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Occasionally aggressive whippet

13 replies

Dancingyogi · 21/10/2014 04:50

My 20 weeks old whippet is showing occasional aggressive tendencies.
He barks at any family member in an annoyed way when asked to do something, it's now happening once a day, never more than once a day.
It usually occurs when he's on the sofa, mostly in the evening. He's usually very mild mannered, so his barking comes as a bit of a shock.

For example, dd asked him to leave something he's not allowed to have and he barked at her and mouthed her, we have now asked the dcs to distract him away from forbidden items rather than using the leave it command.

We think he is resource guarding on the sofa, so I changed his access to the resources, he is no longer allowed free access to the sofa and has to ask by sitting and being invited onto the sofa. He is now also being asked to sit before the dcs throw a ball or frisbee etc.

So we're 24hrs into him learning the new rules and dh asked him last night to sit before gaining access to the sofa (first time dh asked him and only second time he was forced to ask for access to that particular sofa) he got quite annoyed with dh barking at him and dh tried to appease him by petting him and he mouthed his arm.

I ask him to get down when he behaves like this.

Not sure if I'm doing the right thing/enough we've only just started to deal with this as it seems to be becoming more frequent. There's no snarling, just annoyed and frustrated barking. Should he be completely denied access to the sofa rather than just being taught to ask?

I want to fix this, I assume we can only tell if our new rules are working by giving it a few days. Any thoughts?

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Booboostoo · 21/10/2014 05:17

I think you are right to distance the DCs from the dog until you get a proper assessment of the problem.

Barking is not necessarily a sign of aggression but as with any potential aggression the best thing is to get a qualified professional to come see the dog and assess what is happening. Meanwhile how you are handling the sofa sounds good but avoid any touching. If the dog responds to the command to stay off the sofa throw a treat as a reward. If the dog jumps on the sofa anyway get him off without touching him, e.g. tip the sofa until he slides off then reward his being on the ground.

Dancingyogi · 21/10/2014 05:34

Just spoke to the vet nurse on our insurance hot line.

She suggested if possible keeping him off the sofa completely and speaking to the vet to rule out pain, then seeing if they can suggest a local behaviourist to advise.

She advised the no confrontational route to get him off the sofa if he's being narky but said ideally we should keep him off completely, so he's off the sofa for now - poor bugger is going to be distraught.....a sofa is a whippet's first love!

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Booboostoo · 21/10/2014 06:48

Sounds like very sensible advice. Pain can make even the most sweet natured animals different so it's always worth ruling out. If it is behavioural there are many techniques you can try out so don't despair.

SpicyBear · 21/10/2014 08:39

I really wouldn't describe that as aggression. It is happening when he is tired in the evening and being asked to leave his prized spot.

The best way to deal with it is to build up a really good association with things he doesn't want to do. Tasty treat every single time he gets off the sofa. Swap everything he shouldn't have for a tasty treat or game. General impulse control improvement.

His barking at DH is him trying to communicate that he wants to get on. Don't pet him when he is aroused like that - just ignore and then reward him as soon as he does what you want, e.g. getting on his bed.

See how it goes with access to the sofa. Most dogs can be trained to happily get on and off on cue but if it's too much for him at his age focus on rewarding him for calm behaviour in his bed.

golassiego · 21/10/2014 08:50

What Spicy said. Although if you're inexperienced at managing this sort of issue I'd be inclined to train him solidly to use a lovely cosy bed (which he'll never need to share) close to you all and avoid the sofa issue in the first place.

And yes yes yes to never trying to pet a dog who is obviously displeased. If I'm shouting at my husband because he's just made me sit and ask nicely before getting into a bed I view as my own, I'm so not going to be up for a cuddle! :D

Dancingyogi · 21/10/2014 10:52

I've never had a dog behave like that before, they would resource guard their food but nothing else. It's the tone of his bark and the increased frequency of his episodes that concerns me, and it feels so out of character for him. I feel quite sad that he won't get back on the sofa but it's when he is highly aroused during his mad half hour that he is most likely to behave like this and when he is most likely to ignore rules.

Do you really think it would be enough to teach him that he has to gain permission before getting in the sofa - someone told me that doing that doesn't work because dogs are simple in their thinking - they either can or can't do something. [confised]

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Dancingyogi · 21/10/2014 10:54

Confused - even!! Grin

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Dancingyogi · 21/10/2014 10:58

Just to say he doesn't get grumpy when asked to leave the sofa because that only happens at bedtime and we never get an aggressive reaction - I think he gets grumpy about other people being on the sofa and telling him what to do when he's there. It's like he thinks it's his bed that he is generously allowing us to share because he likes to use us as a pillow/hot water bottle.

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SpicyBear · 21/10/2014 11:10

Well I have two dogs here that ask permission. Any dog can be trained to do that - it depends how much effort you want to put it.

He's a young dog learning and pushing his boundaries. Nothing sinister. Handled correctly with lots of positive reinforcement there is no need for it to become an issue. Is he being consistently rewarded for doing things that are uncomfortable for him, like giving something up?

It's difficult to say anymore without having seen an incident. Is everyone calm and non-physical when asking him to do things?

SpicyBear · 21/10/2014 11:13

Also, rereading, what is he doing on the sofa that you are having to tell him what to do? My dogs are trained that sofa is for sleeping or resting. As he is over aroused, it's would probably be a good idea if toys/playing etc don't happen on the sofa.

Dancingyogi · 21/10/2014 11:40

Recent outbursts have been as a result of him being asked to "leave it", when he mouthed a remote control; another time he has been playing with me and a plastic bottle, he has jumped on the sofa and barked back at me to bugger off...he hasn't been possessive over his toys at any other time and this was earlier in the day, it was a game we had played several times without an issue; he has also reacted to dh and I lying on the sofa together, barking particularly at dh and I think he got annoyed at dd sitting beside me on the sofa, where he usually sits......at the time he was sitting on the other sofa aNd his barks were very much directed at dd.

I think at times he sees me as part of the resource he is guarding.

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SpicyBear · 21/10/2014 11:55

If I were you, I would probably do no sofa for the time being then reintroduce it once he's got through this stage and is a bit more in control of himself. You could do some exercises setting up scenarios like lying on the sofa with DH or DD and have them toss him some treats to countercondition the guarding - teaching him DH or DD snuggled with you is a good thing.

Dancingyogi · 21/10/2014 12:15

Thanks Spicy that sees like a good idea will get them to do the treats thing. He gets me all to himself for nearly 10hrs a day so I suppose it's not surprising that he thinks I'm all his!

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