Sherry Davis: What's up with the whining and growls?
| Sunday, Feb 07 2010 10:05 AM
Last Updated Sunday, Feb 07 2010 10:05 AM
Obedience training is teaching a dog to obey specific commands.
Problem solving is focused on attempting to change unacceptable and unwanted behaviors.
Obedience training is conditioning. Problem solving is reconditioning.
Both are aspects of behavior modification.
Consider the two cases below.
Jeff has three children and a 5-year-old Pug that is marking the family's things in the house. The dog used to sleep with the tween daughter, but for about a month now, he has not been allowed in the house.
Worse yet, he has developed a barking and whining problem whenever he hears the daughter inside. Jeff says the daughter doesn't walk or play with the dog anymore, and he thinks the dog is "acting out" and feeling confused and isolated. Plus, the daughter was never responsible in caring for the dog.
When someone calls me for suggestions on the type of dog to get their children, I tell them I can help select a dog that is breed and temperament appropriate for a family with children. But I stress that parents should not get a dog for a child based on promises to, or on the condition of, them being responsible for its care.
While a child can share in the care of a dog, it is the rare child that has the maturity and focus to follow through in doing so, especially once the newness wears off.
The responsibility for this dog's care, training and psychological welfare cannot be left to a child.
Of course, in this case, the dog is crying and barking. The people he loves have thrown him out, and he certainly doesn't associate his disposition with his marking.
It doesn't matter whether the daughter doesn't want him anymore. The parents, as the adult owners, must deal with the marking issue and bring this dog back in the house.
Pugs are people dogs.
They do not do well in isolation. They are strong-willed and mischievous and are challenging to housebreak as puppies. With proper training, they will reward their owner's efforts with many years of clownish behavior and undying devotion.
Since this is a recent problem, it is likely displacement behavior as he is marking personal items to let everyone know that these are "his pack's" things, and as such, his property. A lack of clearly defined leadership, rules and boundaries are causing him confusion and insecurity as to his place in the family dynamic. This is a dog that was treated like a baby before the novelty wore off and is now demanding that attention again.
My suggestion would be to (a) Enroll this dog in a basic obedience class to establish a leader-follower relationship between him and the owner; or (b) Control his freedom in the house by using a combination of crate training, keeping him on a leash, and/or put a bellyband/diaper on him.
For more on marking, see my Jan. 15 column: "Teach your dog the right place to go" at bakersfield.com
Anna has a 6-year-old Lhasa that started growling a couple years ago. Whenever he is picked up, they attempt to move him, or he is sitting with one of the family and another person approaches, he growls.
He never bites or appears vicious, but the owner doesn't want to assume he won't. Should she be concerned or live with his "griping"?
There are several things going on here. When this behavior started several years ago, it didn't set off a warning bell to the family to do anything about it. Interpreting the growling as "griping or complaining" is anthropomorphism, which is giving human characteristics to non-human creatures.
They probably thought it was amusing in the beginning that he was "talking" to them.
This dog is showing dominance behavior and warning his family when he doesn't like their actions. Because his family has not established themselves as leaders in this relationship, he has decided to make his own rules and boundaries for "their" behavior. One of the most instinctual ways dogs assert their dominance is by controlling their space.
Dogs that won't move out of your way or control access to furniture are communicating their "owning" of the space. Being picked up is a submissive behavior. Most people assume that a held dog is only being protective by growling at approaching people. That assumption is false. These are usually insecure dogs that have used growling to intimidate humans. Physically correcting or yelling at a dog for showing dominant behavior can cause an escalation to aggression. Ignoring it says to the dog that you accept its leadership position. Seek professional help.
We humans have brought dogs into our lives and homes for centuries as hunters, protectors and companions. We love and admire them for their intelligence, beauty and loyalty. While there can be no doubt that countless people develop almost supernatural connections with their dogs, we do them a disservice when we humanize them. They are hard-wired to behave like their species. We fall in love with their "dogness." Attempting to turn them into humans only sets them up for failure.
Sherry Davis is a dog trainer/owner of CSI 4 K9s. E-mail her at doglady@bakersfield.com. These are her opinions and not necessarily those of The Californian.
