[Dailydrool] basset growling in the ring

[Saraberry at aol.com]

Someone recently had a problem with a basset growling in the ring.
 
This is just my opinion and what I have learned about dog training from  Jean 
Donaldson and other knowledgeable behaviorists and trainers, and  responsible 
basset breeders.
 
I believe that growling in any situation is a red light that first tells  you 
that your dog is very uncomfortable and upset.  It is often frequently  a 
predecessor or warning that overt aggression is the next step.  Just  because a 
dog has never bitten, does not mean that it will not bite when pushed  too far.
 
Dogs "stack stress", much like humans.  In other words, say it would  take 
your dog 20 stress points to bite.  They wake up in the morning and  have the 
stress of another dog taking their chewer. 5 pts.  Then you give  them a bath. 5 
pts.  Then they have to have the snood put on. 3 pts.   Then they have the 
slim metal choke stop them from sniffing a good pee scent. 2  pts.  Then you put 
their crate next to a dog they don't like. 4  pts.  Then you take them into 
the ring and someone they don't know tries to  touch them.  You hear a growl 
and say it is nothing.  Why should your  dog be upset by the person trying to 
touch them?  Your dog is actually one  point away from biting someone.  
Fortunately, you go home and dog gets nap  and pizza edges.  Points and stressors go 
back down.  (Note:   Only your dog knows their stress point level and what 
stressors have what  points.  But they all stack stress.)
 
Now a bred dog by a responsible breeder may have less disposition to bite,  
but they are all simply dogs.  And we can't always delve into the black  hole 
that is the brain of the dog.  So a growl basically says to a  judge or people 
around the ring, this may not be a good dog to breed because  they are warning 
me that they may bite next. therefore, probably shouldn't be my  Winner's 
dog, or bred.  To a trainer in a shelter or someone who works with  a lot of 
dogs, they will say, "Thank God the dog growls, now I can tell the dog  is 
stressed before they bite and get the dog's stress level back down under that  
threshold to keep it from going there again through management followed by  
desensitization and counter conditioning."  (Note: Not all dogs growl  before they 
bite, which is a MUCH bigger problem.)
 
The dog being upset means the answer is classical conditioning.  Not  
operant.  So offering them cookies in the ring ain't gonna do it.   Some will be 
upset enough not to take treats and that is another sign.  To "fix it" the answer 
is to set up many successive approximations with  rewards and good results to 
keep them below the stress level and slowly  increasing the level of these 
experiences to work up to the problem without  upset.  It may start with family 
members approaching the dog and going over  the dog like a judge at a show.  
Then friends of the family.  Friends  at the dog park.  Strangers approaching 
the dog staying at a  distance.  Strangers getting progressively closer. 
Strangers only petting  head.  Repeated trials of successive approximation.
 
Not too many magic pills for this one.  All of that will be  superficial to a 
show/breeding dog and what is the point?  If the dog is  good genetic 
material, you will get past this without too much drugging or  outside relaxants.  
Shy and fearful dogs have the same problem.  Shy  and fearful bitches have 
double trouble.  They could possibly pass the  shyness and fearfulness to puppies 
genetically and environmentally, so they  really need a lot of thought from the 
breeder.
 
For growling in other circumstances where showing/breeding isn't in  
question, some are finding that DAP sprays do take off some of the stress edge,  as do 
many medications when combined with training.  If you end up using  these 
things to get past this, I think you have to ask yourself if the dog is  really 
showable/breedable and might be better off neutered and comfortably happy  in 
your home.  Or intact and running in the field.  The intact bassets  love field 
trialing where they have to be intact to point for Field  Championships.
 
It is never easy to have a dog that you acquired to show that for some  
reason has a problem.  Discuss it with your breeder and see what they  recommend.  
And then remember that you love your dog and take them for a  walk in the 
woods.
 
Best*
 
Sara Watson, CTC
Bluefence Bassets
DC Castlehill's Odds N' My Favor
Un-Champion Harry Pawtear
Princess Lizzie Tailyear
Foster Granny Ma
Hunter Cissie "Killer"
Tailgate Bolero at Bluefence "Karma Wigglebutt"
R-Nee "Bunnyman"
Mamie Earsenhowerr "Therapy Girl"
1/2 mom to Charlie Chowhound "I never miss a meal"
1/2 mom to Beaver Cleavear "Great Red and White Hunter"
BHCA and Local Clubs Member
SFSPCA Behavior and Training Intern



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