As some of you know my Pekingese has some aggressive behavior, I have figured out what causes it; if I am at the dog park with him (or out for a walk, etc) and there are other dogs around, and one happens to come near me, sniffs me, or licks me, he runs up to it growling, and I can tell when he is about to snap so I grab his mussel and hold it till he stops growling. It seems to be working because he is letting certain dogs around me, but others he won't let anywhere close to me. I'm just wondering if you have any other discipline I can try, or exercises I can do with him at home?

Instead of grabbing his muzzle have you simply tried a "no" command? My dogs are very protective but when given the "no" command all growling stops.

I have tried saying no, he doesn't listen, and then it turns into a fight.

You need to get him to be less protective of you.

Would other family members be willing to take on some of your duties for a few weeks to try and break him out of it?

Try getting someone else to take him to the dog park and see how he reacts, if he is fine with other people around and not you then you know it's an issue with being overly protective and we can help fix it.

This is going to be long... sorry :o

Aggression is such a serious thing, and if it is putting another person or dog in danger, than I would suggest you see a behaviorist.

But if that isn't possible, you should probably stop trying to grab his mussel until he stops growling. This is like punishment for him , and when it comes to aggression you should not punish him. Aggression breeds aggression.

So when your dog starts growling, he is saying to you, I am unhappy, something is making me scared, something is making me upset. By punishing this behavior it's like you are saying to him that you don't like it when he gives you any warning. Over time he will stop giving you any warning and go straight for the attack with out warning. This is why so many people report unprovoked bites.

Aggression isn't something that is going to go away over night, you have to take it one step at a time, and be prepared for a lot of relapses. It may be something that is never fully cured. Professional behavior modification has very high success rates.

Next time you are at the dog park and another dog approaches, stay calm and do not put continuous tension on the leash. Your dog picks up on all your feelings, and if you are nervous, your dog becomes nervous.

As soon as you see your dog getting stressed, start talking to him, say something like "hey now..." or "come on" and start walking away, keep a loose leash and praise your dog for following you with a loose leash.

A lot of dogs bite from leash aggression, something you can try is keeping his mind busy with a small stick or ball or toy.

I really stand by the best command your dog can know is leave it. This will help in many situations. When your dog starts to get stressed a simple leave it can relax them more than any thing else. You gave your dog a command and he feels more confident because he has a job to do.

I can see myself going on and on, so of there is anything more specific you want me to get into than let me know, and I can try my best to help you with that.

The dog park is off-leash, and if he is on a leash his aggression hits maximum level, I think it is because since I'm still in control of him his job as a "protector" is more important.
I can't really use toys as a distraction, because since we have two other dogs (That he gets along great with) he doesn't like to share and will growl (But not bite) at a dog who comes near him when he has a toy. How would I teach him a "leave it" command at home (before we went to the dog park) if I used a toy would it work with dogs? Or do I need to use a dog to teach it to him?
Do you have any web pages that might give me some exercises that would work with him?

He is not aggressive with all dogs, he LOVES my cousins dogs (2), and he gets along fine with my grandparents dogs(3).

I posted some links on aggression, understanding why he is aggressive to some and not others will be half the battle.

A toy is a great way to start with the leave it command. Make sure to use it for any un acceptable behavior. So if he is jumping, say leave it and stop him from jumping (just an example). If he is barking, tell him to leave it and bring him side. If he gets bossy with his other dog - friends, tell him to leave it.


Emily I can not stress enough the potential dangers of aggression. From dog fights to law suites, aggression is not to be taken lightly. If your dog is aggressive in any way to other dogs, strangers or not,and has attacked before, it is not a good idea to take him to an off leash environment.

I am not in any way saying seclude him from other dogs, proper socialization is key. But you will have to modify how you are doing it. Such as walking him in a busy public park where a leash is a requirement.



