Aggression and growling at bigger dogs
by Iris Miller
(Bristol,CT USA)
Tuffy likes circles
My dog Tuffy is a masculine two year old neutered male Coton de Tulear. He is cheerful, funny and playful with our family and friends. He has been through beginning, intermediate and advanced puppy training classes as well as a few sessions with a private trainer.
He understands a large vocabulary of spoken words and hand signal commands. Now, more than ever, it seems he is developing a lot of aggression toward larger dogs, or any dogs coming into "his "space, which is wherever he is at the time. Even little dogs he plays with, once they get him worked up at play he starts growling and chasing them.
We recently moved and I think some of it is territorial, but then again, my dog thinks the world is his territory and all humans are part of his pack. He loves people and children, and especially babies. When he goes after another dog on our walks I give the command to "leave it" but it is obvious his mind is only focused on that other dog.I have to pull him back to me on the leash telling him No!, leave it, stop , heel, or whatever I can get him to obey. He knows from my tone of voice I am not approving of his behavior, he gets placid and obedient when I get him back in the car, or in the house.
The trainer taught me to keep the leash short, close to me, make him sit to calm him down, and in the case of seeing another dog or person, to continue walking. It is not always possible because I can be standing still when he dives out (on the leash) to another dog. His former teacher told me to give him a longer lead on walks so he would stop pulling. So, I am doing both. When we walk, Tuffy will get ahead of me then stop and wait for me and slow to my pace.
As for people, he welcomes them excitedly and is happy to see them unless it is a stranger acting suspiciously, like sneaking around outside a neighborhood house in the dark. He's a great watch dog.I suspect he is being rowdy and wants to play, because even though he appears to be attacking at other dogs, his fluffy tail is waving playfully.
Anyone have this problem?
