Aggression is something that can start out small like what is being experienced, and quickly escalate into a HUGE serious problem.

Given the breed of the dog, I think a qualified trainer needs to come into the picture. If this continues even in a very minor way, work must be done to correct is, lest there be a serious altercation and injury.

I have three large dogs, all females. The largest is about 100 lbs, the alpha is about 70 lbs. and the bottom dog is about 55lbs. They all know very well that I simply will not tolerate this behavior, period.

They all get a long well together, play etc. They do eat in separate areas, but I insist that I can take their food away when I want or put my hand in their bowl just to let them know who is boss. I also insist that they be able to visit each others food bowl's when everyone is done eating.

SG

Thank you, Spiritual Gardener (love your name). Yes, she recognizes that this must be stopped now, and hopefully it can be. She and I rescued the puppy when I was visiting her a few months ago (it had been dumped on the side of the road and was in poor shape), so I've got a vested interest, but of course she cannot risk injury to her other animals (which include cats) and herself/her husband.

The puppy has now been to the vet for all things needed (tests, neutering, etc.) and has been given the all clear, healthwise. Now the temperament, wonderful with exception to this new occasional behavior, must be closely followed and bad behavior stopped. I'm hoping that the trainer she sees tonight will have good advice and hope.

Suzieque

My min pin hates to be put into his crate when our other dog is still free and he will bark and growl his complaint if she walks by. He acted the same way with another dog we had that he had grown up with. If the crate door is open and he has gone in on his own, he doesn't react to the other dog and he doesn't even mind if she goes into his crate. He just doesn't like for me to lock him in and leave her loose.

Maybe your friend's dog's problem is as simple as that. If he goes in his crate on his own sometimes, maybe she could watch and see how he behaves at those times.

Does the trainer she's hiring to help her work with a punishment-based or reward-based approach?

Just a word on the trainer.

The aggression issue must be dealt with properly. Right now, it is a relatively small issue, but still one that is unacceptable.

The trainer needs to be questioned about how this is going to be handled. If there is any hint that the approach is going to be punishment based, it's not going to work.

You have a situation that requires someone who knows how the dog is wired. Punishment (an act of violence) is only going to make things worse. A reward based approach (an act of kindness) will start to correct things, but it is going to take lots of time, commitment and work.

Good luck!

SG

Thank you, all. I'll talk to her today to find out what the trainer said last night. Just so I'm clear, the trainer I spoke of is the one who leads the "puppy school" classes - it's not a trainer that she's specifically hired as a one-on-one. That is very likely something that she will do if this current person doesn't do that or is otherwise not skilled at dealing with this type of issue. She may be - I just don't know at this point.

I totally agree that reward is the way to go (although I'm certainly not a trainer or animal behaviorist). It just seems right. Since this growling only happens on occasion, I don't know how the reward system would go (I mean, I'd think that the bad behavior needs to be called out). But a pro will know.

Regarding the crate, the pup loves going in his crate (maybe the fact that he loves his crate is somehow contributing to this issue). It's strange. Sometimes the older dog can walk closely or even bump into the crate and there's no problem and other times there's some growling/snarling.

We love the pup and want this to work. We also love their other pets, too, and want them to be safe.

Thank you all! I'll update you after I speak with my friend today.

Suzieque

I think it could be as simple as what deb described. You have a dog confined and a dog that's loose walking around him and he feels threatened since he has no escape........or he could be protecting his food, or toy, that is in the crate with him.

What you've described so far sounds like a great dog, and the fact the two dogs get along so well without alpha fighting is another good sign.
Do ask a trainer how to correct him, but it may take no more than a verbal command, or keeping the older dog away while the younger one is confined.

The sentence in the original post that concerned me the most was "The other dog is deaf and doesn't hear it." You MUST make sure that the 14-year-old dog is protected. Since he is deaf, going forward he may be miss warning growls/snarls and inadvertantly escalate the situation by not presenting appropriate submissive signals or behavior.

