Aggressive Behaviors

mom2bichons · #1 08-08-2006, 09:23 AM

Hello, I have a question to all dog owners (not being impartial to cats if this happens with your cats, share you information too)

Gidget can be a bit aggressive at first. Once you do not show her any fear, she goes and gets you a toy and all things are fine. Also she has always been the queen bee (so she thinks the queen, ha that is me) and with other dogs she goes right for the jugular at first, until she gives them a chance and realizes she can play and have fun with them.

My concern is going up north for a couple of days, my brothre and sister-in-law have three dogs themselves. They said they are not worried about it in the least. They have met her and never gave her a chance to be snitty with them and Gidget likes them. One is a big dog, (a female border collie) which Gidget automatically gets snippy, the other one is very submissive (a female brussels griffon) and a little one who has the same attitude as her (a male chihuahua) to say the least she will calm down but she gets this way. Dexter I know will totally be is seventh heaven and bark at them at first and totally play like no tomorrow.

Gidget, at our first house when we adopted her, we had a huge parkway that was for dogs, and my neighbor with her best bud of all, Charlie, and Gidget and the moms used to daily go to the park, and there was a lot of big dogs...many. Who Gidget snapped at all of them at first and they walked away. We did the walk thing daily and by day three the big dogs all sat down when they saw Gidget and basically waited to see what her mood was. She seemed to think that was easier to join in when they start from a sitting position, she made her rounds to say hello and off to playing with her joining in.

I know that she is a little aggressive, but she is a wonderful dog, and I love to death...I am nervous...I need Cesar Milan to come and give me advice. I know not to send negative energy through the leash, I have to put that in play.

HELP with advice please.

Straightlaced · #2 08-08-2006, 03:58 PM

Talk about aggression and bad behavior!

I know where you're coming from Beth, because I had a very bad experience with my two dogs, one a pitbull and another, a Japanese Spitz-toy terrier mix, not once but twice, sometime last year. Both dogs used to get along well with each other, but a mistake with a leftover chunk of chicken left the bigger dog clobbering the smaller one. I rue that day so much, because I was alone at that time and I have never forgiven myself for being so stupid at waving that tiny morsel over those two dogs' heads. To top it all, I ended up getting hurt---my hand got caught somewhere in between teeth!

Anyway, if you're unsure whether your dog'll behave around other dogs, it's best that you keep a tight leash first, don't leave your dog unattended with other dogs to prevent untoward incidents and give them room to "sniff" each other out for starters. If they don't warm up to one another in the onset, they probably sense hesitation on your part. That contributes to distrust. You'll notice that by introducing them right away will help your cause, as well as the dogs' to get to know one another. I know I will never have that luxury with my own dogs after what happened in the past, because they do hold grudges and keep them!

mom2bichons · #3 08-08-2006, 09:36 PM

Oh my goodness, you poor thing. I hope your hand is ok now. Your pups sound very beautiful, hopefully you will post their pictures. I would love to see what they look like.

I agree with you too, they really do sense what the feelings are of the mom or dad holding the leash. I also know that I am comfortable with the in-laws dogs, they are good dogs and would not harm anyone or anything.

We are giving it a try and they will not be unattended just because things can happen at any time.

Thank you for consoling me with this.

I hope your hand is ok.

Erica · #4 08-09-2006, 05:01 AM

Beth,
When are you going up north? Do you have time to take over your dogs to socialize with your in-laws dogs before you go? If you do I would definately suggest this. Taking them for supervised visits to get to know your in-laws dogs ahead of time would be helpful. It sounds like Gidget is your alpha dog. Therefore she might try to dominate. If your able to set up a play date to introduce all the dogs ahead of time then you might have a better idea of what to expect from Gidget and your in-law's dogs as well.

Erica

mom2bichons · #5 08-10-2006, 11:37 PM

We do not have a lot of socializing time because they live two hours away...I wish we did. Gidget likes both Jeff and Jeanne.

I have taken Gidget on trips to Indiana with all of my family who have dogs, and she did great, ran and played like nothing.

I asked them to send me a towel with their dogs scents on them. She kind of giggled but said she would.

hmay · #6 08-21-2006, 05:37 AM

Hi Beth,
I know exactly what u are going through, I have 7 large breed dogs, and they all get along great, but no#2 and #3 have a love/hate relationship which can lead to them having a fight. It's usually over silly things, It sounds like small dog syndrome where they try to take on all dogs regardless of the other dogs size. She being the alpha dog as well doesn't help, it can also be that she's being protective towards you as well.My suggestion is introduce her to your inlaws dogs one at a time, so she can get used to that one then add the next dog etc.Also try not to give your inlaws dogs too much attention, as this could make her jealous and aggressive all over again.
Hope all goes well....Heather.

mom2bichons · #7 08-21-2006, 09:06 AM

Heather thank you. You are right I call it the Neopolian Syndrome that she has (meaning she is the in charge alpha dog and she is small) She did well with my sisters two big dogs. She only snapped at the one who would not leave her rump area alone. I will not hold her as this makes her feels braver. She needs to be on her own terms.

My in laws have very good dogs and all of which are used to little dogs. They have three total now, a border collie, a brussels griffon, a chihuahua. Two females and a male. Gidget seems to do better with being the only female, but not the case. (Again the alpha situation)

She is doing better and she likes to play with the pups after she realizes that they want to play and not hurt her. Dexter has no problems with anyone or thing at all, he is such a lover and a great natured pup it is unreal.

mom2bichons · #8 08-21-2006, 09:15 AM

I think I need to fill everyone in on the fact I think I helped Gidget be a little more aggressive with others.

When we first found out no 2 legged children Michael (hubby) surprised me with let's get a puppy. I picked her out and she was absolutely tiny and not well. She fit in the palm of my hand. We brought her home and introduced her to our neighbors (who then a week later got her "cousin" Charlie) and my mom and his father and brother. Well I let people pet her, but I didn't with holding her. (other than the above named) She was my baby...and well not good. She also had a bad experience with a child who hit her and since in the neighborhood she grew up in has no children she doesn't like them. (We know few people who have children to have introduced her to and they lived far away) She would go after them. This happened when she was four months old and that is crucial to reintroduce and fix but no children around what was I to do?

Dexter on the other hand, I didn't want to cause this attitude to happen again, so I had tons of people come and pet him and hold him. He loves children (he will play until they start the yelling/screaming with delight sound, he runs away then, he doesn't like loud noises) and the worst he will do is bark until all the dogs in the neighborhood come in the yard to play with him.

I have to mention that we found out after paying for a pure bred with Gidget (which doesn't matter to us either way) that she is a bichon frise/maltese mix. She is smaller, a tiny bit larger than a full femal maltese, but a runt per bichon standards. Then there is Dexter pure bred bichon frise, you can tell the difference.

I do not know this first hand at all, but the vet mentioned Gidget has the personality of a maltese at first, then when she gets to know you she has to bichon character personality. Dexter is pure bichon personality character.