Poodle Aggression.
Poodles are known by many as the second most intelligent dogs. They are active, affectionate and very smart. They are highly strung in temperament which can cause in some poodles (not all) neurotic behaviours like fear-based aggression or snappiness. This article is written to assist you in handling or preventing Poodles Aggression.
Please Note: Aggressive behaviour towards humans is very serious and should be addressed right away, by a trained professional. If there is any poodle aggression towards you or a family member, talk to your vet and see if you need a referral to a behavioural specialist straight away.
What is poodle aggression? Aggressive Poodles will show a variety of behaviour.
Lunging and snapping at other dogs. You could see your dog bullying other dogs by barking and pushing them. She might cower down and be skittish or snappy when other dogs come around and then lash out with barking or teeth displays.
Initially she may appear timid and play for a bit but if she goes passed her comfort zone then she will become snarly and possibly get nippy. Poodle Aggression - How to treat it? Poodle socialization is the key to preventing any aggressive behaviour.
Do this as young as possible. You may have an adult poodle, don't worry if you have. You can teach all dogs new tricks and you can teach them to unlearn as well. Poodle Aggression can be avoided with Puppy preschool which is a great place to start. You can take your poodle there as they accept entrants of six months and under. When she is there, it is a great place for her to socialize with other dogs and people and communicate well. With professionals around you it is the ideal place to stop any fears of aggression based behaviour that might occur.
To reduce any chances of Poodle aggression friends with dogs are great to invite over. Don't just put them all together. There is less chance of her snapping or feeling nervous if you are around. Watch what is going on, you may need to separate them if it gets too much. It is a good idea to walk your poodle regularly to spots that have lots of dogs.
Poodles need the stimulation of more than just the back yard. Poodles like to be a part of your day to day life so include her as much as you can. Normal life, sight and sounds are where people and other dogs are, such as the beach, the neighbourhood, parks and the city. Take her there for stimulation. Be careful not to do too much too soon. In a controlled and positive environment introduce sights and sounds gradually to your poodle. Bad experiences for poodles can be quite harmful due to their sensitive nature.
It is important to exercise your poodle sufficiently. Poodles need a lot of exercise and if they are not using it up then poodle aggression can be attributed to this. Like humans being tired out from exercise make you feel happy and relaxed. She will be far less likely to stir up trouble with another dog. Guarding her territory is another reason for poodle aggression. Don't allow other dog's access to your property without your permission.
This will can her to be threatened. Make sure you are completely fenced. A fence that she can't see through is best. If she has demonstrated problems in the past then a fence she can see through is not helpful to creating a calm laid back poodle. You may want to consider having your poodle neutered if he is a male.
The aggression hormone called testosterone in a male dog kicks in at around 6 months. An easy way to tackle this problem is to have him neutered and it works for 2 reasons:
1. It will subdue the need to fit or initiate any problems.
2. Other dogs will not respond to him in the same way because he will no longer smell like a male dog and therefore they will not be threatened by him. Don't let the situation get out of control if you feel at any time that things are escalating. Don't feel like you have to handle this alone. If you need help because nothing you are doing is working then talk to your vet about a professional who can help you.
There are socialization classes for adult dogs which you could enrol in. Poodles are usually very sociable, polite and happy around other animals. These are only behaviours that can be changed so if your poodle has any problems, remember with a bit of input from you, your poodle will be just as socialized as the next dog.
About the Author
Founder of http://www.puppydogexpert.com Harvey Parker is a lover of all things Poodle.
