Treatment
for Dog Aggression
To
diagnose the aggression problem your dog has and recommend treatment,
the first step will be to determine the types
of aggression your dog displays. Typically, there are many influences
involved in aggression that range from family dynamics to predictability.
A dog may have
a combination of different aggressive types and may not be easily
categorized.
For
example, a dog who chases bicycles may be doing so for territorial
reasons or for predatory reasons. That same dog may have problems
with others dogs that could stem from fear aggression, dominance
aggression, territorial aggression, protective aggression, etc.
A qualified expert will help you with this if you can provide a
concise history of your dog and his or her
aggression.
Medical
Issues
Why seek a qualified expert
How a qualified expert can help
Accurately
record your dog’s behavior and history
Treatment
methods
Failures
and Successes
When
things go wrong
Medical
Issues
It is important to attempt to rule out any medical
issues first. Over 50% of dogs presented to veterinarians
for behavioral problems have an underlying medical condition that
requires treatment [1]
Why
seek a qualified expert?
When medical issues are ruled out seek help with a qualified expert,
such as a veterinary
or applied animal behaviorist. While obedience training is
recommended as a strong part of a treatment program, obedience
training is not behavior modification. This usually goes beyond
the education of many standard trainers even if one claims to
be an expert on aggression (unfortunately there are several out
there claiming just that). Do your research on choosing a qualified
consultant or behaviorists. This is as important as the treatment
program itself.
Its
also important to seek help from an outsider (who is qualified)
because they can pinpoint where your dog may be subverting the
exercise. Most dogs are far more skilled at reading body language
than humans and learn to shape the behavior of their owners! Most
owners are quite good at learning how to respond correctly, but
need help doing it.
(Top of
page)
How
can a qualified expert help?
An
expert will be able to ask the right kinds of questions to diagnose
your dog, which is the first step in deciding on the kind of treatment
necessary.
Because
dogs and humans have similar social structures, we recognize many
canine signals. Unfortunately this is a problem because many people
assume that dogs’ signals are the same as ours. For example,
some dogs can interpret some of our signs of affection as a challenge.
[2]
A
qualified behaviorist and/or dog trainer should be able to identify
problem areas of your relationship with your dog, and teach you
what you need to know about dog behavior and how your dog might
be interpreting your own behavior. Many owners unknowingly perpetuate
the dog’s unwanted behavior. A behavior
modification program can be tailored to your unique situation,
and in severe cases, drug therapy treatment might be recommended.
Avoid any consultants that recommend a board
and train solution.
A
qualified behaviorist and/or dog trainer will also be able to
help you understand motivations and behaviors of your dog’s
aggression. In fact, what may seem unpredictable may in fact be
a case of not recognizing the subtle warning signs. True “out
of the blue” aggression is very rare. In most cases there
are plentu of warning signals, but they are misinterpreted by
owners. A qualified behaviorist and/or trainer can help with this.
While it is impossible to “cure” a dog’s aggression,
it is more than possible to control it safely. Prognosis
is very good for many dogs.
Ideally the initial round of behavior
modification will be demonstrated by the consultant, and then
would occur under the behaviorist and/or dog trainer's supervision
so you know if you are doing it right. From there, they should
be able to comment on timing problems, and instruct you when you
should changes your posture, tone, or the quickness of praise
or reward. It is entirely inappropriate to have a consultation
and not get the opportunity to practice in front of the behaviorist
and/or dog trainer or be sent home without a concise plan to follow.
(Top of
page)
Accurately
record your dog’s behavior and history
It
is important that you detail as much as you can about your dog’s
history, and the events that surround the aggression in order
to correctly diagnose the type of aggression your dog may have.
Don't worry about recording too much detail. No one is going to
say there is too much! Missing out some detail may be a problem
though.
(Top of
page)
Failures
and Successes
“The ability to view a behavior program objectively, and
the commitment and tenacity to follow through with the treatment
are essential for good results to be achieved.” [3]
While no consultant should ever give you any kind of guarantee,
you should understand foremost that the most common reason
for treatment failure is lack of owner compliance.
Consider
this. In many cases, your entire attitude will need to change,
and this is not always easy. Some times the hardest thing about
following a program is dealing with our expectations. It helps
to have support to get you through the tough patches. We recommend
this beginning
support e-group. It is designed as a forum to support owners of
aggressive dogs while you tackle your challenges. It is
not advised to accept training advice via the Internet, particularly
when the person has not assessed you or your dog.
The
most worrisome reason for failure is when you are already seeking
help from a consultant who simply is not truly qualified to deal
with aggression. This is what makes people give up and just
try to live with the problem unaware of how they may control it,
or worse, send there dog off to be put down. This sort of consultant
may not understand what you need to do, or may rely on treatment
methods such as excessive
isolation which potentially can backfire. There are many people
who convincingly claim to be authorities who are not. In this
case, always seek a qualified opinion from more than one source
before giving up. After a bad experience with a trainer,
some people have been too wary to seek help again.
It
is essential that the behaviorist and/or dogtrainer you choose
offers comprehensive methods that you will be comfortable maintaining
in the weeks and months ahead.
More
importantly, In order to succeed with your training program, it
is imperative that you find a behaviorist and/or dog trainer who
can effectively teach you how to modify your dog’s
aggressive behavior. Ultimately, it is you who lives with your
dog and his/her aggression, not the consultant.
(Top of
page)
References
[1]
Clinical
Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals,
Karen L. Overall, M.A., V.M.D., Ph.D.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary
Behavior, Department of Clinical Studies,
School
of Veterinary Medicine, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania,
Mosby, Inc. 1997
[2]
Dominance
aggression in dogs: part 1, Karen
L. Overall, MA, VMD. Phd, Dipl. ACVB,
Department of clinical Studies, School
of Veterinary medicine, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, http://www.hillTopanimalhospital.com
[3]
The
Dog Who Loved Too Much, Tales, Treatments,
and the Psychology of Dogs, Dr.
Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, MRCVS, Bantom Books,
1996
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lives of aggressive dogs, their owners
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