Only Dogs and Cats » Dogs behavior

Dogs and Cats Aggression – Learn and Treat

4-legged — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:39:13 +0000

It is a known fact that all animals, including humans, have different methods of dealing with perceived threats. While aggressive dog behavior dog biting is a more common response in canines, cats are more likely to take to flight. However, cats also choose between flight, fight, freeze and appeasement when they get cornered in a situation they perceive as fearful. Cats can also be aggressive but they may choose to fight only in typical situations.

One of the most common types of aggressive behavior in cats is aggression that is redirected from the actual source of threat. Unlike dog aggression, that is more likely to be related to dominance, cats are more susceptible to redirect their aggression to a harmless bystander.

A cat that perceives threat from a source that is inaccessible or is aroused excessively by a stimulus is liable to attack whosoever is close – an object, family member or another cat in the household. Although redirected aggression is normal in a wild setting, it is one of the main reasons why some families give up their cats for good. Owners or other victims normally remain oblivious of the real reasons behind the aggression. The general perception is that the cat has become aggressive without a reason.

Cats enjoy sitting near windows and they are prone to get excited or fearful if they see another cat outside. The presence of another cat in the house, visitors, high pitched noises, a dog or an unusual odor are some of the other stimulating factors that trigger redirected aggression.

Recovering composure after anxiety or arousal depends upon the severity of the stimulus that has triggered the aggression or anxiety. Bringing the cat back to normal behavior can take months. However, if the cat is continuously exposed to the same environment that provokes an emotional response, the aggressive response can get strengthened over time.

Treating feline redirected aggression is difficult as the stimulus is not easily identifiable. It is important to understand feline behavior so that you can deal with redirected aggression in cats. The key to treatment involves an understanding of these four vital factors:

o Cats can sometimes inflict serious wounds and the primary step is to ensure the safety of the family members. The smallest detectable sensation can make a cat anxious or fearful and instigate aggressive behavior. In such extreme cases the cat should be isolated for safety.

o Identify the trigger. Look outside the window for signs of an intruder, smells of urine, paw prints, spaying against the window or nose prints on the window pane. Try whatever you can to prevent recurrence. Request your neighbors to keep their cats inside for a certain period of time or put a curtain over the window.

o If the cause of the aggression and excitement is a dog chasing your cat, separate them and ensure that it does not happen again.

o If nothing works, take the ultimate step of using anti-anxiety drugs even though it is difficult to medicate aggressive and nervous cats.

The instinctive predatory nature of cats is what makes them concentrate fully on a particular object or animal. The general idea behind treating redirected aggression is to consistently desensitize the cat from what seems to trigger the emotional response. Counter conditioning by offering treats when the cat remains calm in face of the original trigger too helps to a great extent.

If you like to read about dog aggression you can read it here

Who Bites Who

4-legged — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:37:52 +0000

Dog bites a man, that’s not news, but if a man bites a dog….

So we have a story. Last week in Longview, a girl bit a dog.
Natalya, 18 months, sank all her 6 teeth into the side of her grandmother’s golden Labrador retriever, Earl, and she wouldn’t let go.

She laid her head on him to give him a kiss and a hug and then latched on to him.
Earl snapped back, nipping Natalya on her face.
The grandmother, who was babysitting little Natalya , called 911.

The bite struck near the toddler’s eye, causing it to blacken and swell shut, but it didn’t damage the eye itself. stitches are healing rapidly and the toddler is not afraid of her family’s two dogs.

The day after the whole incident, she was playing with the dogs, playing like nothing’s even happened.

The mother wanted to put Earl down, but her husband talked her out of it, reasoning that Earl reacted naturally.

Now Earl is quarantine for 16 days, and the mother does not intend to let the two be together even after the quarantine is over.
“I’m not going to take that chance,” she said.

The family hoped being bitten would teach her daughter a lesson, but unfortunately it hasn’t.

“We’ve been working with her to get her to stop biting, but she’s bit me every day since,” grandmother said.

