Let's Talk About Aggression

For some time now, I have wanted to start a discussion regarding Aggression. When I researched the Shiba Inu breed, most websites noted that Shibas were considered "mildly aggressive" in their temperament. I think we all are aware that Shibas are also born believing they are the Alpha, and can quickly take on that role if they feel there isn't one in their "pack" or family. They are a challenging breed. This does not mean every Shiba will become aggressive. How do you know who really is Alpha in your home? Alpha is the one making all the decisions.

I feel this is a very personal issue, and I understand from my own experiences with Sushi, how complex and difficult it can be to fully understand what is going on, how it began, how to stop it. I will go into more details about me & Sushi in the following post.

Yes, I have met aggressive Shibas. Yes, I have met Shibas that have the potential to become aggressive. Yes, there is help available. Yes, in most cases, the problem can be resolved. It isn't always easy.

This group's main priority is to have fun! But, it also serves as educational, and like a support group at times. Because the topic of Aggression can be difficult for some to talk about, please understand this is meant to be a safe place for us to discuss this issue. We all can learn from each other's experiences.

I encourage any of you that have had to deal with aggression in any form - mild to very serious, to share your experiences. You will not be judged. No one will be lectured. I know it is difficult to talk about, but your experiences may help someone else.

My hope is that those experiencing issues now, or if they do in the future, will be able to get help, the right help as soon as possible. This discussion could provide owners with the right tools to PREVENT aggressive behaviour, also.

I encourage everyone to participate, ask questions, provide information, suggestions, and most importantly hope and support.


Bonnie & Sushi

TYPES OF AGGRESSION

A dog's bark may be worse than his bite, but most of us would rather not find out one way or the other. Growling, baring teeth, snarling, snapping, and biting are all aggressive behaviors?but dog aggression includes any behavior meant to intimidate or harm a person or another animal. Although these messages are among the handful of communication tools available to dogs, they're generally unacceptable to humans. Because humans and dogs have different communication systems, misunderstandings can occur between the two species.

But from a dog's perspective, there's always a reason for aggressive behavior. A person may intend to be friendly, but a dog may perceive that person's behavior as threatening or intimidating. Dogs aren't being schizophrenic, psychotic, crazy, or necessarily "vicious" when displaying aggressive behavior.

Because aggression is so complex, and because the potential consequences are so serious, we recommend that you get professional in-home help from an animal behavior specialist if your dog is displaying aggressive behavior.

Types of Aggression

Dominance Aggression: Dominance aggression is motivated by a challenge to a dog's social status or to his control of a social interaction. Dogs are social animals and view their human families as their social group or "pack." Based on the outcomes of social challenges among group members, a dominance hierarchy or "pecking order" is established.

If your dog perceives his own ranking in the hierarchy to be higher than yours, he'll probably challenge you in certain situations. Because people don't always understand canine communication, you may inadvertently challenge your dog's social position. A dominantly aggressive dog may growl if he is disturbed when resting or sleeping or if he is asked to give up a favorite spot, such as the couch or the bed. Physical restraint, even when done in a friendly manner (like hugging), may also cause your dog to respond aggressively. Reaching for your dog's collar, or reaching over his head to pet him, could also be interpreted as a challenge for dominance. Dominantly aggressive dogs are often described as "Jekyll and Hydes" because they can be very friendly when not challenged. Dominance aggression may be directed at people or at other animals. The most common reason for fights among dogs in the same family is instability in the dominance hierarchy.

Fear-Motivated Aggression: Fear-motivated aggression is a defensive reaction and occurs when a dog believes he is in danger of being harmed. Remember that it's your dog's perception of the situation, not your actual intent, which determines your dog's response. For example, you may raise your arm to throw a ball, but your dog may bite you because he believes he's protecting himself from being hit. A dog may also be fearfully aggressive when approached by other dogs.

Protective, Territorial, and Possessive Aggression: Protective, territorial, and possessive aggression are all very similar, and involve the defense of valuable resources. Territorial aggression is usually associated with defense of property, and that "territory" may extend well past the boundaries of your yard. For example, if you regularly walk your dog around the neighborhood and allow him to urine-mark, he may think his territory includes the entire block. Protective aggression usually refers to aggression directed toward people or animals whom a dog perceives as threats to his family, or pack. Dogs become possessively aggressive when defending their food, toys, or other valued objects, including items as peculiar as tissues stolen from the trash.

Redirected Aggression: This is a relatively common type of aggression but one that is often misunderstood by pet owners. If a dog is somehow provoked by a person or animal he is unable to attack, he may redirect this aggression onto someone else. For example, two family dogs may become excited, and bark and growl in response to another dog passing through the front yard; or two dogs confined behind a fence may turn and attack each other because they can't attack an intruder. Predation is usually considered to be a unique kind of aggressive behavior because it's motivated by the intent to obtain food, and not primarily by the intent to harm or intimidate.

Individual Variation

The likelihood of a dog to show aggressive behavior in any particular situation varies markedly from dog to dog. Some dogs tend to respond aggressively with very little stimulation. Others may be subjected to all kinds of threatening stimuli and events and yet never attempt to bite.

