The Canine Bully!
He bites, he jumps, and he preys on innocent dogs. He’s the canine bully and he’s causing havoc in dog parks across America. But what is a canine bully? How do dogs become bullies? And what should you do if your dog is a bully? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a Bully?A canine bully is a dog who enjoys using power to become the dominant dog. He plays rough and takes aggression too far.
A canine bully doesn't necessarily act this way towards all dogs. Instead, he preys on passive dogs who don't fight back. It makes a bully dog feel powerful and in charge.
Why this Aggressive Behavior?Improper socialization from an early age can lead to aggression. When a dog is not taught to play nicely with other dogs, he may feel like he is doing the right thing.
Sometimes, rough play is overtly encouraged, or even reinforced without an owner knowing.
To avoid bringing up a bully, never encourage your dog to play rough. For example, if you are playing "fetch" and your dog doesn't return the item to you, never get into a wrestling match with him or play tug of war - this will only encourage aggressive behavior. Also, never allow your dog to play rough with any other pet
By allowing bullying to persist, you're encouraging your dog to become even more aggressive. As time passes, correcting this inappropriate behavior will become harder.
How to Correct the Behavior?The following tips can help to deal with a canine bully:
- Anytime that you notice your dog playing rough, separate him from the other dog.
- Bullying dogs learn better through "negative punishment". Give him a time out and don't allow him to play when he's acting up.
- If your dog has cooled down after his time out then allow him to continue playing, if not then keep him on time out, or take him home from the park.
- If your bully of a dog is playing nicely, give him a lot of praise and possibly a treat. This will help him to understand that good behavior is rewarded.
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