Controlling Aggressive dog Behavior

Understanding & Handling Dog Aggresion

Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Rottweiler - Aggressive Dog Behavior Training and Treatment

Trust me I understand what an aggressive dog can do, it is devastating. I refuse to lose another pup due to aggression, and am going to try my absolute hardest to fix this! I am not making enough to hire a behaviouist that will cost over $700 a month (Yes, I've checked, there is only two in my city and this is there price). So I am looking for answers, and will be coming back to this discussion quiet regularly with questions, hope you guys don't mind :)

He doesn't really bark, unless someone is for some reason walking on our front yard, which some people think it is okay to hang out in my front yard. If he is barking I can say stop and he stops and walks away, he doesn't chew anymore, he doesn't jump unless I tap my legs and call him. He is a pretty good boy, so I don't really know how to start the "leave it" command.. since he doesn't really have problems other than at the dog park. If he meets a dog on the street he is more than happy to allow me to pet it, but if there was a dog at the dog park and I pet it, he'd be one peed of doggie.

He went to puppy socialization and did great, he went to obedience and got along with all but one dog (the dog kept trying to eat his tail and eventually he got annoyed).

Aggression is a very hard subject to put your thumb on.

It appears that your dog is protective aggressive. Even though he is "protecting" you, he is still displaying aggression out of fear.

Aggression is not something you can train out of him. He will always and be forever aggressive towards other dogs. The only thing you can really do is to know his triggers, know what sets him off, and be prepared to handle him. Grabbing his face will only make him more pumped. Confining a dogs only means of protection only escalates the issue and makes it 10x worse. He can also get even more overly excited and "accidentally" bite you. So please stop grabbing his face.

There is no remedy to help your dog not be aggressive towards other dogs. However, learning his triggers is going to make life a lot easier for you. Also, there are some things that you can do that will help him out.

People who own dog aggressive dogs always tense up on the leash when another dog is in the picture. Try your hardest not to do that. You have a nervous dog already, becoming nervous yourself is only going to give him the "ok" to be aggressive towards that dog. He is sensing you. When you see another dog, just keep going forward. Don't agknowledge the other dog. Don't agknowledge your dog wanting to stop and look at the other dog. Correct him when he growls.. A snap of the leash and a harsh "eh-eh" should do the trick. Once he stops, looks at you, or at least looks away from the dog, praise him. Let him know that that behavior is not exceptable.

Almost 99% of the time for dog aggressive dogs to display aggression while on leash is all because of the owner. However, that does not mean that your dog is not going to snap while off lead. To keep things safe, he needs to remain on lead at all times. He needs to get over his aggression while on leash.

A properly socialized dog does not need to be friendly with other dogs or people. A socialized dog is a dog that behaves in public. That's it. It has nothing to do with your dog being friendly at all.

Your dog is not showing aggression towards family members dogs because they are still part of the pack. They smell the same, are probably over more often... and everyone's demeanor is a lot different. You're probably a lot more relaxed with your grandparents dog then with a strangers dog. Your dog picks up on that.

Dog aggression training is more for the person that it is with the dog. Because remember, a dog aggressive dog will always be aggressive. The only thing that training or behavior modification really does is train YOU how to control your dog.

My pittie is great with my moms dogs. She's OK with my boyfriends dog. Why? Because they're part of the pack. Everyone is a lot more relaxed. However, a strangers dog, she breathes fire! My dog is VERY dog aggressive. But will she lunge at another dog while going for a walk? No. Will she growl at a strangers dog while with me? No. Can I approach other dogs with her by me? Yes. Can another dog approach her? No. Can I take her to the dog park? No. Can I take her to a pet store, parade, etc. Yes.

Don't be bummed out if you can't take your dog to a dog park. Some dogs just don't get along with others. Be a responsible pet owner and keep your dog away from the dog park. Even though he's not showing aggression while off leash now, doesn't mean he won't in the future.

Good Luck

Just thought I would add that he is neutered and has been since he was 7 months, he is now a year and a half.

So when he does bark at those strangers who hang out on yard, instead of saying stop, say "leave it". Grab a ball, start playing fetch with him, when he brings it over to you, say the word leave it.

You may have to take an hour a day and just try to incorporate the word "leave it" into your routine. You may have to become a bit more nit picky and bossy with things. If he is sniffing you a little too long, say leave it. If he is playing with a toy, use the word leave it, make sure to praise and give the toy back so he can continue to play.

