How To Fix: Trauma Response
We want our dog to be calm even if we share characteristics with someone who has caused “trauma” to our dog. The technique that helps dogs overcome trauma is called desensitization. Aggression in our dogs indicate that they have become over sensitized to a specific trigger. A trigger has been linked to something bad. Overtime the dog has become oversensitive to the trigger. Therefore we must desensitize our dog to the trigger.
A trigger that almost all dogs have been exposed to is barking dogs while walking on leash. If an off-leash dog ran over and began growling and snarling, then our dog might become sensitized to that situation. Now they start barking and lunging at the end of the leash whenever they hear a barking dog. Desensitization aims to remove the heighten response and allow the dog to respond in a more neutral way.
Many aggressive dogs have been practicing their aggression for years, and a handful of positive experiences will not yet balance that out. Desensitization often needs to be carried out at large distances over several months to build a solid history of the trigger being present but without the need to react.
You need opportunities for your dog to experience the trigger but in a diluted form. So rather than walking past the barking dogs house, you cross the street. At this distance, your dog knows that they are there but they do not react.
Many aggressive dogs have been practicing their aggression for years, and a handful of positive experiences will not yet balance that out. Desensitization often needs to be carried out over several months to build a solid history of the trigger being present but without the need to react.
Once your dog is no longer reacting to the trigger. Take one step closer towards it. If the dog begins to show signs of discomfort at the diluted form, reward. Keep practicing this until your dog is showing zero signs of reactivity.
Over time the distance can be reduced while you ensure your dog remains calm. Treats will make the trigger more pleasant to be around. Treats allow you to increase distance gradually. If your dog becomes reactive at any point, you pushed too hard. Go back a step.
Slow and steady is the perfect way to describe the desensitization process. When I first started dating my husband I was cautious of his intention because of negative experiences I had in the past. Overtime, I gained confidence in our relationship and no longer overreacted when his phone died or when he forgot to text back. Previous “trauma” sensitized me to those triggers. Six years later I did not think twice when my husband went on a bachelor trip to Las Vegas. However, if that trip had occurred 1 month into our relationship I doubt I would have handled it well. Your dog is the same way, if you rush the desensitization process your dog will likely react because he/she is still unconvinced about how safe it is to be in that situation.
If your dog is aggressive only towards women with long blonde hair, there’s still a lot of variation in the blonde hair population. For your dog to know that all women with long blonde hair are safe to be around, they’ll need to be introduced to various people during the desensitization process. You will need to ask helpers to get creative with what they wear, how they walk, and even their body language to introduce that variety. In other words, its highly unlikely that your dog is just aggressive to you and not your husband. It is more probably they are aggressive to women with similar traits to yourself.
It’s essential you control your environment when desensitizing your dog. This ensures that your dog has only neutral or positive experiences when near the trigger. Start the desensitization process in a safe space for your dog (i.e. house, certain room, under the bed). Unfortunately, too many times our environment only confirms our dogs behavior. There you are, twenty feet away from your helper and your dog, when suddenly an a high pitched scream comes from a young girl with long blonde hair. Now your dog has even more evidence that people with this characteristic need to be told to go away. The training needs to be called off until your dog has calmed down and you can regain control of the environment.
Why Does My Dog Growl at My Husband? Does He Hate Him?
Growling is a perfectly normal behavioral response for a dog to display — it’s simply a warning that something is making your pup uncomfortable and they would like it to stop.
Dogs growl to warn other animals and humans away from resources they value (things like food, toys, or even water), to stop someone from touching them in a way that is uncomfortable or painful, or simply to tell you to knock it off and let them be.
Dogs also growl at someone when they are afraid. It warns whatever the dog is afraid of that he wants this interaction to stop, and if it doesn’t the dog will be forced to protect himself.
If your dog is aggressive toward your husband but not you, he may require more socialization time with men.
Men in particular have a tendency to be scarier to dogs for a number of reasons. Most men are taller, stockier, and have deeper voices than women; some also have beards or other types of facial hair that look odd to dogs.
If a dog isn’t well-socialized with all sorts of men — tall, short, big, thin, with and without facial hair, with deep and high voices, of different races and ethnicities, disabled men, etc.– meeting someone “different” could trigger growling.
Fear not — this is usually manageable. Desensitizing your dog to your husband by having him play the “good cop” is a great way to start.
When was your dog’s last vet check?
Pain is a common cause of aggression in dogs. When your normally well-tempered dog is suddenly aggressive without any obvious reason, then a trip to the vets needs to be first on your list.
Possible causes of pain include arthritis, dental decay, and internal injuries. Some illnesses can also affect your dog’s brain, which then leads to what seems like unreasonable aggression. Is your dog older? Older dogs are more susceptible to conditions such as cognitive dysfunction and brain diseases, they can happen at any age.
Dog Won’t Stop Attacking Husband | Cesar 911
Why is it that dogs are man’s best friend? Every dog owner probably has their own unique answer to that question, but the unconditional love that our dogs show us has to be up there with the biggest reasons. Whether they’re watching for your arrival at the window or waiting outside your bedroom every morning, they give their humans unwavering affection day in, day out and seem to get boundless joy from nothing more than simply being in our company.
In fact, dogs have so much love to give that sometimes they can struggle to make room for anyone else. According to experts, many breeds of dogs are prone to jealousy in response to their owners’ attention being diverted. Their naturally affectionate personalities can prevent them from stepping back, which can often lead to your dog displaying jealous tendencies towards you or your partner. It’s certainly worth keeping everyone happy – 61% of dog owners think their pet impacts the health of their relationship, and over 50% of dog-owning couples believe that their pooch encourages them to spend more time together.
Jealousy in dogs can be triggered by many things – from huge upheavals, like the arrival of a new baby, to everyday distractions like scrolling through too much social media on your phone. But with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to think about whether your significant other and your canine best friend could be jostling for your affections.
It might be the most romantic time of the year for us, but whatever romance you’ve got planned for the big day, make sure that your dog isn’t left feeling jealous of your partner. Carefully planning activities that can involve the two of you and your dog – such as a romantic walk, a doggy double date or even a cuddle on the sofa – will make for a stress-free special day. In order to ensure a more harmonious relationship between the three of you this Valentine’s Day and beyond, it’s important not only to be able to spot the signs of jealousy, but to know how to respond to them.
Here are the tell-tale signs of doggy jealousy to keep an eye out for along with solutions to your problem provided by Ben Cunningham, Behavioural Specialist and Education Manager at GroomArts.