Advice Needed: A protective doggy

[Karen]

Hi All,

I took Jasper into our house about 10 days ago and have been getting to know him before writing up his adoption ad.

I have one issue that I'd like advice on how to deal with.

Jasper is a totally sweet baby-like dog who is very gentle, but lacks confidence. He does like to go up and sniff strangers, though he kind of cowers if you go to pet him. He'll crawl up on anyone's lap for a snuggle, though. He's awesome with people. He was living in a shelter with nearly 200 other dogs, so I thought he'd know how to get along with pack, but...

He and my dog completely ignore each other (an occasional sniff but no play), EXCEPT when Jasper is being held. Then he gets very, I don't know, protective of his snuggler (me or whoever is holding him), and will not allow any other dog to approach. He growls and yesterday showed his teeth when a new dog approached him while he was in my friend's arms. He had, in the past, growled at my dog only in that situation, but yesterday he snapped at the new dog's face as well.

It's so strange, because otherwise he is a lamblike creature.

Any suggestions on how to correct this behaviour without damaging Jasper's already low self-esteem?

Thanks so much!

Karen

[cyrax]

Karen,
With dogs, what you do is as important as what you do not do when they do something. When you hold him, it makes him powerful/fearful (I cannot know for sure). Either way he is not balanced. Since he has an issue with being possessive of the holder, you would need to put him in those situations and correct him everytime he commits a mistake.
When he growls @ another dog, put him down on the floor immediately or hold him at eye level by his front shoulders (??) and stare into his eyes. If he knows the word "NO", all the better. When he is calm again pick him up and repeat the exercise.
If he tries to go after the dog when in your arms, it requires a higher level of correction. Put him down on the floor and put him on his back. Keep him on his back (don't squeeze him) till he settles down. If Sage sniffs him, when he is on the floor it is even better. IF he struggles while on his back all the better, let him struggle but DO NOT LET GO OF HIM. If he does manage to free himself it means that he has won and will reinforce his bad behaviour.
Do NOT praise him or comfort him or talk in a soft tone when he growls/snaps @ another dog. Use your "leave it" tone to say "NO" or any other word of choice. It is better to fix this problem in it's nascent stages because once it gets worse, you would need to resort to even higher level corrections and frankly they are not that pleasing either to you or to your dog.
Another question, does he do this growling when humans approach him while you hold him?

[Karen]

Hi Cyrax,

No, he doesn't growl at people, nor does he growl at Sage when it's just the two of them. They were sitting in the backseat of the car together for 2 hours and not a peep. The problem only arises when he is in someone's arms, on someone's lap, or snuggling right against someone (not exclusively me) AND another dog approaches. He also does not growl if I am holding Sage and he approaches her, he'll whine a bit at that time but after being ignored, he goes back to his chair without incident.

So, what I've done is similar to your first piece of advice. I grab his muzzle firmly and say No in a low tone and look him straight in the eye with my sternest look. He definitely meekens at that point. I didn't put him off my lap at that point, but I will certainly do that next time. I forgot that part, oopsy!

The additional step I don't think will be necessary for Jasper. In fact, I don't feel comfortable with it. I think it's called the "alpha rollover"? I read a short article about it a few months ago before I knew what it was exactly. One of the points against using it was that "the action elicits defensiveness" and that it can "lead to dogs who are afraid of their owners or who become defensively aggressive." (I'm quoting from "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia B McConnell) Actually Jasper is already quite fearful, as you know, I hesitate to make him feel more so.

So the first bit, with the added no more snuggling after a growl, I think will be enough.

Thanks for your help. I'll update you it/when another incident occurs!

[cyrax]

The alpha rollover should be used rarely. That is why I said that you should use it only when your dog goes AFTER someone/some dog. You will know the intensity of this attack automatically. For example when Gimli bit me (first and only time) while feeding him, I immediately put him on his back and held him there for 30 secs till he calmed down. I do not squeeze him, just hold him down. I NEVER used that ever again because it is not needed.
I use leash correction when he does something that he understands, but refuses to do. There are always different levels of correction. So I am sorry if I ever gave an impression that you should put him on his back everytime he does something wrong.

[Karen]

Yes, I guess I misunderstood you there. Well, I hope I never see an extreme example that warrants harsher corrections :)

Right now the little tyke is sleeping behind me on the armchair! Peaceful pup!