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<DIV>Someone recently had a problem with a basset growling in the ring.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Best*</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sara Watson, CTC</DIV>
<DIV>Bluefence Bassets</DIV>
<DIV>DC Castlehill's Odds N' My Favor</DIV>
<DIV>Un-Champion Harry Pawtear</DIV>
<DIV>Princess Lizzie Tailyear</DIV>
<DIV>Foster Granny Ma</DIV>
<DIV>Hunter Cissie "Killer"</DIV>
<DIV>Tailgate Bolero at Bluefence "Karma Wigglebutt"</DIV>
<DIV>R-Nee "Bunnyman"</DIV>
<DIV>Mamie Earsenhowerr "Therapy Girl"</DIV>
<DIV>1/2 mom to Charlie Chowhound "I never miss a meal"</DIV>
<DIV>1/2 mom to Beaver Cleavear "Great Red and White Hunter"</DIV>
<DIV>BHCA and Local Clubs Member</DIV>
<DIV>SFSPCA Behavior and Training Intern</DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? <A title="http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017" href="http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017" target="_blank">Read reviews on AOL Autos</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>