The difference in the threshold prompting aggressive behavior is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. If this threshold is low, a dog will be more likely to bite. Raising the threshold makes a dog less likely to respond aggressively. This threshold can be raised using behavior modification techniques, but the potential for change is influenced by a dog's gender, age, breed, general temperament, and the way in which the behavior modification techniques are chosen and implemented.

Because working with aggressive dogs can be potentially dangerous, behavior modification techniques should only be attempted by, or under the guidance of, an experienced animal behavior professional who understands animal learning theory and behavior.

What You Can Do:

* First, check with your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for the aggressive behavior.
* Seek professional advice. An aggression problem will not go away by itself. Working with aggression problems requires in-home help from an animal behavior specialist.
*Take precautions. Your first priority is to keep people and other animals safe. Supervise, confine, and/or restrict your dog's activities until you can obtain professional guidance. You are liable for your dog's behavior. If you must take your dog out in public, consider a cage-type muzzle as a temporary precaution, and remember that some dogs are clever enough to get a muzzle off.
* If your dog is possessive of toys or treats, or territorial in certain locations, prevent access and you'll prevent the problem.
*Spay or neuter your dog. Intact dogs are more likely to display dominance, territorial, and protective aggressive behavior.

What NOT to Do:

*Punishment won't help and, in fact, will often make the problem worse. If the aggression is motivated by fear, punishment will make your dog more fearful, and therefore more aggressive. Attempting to punish or dominate a dominantly aggressive dog may actually lead him to escalate his behavior to retain his dominant position. This is likely to result in a bite or a severe attack. Punishing territorial, possessive, or protective aggression is likely to elicit additional defensive aggression.

© 2002. Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.

Bonnie & Sushi

This is not easy for me to "spill my guts" ,so to speak, about this. Only a couple of you know the full extent of what I have experienced with Sushi. Telling others "Sushi does not get along with bigger dogs" is the short version. Here is the full version:

Sushi is 4.5 yrs old. He started having fear and re-directed aggression when he was nearly 2 yrs old. It did not happen over night, although it seems like it did.

Fear (as a pup) - crossing a busy street with me. Jumps up and is hanging off the sleeve of my jacket with his teeth (re-directed).

Fear (1 yr old) - was pinned down at a dog park by a large dog. Was not physically hurt. He becomes very vocal aggressively towards bigger dogs - snarling, growling, teeth bared. When I try to take hold of his leash, correct him, or stop him - he has bitten me and yes, he has broken the skin. It was explained to me that when I touch him, in his mind the dog he is focusing on has just touched him - he does not realize it is ME.

I have been bitten 3 times by Sushi, but he has made many more attempts.

I have been through the whole range of emotions because of this: I've cried my eyes out, to be honest. How can Sushi be such a good dog, but behave this way towards me? I'm just trying to help, why doesn't he understand that? How can he do this to me, I take such good care of him, I'm a good dog owner! What am I going to do? How much more of this can I take? I've felt embarrassed to say the least. I"ve felt denial. I've felt fear. I"ve felt complete hopelessness. What if I couldn't help him? What happens then? I don't want to give up my dog, besides who wants a dog that bites? And, with that realization....the real kicker, what if I have to have my dog euthanized. I really did think that.

Yes, I have felt all of these things. To top it off, I Organize a Meetup group where I can't or don't want to bring my own dog!

Sushi has not hurt another dog, it has all been re-directed towards me. Why? Because he does not see me as his Alpha, pure and simple. In the home, no problems. Outside, around other dogs, big problem. The reason - Sushi feels me hesitate around other dogs, I may tense up, hold onto the leash tighter than I realize, and he feels the need to step up and take charge because I am not.

I"ve been to a Behaviourist for help, and she did help. She helped me understand what kind of aggression Sushi has, explained the body posture, helped me to catch the signals so that I could prevent the aggression before it begins or escalates. What I learned on my own was the psychology behind it all. I eventually learned what it meant to be Alpha, and how to go about becoming Alpha.

It has been 2 yrs of ups and downs, successes and relapses. I've done research, I watch tv shows such as The Dog Whisperer and At the End of My Leash. I've learned to fake confidence with Sushi until I really do feel confident. I"ve learned new techniques, that just within the past month I have seen tremendous results. YAY!

And, let me tell you, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world to have more hope, to see my Sushi as his old self - just enjoying himself at the dog park, no matter the size of the dog, the breed, etc...

Why did it take me this long? Well, honestly, first I had to accept what was going on and get help. I got the help, but the acceptance that it was ME and not Sushi, took much longer. Sushi would behave perfectly with the trainer, but not with me. She was in control and he understood that.

Sushi has worn a muzzle. I still have it, but he does not wear it anymore. It was not used as punishment. It was used to protect me while I learned how to work with him. It was used as a tool - when he behaved properly, the muzzle came off right away. I"ve learned his triggers, his body language, other dog's body language and even the other dog's owner's body language. I know when to go in another direction and when to walk by another dog.

