| Questioner: | ashley |
| Category: | Dog Training |
| Private: | Yes |
| Subject: | aggression |
| Question: | My 3 yr old pomeranian is super overprotective of me. when anyone comes into or even near my room he'll growl at them and if they try to touch me at all he'll try and bite them. he's bitten my 10 yr old cousin a couple of times, never really bad though. my mom wants to get rid of him, is that the only thing to do or can we still try to train him? |
| Answer: | Hi Ashley, Your problem is a common one that I often encounter in dog training. Your relationship with your dog is unbalanced. I'm afraid that your Pomeranian views you as its puppy rather then as its leader. This is why it is displaying aggression toward anyone that it perceives as a potential threat. This is unhealthy for your dog and of course those that encounter your dog's aggression. I would guess that you "baby" your dog. It is probably a very cute Pomeranian and you probably treat it like a little human. Unfortunately, there is a very apt saying among professional dog trainers that would apply to your situation. "If you treat your dog like a human, it will treat you like a dog." Your dog wants leadership, rules and boundaries. Your dog is not genetically prepared to act like a little human, so when in doubt, it bites. I would make the following suggestions to remedy your problem and perhaps even save your dog's life. Train your dog to walk on a heel and walk him daily. This will communicate in dog language that he is to follow, not lead you. Teach him core commands, such as sit, down and stay. Have him stay in a down position several times a day, every day. Always reward him for calm behavior and correct him for any signs of aggression toward humans. Initially, you should completely ignore him except for training for the first three days. I have written a long article on asserting leadership over an aggressive dog. You can find it on my website and it is titled "Training Tips". I suggest you read it carefully. If you follow these suggestions then you will find that your dog changes dramatically for the better in a short time. It will be much more difficult for you to change then for you dog. However, aggression is a very serious issue and unless you implement steps to allow your dog to be a dog, then you could very well end up killing your pet with kindness. Best of luck, Sandy Finley |
