Pet Lady
Aggression
Q: My daughter and her husband just got a
Doberman puppy. I heard that at a
certain point a Doberman’s brain can outgrow its skull and cause the dog to
turn on their owners. I’m concerned for
my daughter’s safety.
A: Fear not! This is a myth that’s been around for quite
some time and is now being used for a lot of Pit Bulls as well. It is impossible for the brain to outgrow the
skull while a dog is developing. A brain
my have a growth that swells larger than the skull, but this is totally
different. It is not the brain itself
that is growing. Dobermans were once
thought to be afflicted with the problem most likely because people were trying
to find a reason for a dog who seemed to suddenly turn
against his owner for no apparent reason.
I’m sure, on closer examination, there were numerous reasons for this to
happen. Most of the time when a dog
“suddenly” turns on his (or her—female dogs can be aggressive too) human, it’s
due to improper training and socialization at an early age. There have been
signs along the way that were missed. Many dogs are allowed to “rule the roost”
at a young age. They are given too many
privileges and freedom and not enough consistent guidance. When the dog reaches maturity (usually around
two, although this varies), a dog who has been allowed to do whatever he wants
may assert his authority. Growling and
snapping may begin when it was never there before. Dobermans are a very sensitive breed and need
to be taught with positive methods from an early age. Any harsh methods used, may come back to
haunt the human. Set household rules
early in a pup’s life and introduce them to your dog from the beginning. Nothing in life should be free. The dog should be asked to sit before
receiving anything from a human—food, attention, playtime. Building a relationship of trust with gentle
and consistent leadership will help all dogs--no matter what the breed--grow up
to be happy and well-mannered canine citizens in our community. Your daughter
might want to consider a puppy class.
Puppy classes are a great place to start socializing a puppy and learn
how to be a good leader. Leadership
doesn’t mean scruffing and shaking a dog into
submission. Good leaders don’t need to
use force, because they have built trust with the dog through consistency, guidance,
and reward methods. If you have an older
dog, beginning classes are offered to help learn new ways of relating with your
furry friend. If anyone ever experiences aggressive problems with their dog, they
should seek professional help immediately.
Do not try to handle it alone. Do
not think it will go away. Myths
like brains swelling and dogs’ jaws locking when they bite only make excuses
for behaviors that usually could have been avoided with proper training. We tend to look only at the dog when there is
a behavior problem, but environment has a lot to do with a dog’s behavior. If your dog is misbehaving, ask yourself what
your role in this problem has been. If
your answer is “I didn’t do anything,” that may be EXACTLY what the problem
is.