It takes time, patience, and a full commitment, not to mention a "never give up" attitude.

I love my Sushi, he's a wonderful dog. We're working on things.


Bonnie & Sushi

I am so glad that Sushi is getting better with his aggression. I know how difficult it is to live with. My last dog Mindy had dominance aggression toward other dogs and children. She sounded so vicious when she saw another dog. Fortunately She always stopped short of biting. I did'nt let her go near children and I avoided other dogs as much as possable.
I experienced the same feelings & emotions you have. I think its great that you are getting the help you need and I am so happy that Sushi is becoming the wonderful dog he was ment to be. Lots of love, Marg & Lucy

Bonnie
Thank you for your honesty and sharing Sushi and your story!

It takes courage to look at ourselves, I know I have also learned so much, thanks to the Meet-UP and members, Shiba Rescue GTA and the friends I have made, and the willingness to learn from a variety of resources.
Just like raising a kid, they don't hand you a manual, we have to learn from our sucess and failures.

Great info you posted there, thank you.
Keep up the great work Bonnie, pat yourself on the back!
One day at a time!!

Funny how our pets bring out our emotions, I notice alot more now that I have been "checking my energy/state when I am doing various things with the dogs" Really neat what you learn!
I have shead many a tear also, a good thing I take it as losing the baggage, I carry with regards to sucess's and failure's. A dog lives in the moment there lucky, wish I could sometimes!!! LOL

Colleen

Thanks Marg & Colleen. Writing it out was harder than I even expected. I typed out the first sentence and just sat here for about 10 minutes. I know you both have gone through tough times, too.

I know others have experienced or might be experiencing some kind of aggression with their pooch. It happens. Just because I am "Organizer" doesn't mean I know everything about dogs or Shibas - not at all, it's continual learning for me.

Sushi and I had another successful day at the park today - he played with a 10 month old Poodle (the large type), very bouncy, playful. Everything that would normally set Sushi off. They were great together. The Poodle had great body language and read Sushi's very well - knew when to leave him alone, but sure was persistent in trying to get Sushi to play. And, they did, plus a few chases around the park too - I loved it!

Bonnie & Sushi

Hi Bonnie,

I totally understand where you are coming from. As you know I am going through the same issues you had with Sushi but Kylie's a little more problematic as she has a couple of aggression problems. She has possession and fear aggression along with alpha queen sydrome. :(
In Kylie's case she was like that at 9 weeks old, as soon as I brought her home she was growling and showing her teeth at my other dog. (shitzu who is calm and submissive) I wanted to take her back and made several attemps to get the breeder to help me but her reaction was 'my shocked' I got no help from her. Then I found you guys :) who have helpped me alot.
I first saw a behaviouist recommended by a member, I'm sure she is good with other dogs but she had no clue with a Shiba. It was not a total waste, she did give me insight on the alpha problem and some ways of helping to correct it. But Kylie need a more hands on pro to work with her.
Kylie is now almost 3 years old, my family and I where at the point were do we keep her and live in fear or spend the money and time to find her help or do we give her away?. I was so despreate I tried to get the DOG Whisper to come (Ceaser Milan) from the dog show in the US to help her but no Canadian visites or online help, too busy.
So I did alot a reseach and found a Canadian verson in Peteborough. He is a German police dog trainer who now owns and runs Jungle Cat world and Havelberg Dog Academy. I highly recommend him (Wolfbram is his name) Its a boot came for 6 weeks where you leave your dog. This part would be too long to disscus but check him out, google jungle cat world.
To cut it short when I picked Kylie up she was a changed dog. More confident, not skippish to outside noises and now is a little submissive. She is more attentive to me and my family members. She knows her place in the home. She still has issues with other dogs but now I can walk by others with out her freaking out. We are working on this issue everyday and its a slow process.
I may be able to bring her to one of the meet ups in the near future :)

Thanks for sharing your story as I know the emotions that come with an aggressive Shiba.

You can see Kylie with Wolfbram at the dog train camp in one of my photos. Kylie with a german sheppard sitting beside each other, now thats a shocker!

Debbie

I have used Havelberg as well. Wolfram Klose is very good. It is located in Orono close to where I live. The
phone # 905 983 5016. web is www.havelbergdogacademy.com If any one is interested.
Marg & Lucy

Debbie, thank you for posting, I was hoping that you would :)

I am so glad that Kylie is getting better. It really takes a lot of patience, along with trial and error sometimes, doesn't it!

You mentioned the "Alph Queen", lol. Well...Kylie is a Shiba ;) Sushi is the same. He still thinks he should be in charge, so when he does play with other dogs (bigger ones) I really keep an eye on him.

Sometimes, with the way Shibas play, it's hard to know when they are playing or showing dominance or aggression. Sushi looks like a shark sometimes, and yet, it's all play with him. I wish I could just tell him to keep his mouth shut, lol!

Bonnie & Sushi

This website has illustrations to help describe the different types of aggression.

Next time you go to the dog park, watch the other dogs, you may see some of the signs, you never know:

Canine Body Language

Bonnie & Sushi