Use it when you are walking on a leash and if he wants. To stop and sniff, use the command and continue to walk I did mention a few other suggestions, and I already gave you the protocols for relaxation, those are the first step in any behavior modification. So if you were to see a behaviorist in your area, this would be phase one. I will try and dig up phase 2, remember what it is about. The dogs mind frame.


$700 is a ridiculous price! I can't believe that!

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Originally Posted by Emily94

Just thought i would add that he is neutered and has been since he was 7 months, he is now a year and a half.

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Aggression will continue to grow until they are about 3 years old.

:( I liked going to the dog park. Your saying there is no amount of training, discipline, nothing, that will ever fix it?
If you are, then there is really nothing I can fix, he is fine in public, he is great with people, he doesn't really like them and would rather avoid them but if by chance someone pets him he sits like a good boy and wags his tail. The first time he met my cousins dog my dog followed him around everywhere, and the next day my cousin met us at the dog park, and I can say that was the only time my dog has never growled/snapped/snarled at the dog park.
Could I use my cousins dog as a distraction instead of a toy?

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Originally Posted by Aurora_Bell

$700 is a ridiculous price!! I can't believe that!!

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Either could I! But since there is only 2 here, and the next nearest one is over 3 hours away someone must pay it!

Well you could give it a try, however, he could become more aggressive out of protection or jealousy for the other dog.

I'm not saying it can never be cured, I am just saying there is a possibility that it may never. And than you will have to make modifications in both your life. You will have to be able to control his triggers.

If I was to make him sit, place a piece of food on the ground, tell him to leave it and then give it to him as an award for leaving it, would this be a good exercise?

I'm trying to think of things I could work into his training sessions I have at night with him (sit, stay, laydown, come, and stand)

Basically you just want him to know what leave it means. So you that would totally work.

When I say leave it to my dog Lady, she sits and waits for the next command. Your dog doesn't necessarily have to sit,
But you should have his attention and he should be waiting for the next command.

Honestly, aggressive dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will never be cured. The only part that gets cured is how the handler handles the dog. Your dog is always going to be selective of who he likes and who he doesn't like.

Is your cousins dog a female? A lot of the time that is a part of it. Some dogs simply don't get a long with dogs of the same sex.

Take your dog out for walks. No harm in that. I do it all the time. Its very enjoyable. Especially when I go to the lake and let her off leash. If I'm alone, or with dogs that my Pit approves, there's no harm in that.

You're not going to cure him. He's never going to "Snap" out of it. The only thing that is going to happen, is the two of you are going to start reading each others minds.

My dog looks completely approachable. People want to come up and be "friends" with their dog with her. I have to constantly back away. Or, they witness it first hand!

Just because you can't go to the dog park, doesn't mean that you can't do things with your dog off leash. I do things with my Pit all the time. Whenever I go to the river walk or the lake, my dog is rarely on leash. She's got a good solid recall, which is something you will need if you decide to do it.

Neutering your dog won't take dog aggression out of him. The only thing neutering a male dog does is keep them from wondering. If they're going to be punks, then they're going to be punks. Not much you can do to stop your dogs personality come through. Once he gets older, he could very well settle down and not be AS aggressive towards other dogs to the point that you CAN take him places.

Just continue to take him out. Continue to work on yourself. Soon, he'll be a good boy and will behave himself while around other dogs. It takes time.. and by that, it could take YEARS before you get him to walk past a dog on all four feet.

If you'd like some ideas on how to handle him, let me know. I have some ideas that worked with my Pit.

The leave it command is a good command to use.

How I teach it, is whatever is the "leave it" object, its completely off limits. If it's a piece of food, a toy.. whatever he wants, he can't have it.

To start. Take a favorite toy. Place it on the ground. Keep him on leash. When he starts to go towards it, snap back the leash (Nothing harsh, just a little reminder that you're still with him) and tell him "leave it" in a very loud tone of voice. The min. he looks away from the toy, direct him to come back towards you. Treat him. Give him lots of praise. And repeat. After the session, you can give his toy back after about 30 minutes. He won't have an association with the command and the toy at that time.

Good Luck

My cousins dog is an unneutered male, he seems to like males more than he does females.

If you'd like to give me some of those tips, I think I could use a few!