QUESTION:
I have a major problem with one of my dogs. It’s a male Tervueren who recently turned one. He’s good-natured and devoted towards me and my family, but he is insecure around other people. He doesn’t like to be petted, and he refuses to have contact with any other dogs than our own and the dogs of my closest friends. His guarding instincts are strong, a little too strong for my liking, and he makes a lot of noise when we get company, as well as barking and growling in the dog run. At times I would say he’s aggressive.

A couple of days ago we had a nasty experience; he took a good “nip” at the sleeve of an electrician who was at our house, and he did it without any warning. The electrician was only walking past him in the kitchen. Do you have any advice? I’m afraid that if I don’t deal with this now it may develop into a serious problem. The last thing we want is to have to put him to sleep.

I need to add that we are going regularly to practices and take him with us into town, and everything is fine as long as I am there. He’s very dependent on me, and apart from that I feel secure of my leadership. I am hoping for some sound advice as I am at a loss here.

ANSWER:
To me, it seems you are describing a young, fearful and insecure dog who is easily intimidated, which is leading him to go quickly into defence. There are probably several reasons for this, and I feel it would be wrong to suggest simple solutions. However, I will mention a few things that can be helpful, but I suggest that you get in touch with someone who can give you in-person help. Someone who can actually see both you and your dog, and form an opinion based on his observations.

A dog who have developed negative feelings towards people and dogs, have learned it from negative assosiations. Jerking of the leash? Yelling and scolding? Commands in these situations? Has anyone scared him? Etc? Since the problem has increased, there must be something in the dog’s environment that is reinforcing the behavior. It doesn’t just increase by itself.
If he doesn’t like to be petted, it’s important that he not be put in that kind of a position until the owner has taught him a good deal about feeling comfortable being touched, and then have others to gradually get him used to it. I know that some people in utility sports claim that dogs aren’t supposed to be petted and cuddled – but by not exposing their dogs to petting and other physical contact, the dogs learn to fear it. As these dogs get older, they get scared when people attempt to pet them. Your dog needs to learn to accept physical contact, but gradually and under pleasant conditions. He must never be pressured into tolerating physical contact. This has nothing to do with leadership, and a 1 year old dog will naturally continue to be dependent on his superior for still some time.

Obedience training will not help with behavior problems such as his, and if the training sessions are too long, are too demanding, involve jerking of the leash, scolding and other types of unpleasantness, it will create fear and stress in an immature dog. If so, it’s better to avoid practice altogether. Also, a young dog should not be left in a dog run or on leash outside. They develop bad habits such as barking and guarding, as well as other habits. In this case, where his defence has gotten quite strong, I will go as far as to say that you shouldn’t leave him there at all.

Defending oneself against someone always happens for a reason. There is no such thing as “without a warning”. The situation may be threatening enough in itself, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that situations like with the electrician doesn’t occur. To walk close by an insecure dog in a little room is too close, too straight at, and thus a threatening action in itself. A person with some knowledge about calming signals would be able to walk slowly, turn the face away from the dog, and walk in an arc in such a way that the dog would get the idea. The average electrician don’t know this. Had this been my dog, I wouldn’t have left him in that position at all – It’s your responsibility to deal with electricians. You can place yourself between them physically. Be the one who’s in charge, don’t leave that responsibility to your dog.

There’s no doubt that there are several things that needs to be changed in your dog’s everyday life, in the way you handle him, and in the way you train him, and it should be done now before it has a chance to develop further. In addition to that, he’s at the age of many hormonal changes, which leads to further imbalance. I strongly recommend that you get in touch with an experienced behaviorist who share my views and methods.

Turid Rugaas