Hi, I am Floppy. I am going to talk about aggression in dachshunds. We dachshunds are naturally aggressive, but this does not mean that we cannot be trained. Aggression may start as early as six weeks old. Shouting, punishing or hitting me at a young age when I cannot understand what I have done wrong may result in problems with aggression as I grow up.
We may be small in size, but we have a large ego. Since we were bred to hunt badgers, we are genetically predisposed towards being aggressive. We are not friendly toward strangers and can be very nasty to a new person visiting us. There have been many cases where a dachshund has bitten someone, sometimes even their owner.
Aggression in dachshunds can be the result of a number of factors, such as: fear, dominance, disease, injury or genetic predisposition. It is important to deal with this problem as soon as possible because aggressive behavior can be very dangerous. A dachshund can harm people, and also other pets if his aggression is not controlled in time.
Whenever you see early signs of aggression in your dachshund, you should deal with these signs before it becomes a full-blown problem that is more difficult to get a handle on. It is essential that your dog is socialized with other dogs and with other people by the age of 14 weeks. An un-socialized dachshund is likely to show signs of aggression, particularly toward strangers.
It is also important to teach people to treat a dachshund with kindness. Sometimes your dachshund may become aggressive on account of fear. Strangers, other pets or children may pose a threat to him, which could trigger a defensive response. Fear-based aggression can cause a dachshund to bite. Kind treatment toward a dachshund will assure him that people are okay and that they can be trusted. In general, if your dog learns to trust that people are okay, it will go a long way in eliminating your dog’s displays of aggression toward other people.
Dominance
We dachshunds like to dominate, which we may partly explain our tendency toward aggression. To head this off, my owner should establish dominance over me from an early age. My owner should show me that he is the leader of the pack. A show of dominance can take place in simple ways, like eating before I do. Or be the first to walk in or out of the house. I should follow. You can train me to walk on a loose leash and not pull ahead. You should be a strong leader and teach me to follow.
When dealing with an aggressive dog, it is important to remember that they should not be rewarded in any case because it will encourage hostility. Also, a dog should be spayed or neutered to help decrease aggression. In the event that the displays of aggression do not decrease even after several attempts at controlling them, it is time to get the help of a professional. A dog owner should not allow the aggression to cross a point where the dog starts to physically attack people as this is a serious problem.
Do not play any games with your dachshund that involve chasing. We are natural hunters and it is our instinct to kill whenever such an opportunity presents itself. Chasing may trigger aggression so it is a good idea to avoid this activity altogether.
Illness and Injury
Certain medical conditions could cause your dog to become aggressive. If a dog who has not shown any signs of aggression in the past suddenly starts biting, growling or snapping, it may be the result of a disease or an illness. Pain is a particularly common cause of aggression among dogs. Some possible causes of pain may include: internal injuries, bone fractures, arthritis, or other conditions. Furthermore, certain illnesses may affect your dog’s brain, resulting in unreasonable aggression. Tumors, brain diseases or cognitive changes in older dogs are some of the brain conditions that may result in aggression in dogs.
Get Help
In case your dog is expressing unexplained aggression, it may be a good idea to take the advice of your vet before trying to deal with the behavior on your own. Dog owners may want to medicate their dog if they sense that he is in pain or suffering, but they should not do so. In the event that the dog is sick, it is important to find out exactly what the problem is before starting any treatment. You should not take matters into your own hands unless you are perfectly sure that you know what you are doing.
If you have an idea of what might be causing your dog’s aggression, it is important to confirm with the vet. If you have noticed a change in your dog’s personality, it could be a serious issue and you should find out what is wrong.
The veterinarian will want to review your dog’s medical and behavioral history and he or she will also give your dachshund a full physical examination to rule out any injury or other medical issue. He or she may also order blood and urine tests.
If the vet cannot find any medical problems, you should seek the help of a certified canine behaviorist. A professional animal behaviorist can help by working with the dog and trying techniques like conditioning, desensitization and behavior modification. A professional behaviorist can also help in deciding if living with the dog poses a significant risk or if euthanasia is justified under the circumstances.
Conclusion
When dealing with aggression issues in your dog, you should limit your dog’s exposure to strangers, children and other dogs. The best rule in this case is no visitors and no petting. In addition, such a dog should not be left unattended and should be kept on a leash at all times.