From article by Vicki DeGruy, originally published in Dog Owner’s Guide :

Very few bites happen without provocation — but the provocation may exist only in the dog’s mind! We need to realize that dogs are not little people in furry costumes. They don’t think in the same way that we do. They look at the world around them with a different perspective. Most of their actions are instinctive. A dog will react to situations according to what his instincts tell him unless these instincts are overridden by the consistent training and socialization he needs to receive from his owner throughout his life.

Small children (and some adults) don’t recognize a warning when they see or hear one. A very young child (under age six) doesn’t know what a growl means. What may be obvious to an adult isn’t understood by the child. The child continues to pet or follow after the dog even though the dog has now clearly told him what will happen if he doesn’t stop.

A small child that’s petting or hugging a dog has already intruded well within the dog’s flight or fight boundary, the dog’s safety zone. If the dog has tried to leave or has issued a warning with no response from the child, the dog (in his mind) has no other recourse — he bites. This is normal, instinctive behavior — to the dog. He is responding to what he perceives as a threat and is doing what his instincts tell him to. Remember that dogs don’t think in the same way that people do. A child’s innocent action, petting the dog, can be provocation for a bite when seen through the eyes of the dog.

There are other circumstances that can provoke a dog to bite a child. Running, playing, screaming kids can trigger an instinctive predator-prey reaction in some dogs. Children who rough house and wrestle with dogs unknowingly encourage them to use their teeth. Dogs equate this kind of play with littermates or other dogs where using teeth is allowed. Startling a sleeping dog or petting him when he’s eating can also provoke a bite.

What can be done to prevent dogs from biting children?

Obedience training and socialization are absolute musts for a dog who’ll be spending time with children. Remember that a dog will act according to his instincts if he doesn’t receive proper training or if that training isn’t kept up through regular practice. The dog needs to be taught to obey commands under all conditions no matter how distracting. Just as responding to the command to “come” could save the dog’s life someday, an immediate response to the command “leave it!” could save a child from serious injury.

Just as children need to be taught how to be well-behaved around other people, they need to be taught to be well-behaved and respectful around animals. They need to learn what kinds of games are appropriate, how to touch the dog properly, how to interpret the dog’s body language and when the dog is not to be disturbed. When they’re old enough to understand, kids should be involved in the training process. They should learn to give the dog commands and be able to enforce them.

Adult supervision is essential! Small children should never, ever be left alone with any dog, no matter how reliable the dog has been before. A responsible adult needs to be on the scene to prevent any aggressive behavior by the dog and to keep the child from putting him or herself in danger. Telling the toddler to stay away from the dog isn’t enough! Remember that young children don’t recognize when they may in trouble. It’s up to the adult to keep them safe from the dog and to keep the dog safe from the children. I can’t stress enough that adult supervision around children and dogs is absolutely critical! If you can’t be right there to handle whatever might come up or if you have any doubt about the dog’s behavior around children, the dog should be put away out of reach of the kids.

Kids and dogs are wonderful together — when adults use common sense and put safety first

Dog Aggression and Some Statistics

4-legged — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:31:58 +0000

- Today there are about 74.8 million dogs in the American household, and much more cats.
- Almost 5 million people are bitten annually in the USA.
- 800.000 needs medical attention.
- The majority of dog attacks (61%) happen at home or in a familiar place.
- The vast majority of bitten dogs (775)belong to the victim’s family or a friend.
- every year more than 2500 letter carriers are bitten.

Children are more likely to be bitten. That is why they have to learn to respect the dog, which is the parents duty. Dogs, really do not need to accept child harass, and the child should understand
the limits.
If a puppy shows aggressive behavior, he needs to be evaluate by a professional and start training in earlier age.
Lavender found to be relaxing aggression in dogs. Consult your vet about it.
Comfort zone -Is a new accessory like flea collar, it uses to relax dogs. It lasts for a month and then you need to replace it. Consult your vet.