he shows signs of aggression (ANY form - raising of the hackles, growl, bristling hair, etc.) interupt the behavior, redirect him with a "sit" command, and offer a treat. Ideally this will teach him that these behaviors are not appropriate. Punishing him physically or raising your voice may only fuel the aggression and cause him to exhibit these behaviors toward you.

The mounting is referred to as a sexually dimorphic behavior, meaning that is is more common in males than females, especially if they are not spayed/neutered. If he's not neutered, it may help to have this procedure performed to curb the mounting behavior. However, it us unlikely that the aggression will resolve with a simple surgical intervention. If the mounting is a serious problem, you can keep his leash on him, loose on the floor, to be grasped and tugged to interupt the behavior.

Aggressive dogs can be very difficult to control, especially if the aggression is worsening. Seeking the help of a veterinary or behavioral professional is the best idea in this situation, as each dog needs very specific and consistent enforcement of modificiation techniques. Contacting your local vet would be a great start in obtaining names of reliable and trusted trainers. Please take an objective look at the risk of injury from this dog; as much as you may love him, the danger of having an aggressive dog is not only serious to you, but to your neighbors, who would be quite within their legal limits to take financial action against you for your dog.

Good luck with your dog.

Answer 7

If he is not neutered, there's your first mistake and fisrt reason to the aggression.

Second, Chow-Chows are known for biting and aggression.

Third, obedience training is a must, even at 6 years olf. You are the alfa, show him that.

Answer 8

This means you have not taken your place as the pack leader. There are many things that need to be done and soon to avoid this from escalating any further.

The more he feels there is no set "pack leader," the more he will exhibit this behavior. Do not hit, yell, scold, or "punish him, " as this may evoke a bite at this point.

Check out my website and let me know if I can be of assistance.
http://www.libertydogtraining.com

Answer 9

I would seek the the help of your vet first to make sure there is nothing medically wrong with him to cause him to act this way. If not, I would seek the help of a very reputable trainer or veterinary animal behaviorist for advice on this problem. Obviously he is biting and his behavior could get worse. Please seek the help of a professional. Good Luck I have been here with my dog.

Answer 10

Since he is 6 years old and just starting to exhibit these aggressive characteristics, it could be something physical that is causing him to behave this way. I would take him for a complete vet exam.