Susan

ilovepoco - you're absolutely right, and yes, the older dog is kept safe - including from the puppy's too-enthusiastic playing; all will be watched very closely for protection from any aggression that the pup may (hopefully not!) exhibit outside of the crate. They're never, ever left alone together and my friend is very attentive. That's the reason that she has noticed and jumped upon this occasional behavior so quickly.

Thanks all, again, for your input! It's very helpful.

Suzieque

Well, I would like to know more about the daily routines of this dog, how much is it let out of the crate, how often is it leash walked, how long is the leash walk, what other activities does the dog get involved with. My suspicion here is that this dog is kept in the crate too long, the dog is becoming territorial as a direct result of too much crate time and not enough 1.training 2.socialization 3. leash walk time

Is this a wire crate? If this is the only time your friend sees this behavior, perhaps a Vari-Kennel, or similarly styled (solid sides), crate is in order. She could even try sticking the crate against a wall and/or tossing a blanket over two or three sides of it.

Without knowing more, it's hard to say, but the pup may just feel overly exposed to another dog encroaching on his space (where he eats and sleeps).

Personally, I don't like loose dogs to have access to crated dogs, especially if the crated dogs are in wire crates. If the dog was in a Vari-Kennel or some other solid-sided crate, the pup could retreat to a corner/the back and not have the other dog "in his face".

Hi again -

The dog is normally not in the crate. He and the other dog are usually free together either inside the house, outside in their large fenced in area, or walking the yard leashed with my friend and/or her husband, or in the car with them. They're both retired (retired young) and are active, animal-oriented people. They have 3 acres, 2 horses, goats, cats, and dogs. Very, very actively involved with the animals and the dogs get run with, played with, and exercised regularly.

The pup is put in his crate at bedtime (and he goes in easily) and let out first thing in the morning (so, about 9:00 to 5:30; they're early risers. During the day he is put in the crate for short durations (1 to 1 1/2 hours) if something is being done in the house and he's getting in the way, or something like that. Regarding socialization, he goes to class once/week with other pups (includes playtime and training time), goes on visits with my friends, and pretty much goes anyplace that a dog would be allowed or welcomed, with other animals and people around. She intentionally has worked to socialize him from the start, especially given his pit-mix. In fact, she volunteers at a couple of animal shelters and often takes the pup, which is Ok'd and welcomed by the shelter owners/personnel (this pup was first going to be a shelter pup, when we first found him dumped, but .... well, you know how that goes!)

Mazer, your questions are very valid and a good thing to ask, but all is well in that sense.

jenc511, good question. I don't know if the crate is wire or a Vari-kennel. I'll ask.

Thanks again!

Suzieque

Good information, which helps, so there is something about being in the crate and eating that causes this pup to become assertive with his food. I would suggest a couple of things, one, move to feed him elsewhere, make certain he is feed a little at a time and that the owner has the dog in a calm submissive position, while the dog eats. I suggest correcting the behavior immediately by shushhing the dog, using an empty can with some dried beans taped into it, put the dog on leash before feeding so corrections can be both verbal and followed up with a quick zip on a choke collar. Good luck to your friend. I hoep she nips this in the bud before it gets out of hand. Any aggressive behavior should be immdiately dealt with.

It's not the food; the behavior hasn't happened over the food. And the good news is that I spoke with my friend last night and it's not happened again (last time was about 1 1/2 weeks ago). Of course that doesn't mean that it's fixed, just that it hasn't escalated.

I've heard about the beans in a can thing before, and I'll pass that along to her. She did ask the puppy class trainer, who told her that it's most likely not due to the breed, which was a worry to my friend (she's very closely watching for stereotypical pit issues). If she sees any issues (stereotypical pit or otherwise) she wants to get on top of it immediately, as you mention.

The trainer also said to address it immediately with strong words and reprimand (NOT hitting, of course). The trainer is also going to visit the house to get a better idea.

Suzieque