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10-12-2014, 06:35 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6
| Mixed Signals - Is my dog cowardly or aggressive? And how can I fix it? Hi there! We just had our tiny, 3.2 pound, 5 month old female puppy to Thanksgiving, where she met a 10 month old male mutt named Fitz. They've met before and got on fairly well then, about a month ago. Tonight, she was kicking her back legs against the carpet when confronting Fitz, which, we now know after a quick google search, is territorial and dominant behaviour. The website we read says it's a way for dogs to show they're "big" and "powerful." Obviously, Luna is neither of those things. She was also running around playfully and sticking her butt up in the air with her front paws down, but then standing on her back legs to nip Fitz's face. It's not the first time I've been worried about Luna's behaviour around other dogs. She "plays" rough, sometimes lunging to bite other dogs' faces, and she does not easily allow other dogs to sniff her butt. Last time we took her to the dog park (a park specifically for small dogs), she was attacked by another dog, whose friend joined in, so that two dogs were attacking her. I think she instigated it, but it happened too fast for us to tell - we scooped her up because she wasn't coming when we called her, and she was squirming to get back down! Now with this territorial behaviour (we weren't even at our own house!) I'm worried she's going to get herself into trouble. The confusing part is that she's also a coward. She hides behind my mom and I, or backs up as far as the leash will allow, when an unfamiliar human or dog approaches her. She barks at dogs/humans when they're far away, but cowers when they come near. She shakes in new situations and sometimes tucks her tail under her. We have a personal dog trainer who calls her "neophobic" - that is, scared of new situations. It's really confusing to have a dog who is sometimes cowardly and other times aggressive. What's going on with Luna? Is part of it possibly because she hasn't been spayed? Will some of this behaviour go away once she is spayed? Should we be worried, and are there things we should be doing to help correct her behaviour? |
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10-13-2014, 05:32 AM | #2 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | I can't say if spaying will change any of this or not - good question. I don't have any great advice, but just wanted to say welcome to YT - and I hope we can find some support for you.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
10-13-2014, 09:28 AM | #3 |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Sounds just about like every puppy I have known lol. Putting her but in the air is a play bow and a lot of dogs do that when playing either buy themselves of with other dogs and that does not mean there aggressive. Puppies nip a lot and some dogs play by nipping at each other. My dog did not like other dogs sniffing her butt when she was a puppy either.
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! |
10-13-2014, 12:45 PM | #4 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| I agree with Taylor, sounds like a lot of puppies we meet on the street. I would continue exposing her to new things, although maybe not the dog park so much. Obedience and trick training helps with behavior in general. A class with other dogs would help. Try to arrange encounters with friendly, well behaved dogs on leash. Going on walks together would be ideal, and practicing a little obedience together. Max is great with puppies who want to jump all over him, bat him in the face, pull on his topknot. Just takes some maturity and guidance to learn how to interact with other dogs.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
10-13-2014, 01:13 PM | #5 |
YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario canada
Posts: 365
| Hi welcome I was wondering if you got your puppy for Nora. Nora just had a puppy go out with that name ? That sounds like Bella ( 1year 8 months now) when she was a puppy, but we slowly introduced her to other puppys and dogs and people. We were more concerned with barking so we trained her with a water bottle and it did a good job. Now we just show her the bottle and she know we want her to stop the noise. LOL I'm not sure about dog parks I'm not a fan of them for little dogs but thats just my opinion. Enjoy your new baby she will have you wrapped around her paw in no time. |
10-21-2014, 08:20 PM | #6 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6
| Sorry everyone, I sort of made this thread and abandoned it. I was suddenly busy with life, school, etc., I'm sure you all understand! Thanks for all your suggestions. I've figured Luna's just a fearful dog who tends to lash out as a result. I realize that puppies might tend to be more timid than dogs, but from what I've experienced, Luna's case is a bit more serious than other puppies - I don't think she's going to grow out of it without some serious training. Luckily I have 3 more sessions with a trainer who gives good, tailored advice and training techniques. mybellababy, no I didn't get Luna from Nora! My mom and I got her from a local(ish) breeder and picked the name ourselves (after Luna Lovegood, from Harry Potter!). Thanks again, and sorry for abandoning the thread! |
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aggressive, coward, dominant, scared, territorial |
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