My dog gets snap happy
QWe have a three-year-old cockapoo who has always been chilled-out and loving. However, currently he is very snappy and belligerent to any dog he meets. He is getting worse and doesn’t respond to our efforts. Any advice?
AAs your dog is getting worse, it’s a good idea to get the advice of a qualified canine behaviourist. This is the best way to solve the problem as quickly as possible before an injury to another dog or person occurs.
In the meantime, I can make a few suggestions as to why the behaviour is occurring, and offer some ideas as to things you might try.
Some of your dog’s behaviour might be learned as the result of a previous unpleasant encounter with another dog. I am assuming that he is particularly belligerent when out on a walk with you, and when on the lead. The presence of another dog can evoke the ‘fight or flight‘ response.
Since he cannot run away while on the lead, he barks and lunges at any dog that comes near.
If you shout or make a fuss it tends to make things worse, and once the dog is out of sight his strategy has worked.
If you tense up whenever a dog appears, this transmits to him, priming him for action.
Initially, I would invest in a loosefitting muzzle and walk at very quiet times.
The moment he sees another dog give him treats to distract him. This aims to teach him that the presence of another dog equals rewards.
Q
We have two cats, one a 12-year-old neutered male, the other a younger rescue stray. The latter has mounted the older cat a few times. Is this a dominance trait or is it anything more sinister?
A
You mentioned to me that the rescue cat is long-haired and you haven’t been able to look under his tail. If he has not been neutered, then his behaviour is explained and it would be sensible to get your vet to check this.
I would expect an un-neutered cat to want to spend a lot of time outside, especially at night. And he might mark his territory around the house, which you would notice by the smell.
He would also get involved in fights with other male cats.
Mounting behaviour is eliminated by neutering in 90 per cent of cats.
Sometimes, however, low levels of male hormones are left in cats that had particularly high levels of male sex hormone before neutering. These cats try to mount neutered females and, less often, other males. In the United States, vets have used male-scented pheromones applied to the rump of the submissive cat. Dominance behaviour is often stated to be another cause.
More serious problems, such as hormone-secreting adrenal tumours, are very rare, but a veterinary check would rule this out. You could try diverting his attention just before, not during, any mounting by shaking a box containing treats, and rewarding him for leaving the other cat alone.