57 - January 31 – The Biting Truth

I meet a lot of clients who introduce themselves by saying “I’m calling you because my dog is being aggressive and I don’t know what to do.” My heart immediately goes out to these owners as I remember quite clearly the first time I realized I had a dog with issues and how distraught I was over the revelation. Aggression – or reactivity, as well known trainer Chris Bach refers to it – is difficult. It can truly be a life or death situation.

Aggression has so many causes, so many subtleties, it would be dangerous and unprofessional for me to address how to treat aggression without an in-depth consultation with a client first. There are, however, insights that can be shared which may help owners of reactive dogs gain some perspective and, hopefully, stop them from trying to imitate dangerous practices popularized on television (for which there is a warning “do not try this at home”) or as suggested by some force trainers.

Techniques such as the “Alpha Roll” or “Scruffing” are based on erroneous observations of captive wolf packs. These observations have been recanted by their author, David Mech. He pleads with the public to acknowledge his admission of his mistake. So what if wolves don’t do this? Can’t we still treat our dogs this way? Not if you are smart. A study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Behavior (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217141540.htm) concluded “if you are aggressive to your dog, your dog will be aggressive, too.” Lead author of the study, Meghan Herron, DVM, is quoted as saying “Aversive techniques can elicit an aggressive response in dogs because they can increase the fear and arousal in the dog, especially in those that are already defensive.” Most dogs are quite powerful and agile, capable of doing serious harm to a human if they so desire. Even the little ones can do some damage with their tiny razorblade teeth. Why would anyone want to elicit an aggressive response from a dog?

New research from Vanderbilt University (http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/x9941.xml) has determined that “the brain processes aggression as a reward – much like sex, food, and drugs.” In the study, a male mouse, given reason to be aggressive toward another male mouse (a female mouse nearby), actively pushed a target button if it allowed him the opportunity to access the intruder mouse and continue his aggression. The researchers concluded the primary mouse “experienced the aggressive encounter with the intruder as a reward.” Is it possible that dogs could find aggression rewarding, just as the mice did? That is, could an aggressive encounter become as rewarding to the dog as a piece of steak? How about human pet owners? Is it possible aggressive behavior is internally rewarding to them? Before you write it off as mere speculation, consider the number of people who find aggressive sports such as hockey, football, boxing, and ultimate fighting extremely rewarding to watch. It is possible aggressive actions on the part of either a dog or its owner or both could be self-rewarding and thus, hard to extinguish.

Kevin Myers, in a recent post titled “Are We Training Our Dog Or Training For A fight” (http://dogloversdigest.com/post.cfm/are-we-training-our-dog-or-training-for-a-fight), wrote of closing his eyes and listening to the terms he heard on a popular television dog training series. On the list were “attack,” “claim your space,” “be dominant,” and many others that would suggest an adversarial relationship. Adversaries fight. The winner is not always clear cut. You may walk away without a bite, but the chance remains you have merely suppressed the behavior, much like removing the battery from a smoke detector. If there’s a fire, you may not know until it’s too late. A fellow trainer reported a severe bite from a golden retriever who had been punished for growling, thus eliminating the early warning system the dog had previously given. Punishing a dog for aggression is dangerous.

So if we are not supposed to handle an aggressive dog using the outdated and dangerous methods shown on television and used by compulsion trainers, what are we supposed to do? Obviously, my first suggestion is to find a positive trainer to evaluate the situation. A good positive trainer will be able to identify cases which are not severe and which may respond to methods the owner can safely replicate at home. That same trainer should also be honest enough to refer cases to a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Veterinary Behaviorist if the case is beyond his or her expertise. Avoid any trainer who “guarantees” results. A behavioral protocol may be recommended that involves a technique called desensitization and counter conditioning. This is the method many professionals use with humans to decrease their fears of flying, snakes, heights, etc. Sometimes, the Veterinary Behaviorist will also recommend drug therapy in conjunction with behavioral treatment. Sadly, some dog aggression cases cannot be safely resolved and the dog must be euthanized.

There are many resources available for owners whose dogs have issues. Websites such as http://aggressivebehaviorsindogs.com/, and http://www.fearfuldogs.com/ are two developed by knowledgeable trainers. Books by authors Wilde, Donaldson, McConnell and O’Heare can provide step-by-step protocols to help you plan a strategy for your aggressive dog. There is no easy answer, no magical solution. It takes work, time, and commitment. “Reality” shows may provide entertainment for some, but they provide solutions for none.