Benji is getting aggressive

RenaBella · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject: Benji is getting aggressive

We've been taking Benji to the dog park almost every single day since he was old enough to go. At first he was a little fearful around a lot of dogs but he has come around a lot and always plays really well and isn't at all intimidated anymore. But for the past few trips, my mom and I have noticed that he has gotten too aggressive with dogs smaller then him. Today he was getting very vocal with a 3 month old pup!

I don't understand this behaviour. It is the first time he is showing this type of aggression and don't know why. We've tried to socialize him with dog as much as possible and everything was fine up until now. I hope it's a puppy stage since he is only 4 months, but he better grow out of it!

Is there anything we can do to nip this in the bud now?

kjnewk · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

I think he is probably just testing his boundaries with them and starting to get a little pushy...we have a VERY pushy little one a few months older than yours.

Underdonk · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject:

scrbear11 · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject:

How old is Benji? Puppies go through a weird stage, where they are either freaked out about life, or try to test their boundaries from about 4 months to 7 months. Keep socializing him and make him sit by your side and stay for a minute and let the puppy sniff him when he gets too aggressive. This puts him in his place.

Don't feel bad... Zuna is having severe aggression issues. We are trying to rule out anything medical first, and then if everything checks out it looks like we'll be doing some serious training with her.

versatilek9s · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

Sounds like puppy behavior to me. They get a little attitude when their adult teeth start coming in. If he's being too rough, make him stop, and remove him from the situation. If he's terrorizing an older dog, it's likely that they will put him in his place better than you could ever do.

I don't think you really have to worry about an aggression problem at this point--he's just asserting himself as a big bad puppy! Very Happy

anne · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject:

Being vocal doesn't necessarily mean aggression. Lots of dogs will bark in play.

(Remember though, dog can and do learn by watching what others do. )

freespiritmom · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

wildlifecr13 · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject:

Lola was vocal... now Riley is my loud one.
Its intimidating to people, but she just wants to play with their dogs. She barks her fool head off until they play with her... there isnt an aggressive bone in her body.

Trene · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject:

Storm's getting vocal too, barks at Sky from another room to play w/ him.

RenaBella · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:29 am Post subject:

By vocal, I meant growly. He growls.
And we also noticed it only happens with dogs/puppies smaller than him!

It's gotta stop!

tltrooster · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject:

This is totally opposite of Champ. He gets agressive when he sees big
dogs. He wants to play with the little ones. We were at Petsmart yesterday and he was agressive towards a Mastiff that was twice his
size. But there were some smaller dogs there and he was just fine.

Champ also plays every day with my sons cocker spaniel that is
5 mths old and they have a blast.

My sons dog was with us as well, and he was also agresstive to the
mastiff.

anne · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

RenaBella · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

anne · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:05 am Post subject:

And how do the other dogs react? He should be keying off of the other dgos as well. If he is "too aggressive" for some types of dogs and they don't like it, he should back off. Or leave them alone. They do communicate with each other with growls, barks, screaching, etc.

In the example I gave earlier, when Indy told that other dog, I don't want to play like that, the dog left her alone and she didn't continue to go after that dog, she just went on her merry way.

Another example, Riley is staying with a friend who has 2 dogs, one is a very "tomboy"-ish girl and the other is extremely sensitive and submissive. When he plays hard with the tomboy, it's fine. When he plays like that with the submissive one, she will screach and then he immediately backs off with her reaction.

IMO if he is appropriately communicating with the dogs he's playing with and not bullying or hurting the other dogs, it's probably OK. But take into consideration that it's hard to say without actually seeing the dogs interact.

RenaBella · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject: