How can you tell if a dog is dominant or fear aggressive? My 3 yr old spayed goldie has recently become extremely temperamental and i am not sure why. I believe she is the boss of the household, will guard the toys and take them from the other dogs, guards the house with barking and growling (She has never done anything but make a noise) and will guard the car at the end of a walk if we return to the car park. Just recently she has started to grumble at the other dogs in the car for no apparent reason, although obviously i can't see whats going on whilst driving. She keeps barking aggressively every time we tell off the other dogs, and doesn't like my dad moving around the house too much. Shes also started grumbling when shes eating, (although the spaniel does have a habit of trying to steal her food, but he is kept seperate at feeding times after a few unfortunate incidents.) Outside on a walk she is very good, sometimes she will ignore me and refuse to come back, but she does seem to be a very independent soul. Shes fantastic with other dogs we meet out (unless shes on a lead, then she barks, growls and grumbles occasionally.) Shes been going to training classes since 8 wks, and will do anything i ask, but just recently shes started being really aggressive towards other dogs. Since her first season she has been a bit off with people and dogs and will grumble if they get too close. She wants to say hello, will sit and give her paw for a cuddle and then of the person gets to close she growls and lunges forwards barking. SHe is getting better with lots of socialisation, but now she will want a cuddle from the owners and then go for the dog as if shes jealous. With dogs in training class, she approaches all friendly, then stiffens, growls and lunges showing her teeth and snapping. Shes been doing the growling for a while and i've just been avoiding the issue, but the recent lunging and snapping is pushing things too far.  I want to help her and improve her behaviour, but i don't know where to start. I have been told by a behaviourist that her tail carriage is extremely dominant for her breed, she carries it over her back like a toller or a spitz, but i think this is just her.
She seems in good health, without going through a full blood screen or scan, she seems very healthy.

Hi there :)

How would you say your dogs are when together, generally? I am wondering if she was a sensitive kind of dog, who is now rather stressed and who has learnt to practise inappropriate behaviour. From what you say there seems lots of going on - problems with other dogs, with the spaniel, with telling dogs off, with people moving, this could (i say could) be signs of stress as much as anything.

It's not that unusual for dogs to react if other dogs get near to an owner who is fussing them, it's probably best to just not encourage people to fuss her but just give a quick pat on their way past kind of thing unless you particularly want to work on that problem.

Are you doing lots of things with her? eg any agility, flyball or anything like that? A dog's adrenalin levels can sometimes get too high and the dog can take days to get back to normal :)  This can have far more effect than owners imagine, and sometimes doing nothing stressful, no ball games but more mental games such  as searching for food, can bring the dog down to calmer states. Just a thought in case this may be the case.

If the behaviour is really a sudden thing, I'd be looking possibly at something medical (you can't always tell if a dog is healthy...). One thing i'd suggest checking out is hypothyroid, to rule it out if nothing else. May also be worth checking out a chiropractor. Sometimes sadly, it's a case of eliminating as many causes as possible and then you are hopefully left with whatever is the problem.

Good luck in solving the problem,

Lindsay
x

Totally agree with Lindsay.  :)

Any change in behaviour should be checked out by a vet - it may be a symptom of a thryoid condition......  A dominant dog who is secure in their position doesn't need to growl, most dogs will respect 'the look'. Her behaviour certainly doesn't sound 'normal' and if she were my dog, I'd get her seen by the vet.

I would certainly have your dog checked over by a vet however I do not believe your dog has a particular aggression problem from your post but rather has a problem with her role.

You say she will do anything you ask but then you say she sometimes she will ignore you and refuse to come back?  Which you excuse by saying "but she does seem to be a very independent soul".

She sounds as though she does as she likes and is a dab hand at controlling resources whether they be toys, food, the car and/or you.

Sounds as though she is a little confused and just needs some consistent handling with you clearly defining what is and is not acceptable behaviour.

Have you considered the fact that she might be having a phantom pregnancy?  Behaviour changes in bitches following a season can often be caused by this.  Best to get her check out thoroughly by a vet.

Kind regards
Annie

Annie, the goldie has been speyed so wouldn't be having a phantom. ;) I'd take her to the vet for a check up, just to make sure there isn't an underlying problem.

Hi Lucyandmeg

I don't think that theories about "dominance" offer a productive way of looking at your situation and you could waste a lot of time wondering about it.

Vet check, then taking steps to lower her stress levels and looking at setting boundaries of acceptable behaviour are likely to improve the situation, whether she is motivated by fear, uncertainty about what's appropriate behaviour or bald ambition.