I had an interesting consultation today. I visited a family that had a lovely 13 week old Hungarian Vizsla. One of the reasons they invited me out was because of this pups at times overly assertive, and at times aggressive behaviour. As an example, if this pup was laying on the couch and a family member went over to try and remove it, the pup would growl and try to bite the person trying to remove the pup. This was especially evident when their young boys tried to remove the pup.The pups owners had been going to a puppy preschool, so asked the instructor how they should deal with this overly aggressive behaviour in their pup. The advice given to them was if the pup shows this aggression whilst on the couch, to immediately walk away and get some treats, come back to the pup, place a treat in front of its nose and encourage it off the couch with the treat.

I have major issues with this method.. But firstly let me say, this did not in anyway reduce the aggressive behaviour in their pup. Hence calling me out after being recommended by a friend that was a client of mine.

This puppy has very strong drives, and a very assertive nature. The aggression this pup displayed was dominance related (NOTE: the pup in the photo to the left above is displaying fear based avoidance aggression). This Vizsla pup needed to be shown this aggressive behaviour was not acceptable, and boundaries set, immediately! I also informed the owners that they need to be aware of these strong drives in their pup, and not allow the pup to control any type of play, especially when it turned into assertive barking, growling, nipping and biting.

The problem I have with this so called totally positive method, is that number 1.... What was the pup trying to achieve by showing this aggression? Hmmm..just maybe wanting the owner to back off? Well guess what..it worked!  The owner left the couch to get treats.Therefore reinforcing the aggressive response to get what the pup wanted. The owner then came back with treats.. Did the pup leave the couch by being enticed with a treat..yes! However have a good think about this from the pups point of view in regard to what is happening in this situation.
 

1. Owner walks to couch and goes to remove the pup.. Pup growls and shows an aggressive response by trying to bite the owner.
2. Owner walks away from the pup
3. Owner returns with juicy treat.. shows the pup the treat and enticed off the couch

Firstly..in my opinion any form of aggression from a pup should not be tolerated, and should be quickly and assertively corrected. If however it is fear based aggression, then we do not use the methods I explain below, but work on understanding what is creating the fear and aggressive avoidance behaviour. Walking away from a pup showing assertive aggression should NEVER be our course of action. What these owners needed to be shown was how to correctly correct the pup when displaying this assertive aggression, and let the pup know it was not to challenge in such a manner. Walking away, from the pup was only reinforcing the behaviour. Sure enticing the pup off the couch with a treat worked.. however this pup needed to be shown that aggression would not be tolerated.

I first demonstrated how to remove the pup from the couch, by not giving the pup time to switch into any form of aggression. I showed the owners how to approach the couch, and confidently and quickly remove the pup from the couch, and reward the pup if it willingly departed the couch and stayed on the floor. The way the owners were going about removing the pup from the couch, gave the pup an indication of what was going to happen, and therefore giving it time to use aggression.

Secondly I spent time showing the owners how to deal with overly aggressive and assertive behaviour, by giving the pup a scruff of the neck and holding onto the loose skin around its neck until the pup submitted to the correction, and switched into a calmer submissive state of mind..then calmly petting the pup, and rewarding for switching into this submissive state. "Oh my God, how cruel" I here the totally positive crowd say (is it cruel that a mother corrects her pups with nips and bites?)!Let me say..a scruff of the neck is neither painful or cruel. We should never see this as punishing the pup, or getting angy. It's about staying calm but assertive. Not projecting any negative or aggressive energy. We are giving the pup an instant correction for unwanted behaviour.. Not punishing the puppy. For more information on why in my view, correcting is different to punishment, read this article

The owners in a very short time saw a remarkable change in their pups attitude. After a couple of these scuffs, any aggressive behaviour for any reason was starting to subside, and its resistance to the scruff became almost a non event. Was the pup scared or frightened? NO not one bit..the pup after the correction quite happily sat with the member (that gave the correction) whilst it was rewarded and given affection for switching into a calm submissive state of mind.

Most totally positive trainers would suggest, don't put the pup into a situation where it could show aggression, but instead work around it by using food... I do not agree with this train of thought. What happens if we avoided this couch situation, or any other situation the pup used an aggressive response to control?.... Then at a later stage in its life when it was larger and stronger, someone does something thedog doesn't like.... What past experiences can the young dog draw upon that using aggression was not acceptable? NONE! Pups need to know their boundaries at an early age, when it is easier for us to control.

We really do need to take a very good look at what behaviours we are imprinting and what type of foundations we are setting our pups.. This is not the first time I have been called out for aggressive behaviour in young dogs.. and in many instances because they were informed to avoid putting the pup into a position where it would show aggression, and if it did, avoid the pup and get some treats......

No wonder the cases of dog bites (in children especially) is increasing, and not decreasing... We need to get back to treating dogs as dogs..and not pussy footing around with all this totally positive type training to try and avoid aggressive behaviour in our pups, all because we have a belief that any form of negative reinforcement is either wrong or cruel.

Dog aggression is a serious issue in society, and from what statistics are telling us the rate of dog bites and attacks is increasing, not decreasing. If so many new dog owners are now attending puppy preschools more than ever before, why are these statistics showing an increase? We really do need to find out if the advice given for puppy aggression is the right one. If it is..why am I seeing so many aggressive young dogs that have attended puppy preschools? Why are these statistics increasing?

Update - 10 June

Went and visited Harvey (Vizsla) and his owners this afternoon.. Wow what a change in his attitude and demeanor in just 1 week.. The owners informed me ..no more aggressive responses from him towards the family, including the young boys....a lot calmer, and just an overall improvement in behaviour.

I was very impressed when I saw Harvey... As I walked through the gate, his owner (lady of the house) had him sitting calmly by her side.. He sat there watching me approach, calm and well behaved. When Harvey's owner let him free, he ran up to me..and was very calm when he got to me... Put a big smile on my face. I spent about an hour with the family, showing the youngest boy how to play with Harvey and keeping him calm. I also spent some time showing how to teach the drop, and also leash manners.... The youngest boy showed me how he had taught Harvey to sit, stay and come.. Was a pleasure to watch the interaction between the youngest boy and Harvey.

I'll probably head back in a few weeks when they call me out for their next follow-up.

I am very impressed with Harvey's owners.....