Question:

Hey, Dog behavior experts — I need some advice.   I have got a 2 1/2 year old miniature American Eskimo female who I got from the shelter about 6 months ago.  She has been just a sweety.  She is, however, a very dominant dog, and it has taken quite a bit for me to establish myself as alpha.  She is a quick learner though and did well in obedience school.  I have worked hard on her training and she now exhibits signs that she respects me a little more after we have had some time to bond.   She has high pack drive.  She always loves to cuddle up next to me and to be petted.  She also has extremely high prey drive. She loves to chase things, including bikes, squirrels, etc.  I have gotten used to this, and I can read her signals in advance and take action.   Here is the problem — she is normally very friendly around people, but there are certain times that she is unpredictable.  I take her to a park sometimes to play with another dog friend.  If someone walks by who looks the slightest bit different(maybe wearing a big hat, or now a hood since the weather has gotten colder) she will sometimes flip out and take off after them barking.   She has even nipped at a couple of people.  I know this is not acceptable and I have to stop it.  I want her to be able to play off the leash, but I don’t like being unsure of her reaction around people.  I have taken to using a 40 foot nylon line attached to her in the park now, so she can still have her freedom, but I can grab her if I need to.  Can someone suggest why this behavior may be happening??  I have no idea of her background before the shelter.  I have talked to a couple of trainers in my area and there response is "Well, don’t let her off the leash".  She also tends to be dog aggressive with larger dogs — don’t know if this is related.  She is generally friendlier with women than with men.   If anyone can offer suggestions based on this information, i would very much appreciate it. Thanks, Marc

Response:

writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Here is the problem — she is normally very friendly around people, but there >are certain times that she is unpredictable.  I take her to a park sometimes >to play with another dog friend.  If someone walks by who looks the slightest >bit different(maybe wearing a big hat, or now a hood since the weather has >gotten colder) she will sometimes flip out and take off after them barking.   >She has even nipped at a couple of people.  I know this is not acceptable and >I have to stop it.  I want her to be able to play off the leash, but I don’t >like being unsure of her reaction around people.  I have taken to using a 40 >foot nylon line attached to her in the park now, so she can still have her >freedom, but I can grab her if I need to.  Can someone suggest why this >behavior may be happening??  I have no idea of her background before the >shelter.  I have talked to a couple of trainers in my area and there response >is "Well, don’t let her off the leash".  She also tends to be dog aggressive >with larger dogs — don’t know if this is related.  She is generally >friendlier with women than with men.  

Hi,   To begin with, aggressive problems whether fear based or othewiser are not uncommon with this breed. The males can be even worse. When an Eskimo owner calls me regarding a problem aggression or barking is usually the issue. Just like if someone calls me with a Yorkie it’s housebreaking, Huskie not coming,and so on.(Breed people please don’t flame. These are typical problems that occur with such breeds only when there are problems).    Plus this dog is the byproduct of the former owner’s mistakes. That makes things harder. I agree with what the trainers have told you. Don’t let her off lead. A large dog may seriously injure or kill her. She may break skin on a child and then be put to death. So from now on in public be sure she is on lead or dragging a lead. Give all family members hell if they don’t do this.    I’ll tell you what I tell all problem pet owners. "Don’t let her do that". How? First of all,speak with local vets,shelters,etc. Describe behaviors and see if they can recommend a behavior expert to work with you and dog in public. Their knowledge of body language passed on to you will help you in dealing with this without makiong matters worse. Be sure a friend videotapes such session for your retention. Much of learning dog behavior as well as proper handling requires good visual learning skills on your part. You’ll spot much by replaying all sessions that you may not notice in person. It helps in many sports, and through personal experience I’ve found it quite helpful with dog owner counseling.    Since it is getting colder,you may want to wear hats,hoods,etc., so the dog can get more comfortable with such appearences. Have all people dog likes dress in a similar fashion. While wearing such getup approach dog from distance,calling her name(so she knows it’s you) and give her a treat as soon as she’s within reach. Then have other familiars do likewise. This will start moving her reaction into a positive direction.    It’s good you have her dragging a line. Just be sure you can spot the moment she is thinking of charging and are able to to grab line with enough intensity to abort the behavior and get her focused back on you.    Under no set of circumstances pet her to stop the barking.At home do not allow any barking other than a response to a knock at the door. Do not allow her to bark when you open the door. Keep a short lead(with supervision)on her indoors when home. This only teaches her it’s ok to do this.    You mentioned how she likes to cuddle,that’s nice,butdon’t treat her as if she’s a bay in a furry suit. Deal with her as you would a school age child of limited intellect. Let her sleep in the bedroom but not in the bed. Minimize her lap time and defiitely don’t let her climb u

Response:

: Hey, Dog behavior experts — I need some advice.   : She is a quick learner though and did well in obedience school.  I : have worked hard on her training : Here is the problem — she is normally very friendly around people, but there : are certain times that she is unpredictable.  I take her to a park sometimes : to play with another dog friend.  If someone walks by who looks the slightest : bit different(maybe wearing a big hat, or now a hood since the weather has : gotten colder) she will sometimes flip out and take off after them barking.   : She has even nipped at a couple of people.  I know this is not acceptable and : I have to stop it.  I want her to be able to play off the leash, but I don’t : like being unsure of her reaction around people.  I have taken to using a 40 : foot nylon line attached to her in the park now, so she can still have her : freedom, but I can grab her if I need to.  Can someone suggest why this : behavior may be happening??  I have no idea of her background before the : shelter.  I have talked to a couple of trainers in my area and there response : is "Well, don’t let her off the leash".  She also tends to be dog aggressive : with larger dogs — don’t know if this is related.  She is generally : friendlier with women than with men.   Females tend to be a lot more protective than males, so her behaviour is no surprize.  You didn’t describe exactly what you kind of obediance training you’ve done but it seems like if you need to have her on a lead in order to recall her, perhaps the training isn’t quite as sucessful as you had hoped.  If she were my dog I’d continue training in 15 minute sessions with lots of praise and just as little correction as possible.  This will do two things.  First, you’ll be able to recall her without the lead.  Second, it will build her self confidence and allow her to relax a little more in new environments.  Take your time and reevaluate your situation in a few weeks.  J.B.

Response:

>writes: >Here is the problem — she is normally very friendly around people, but >there >Hi, >  To begin with, aggressive problems whether fear based or othewiser are >not uncommon with this breed. The males can be even worse. When an Eskimo >owner calls me regarding a problem aggression or barking is usually the >issue. Just like if someone calls me with a Yorkie it’s housebreaking, >Huskie not coming,and so on.(Breed people please don’t flame. These are >typical problems that occur with such breeds only when there are >problems).

Your advice to this owner is basically sound. However, my experience is that Eskies, though protective are NOT by nature aggressive. Also, if you knew the breed better, you would know that Marc’s greatest "ally" is that Eskies have a very strong desire to please. Your advice on withholding "gratutitious" affection is good provided it is coupled with the understanding that this will only be required during this dog’s "reorientation" or "grounding" period. I agree, however, praise must be earned. The goal is to get the Eskie in a self perpetutating cycle of praise/good behavior. In reality, for a well trained Eskie, there is probably no such thing as too much love. Marc must get into his Eskies’ mind and make her understand that nipping is NEVER an acceptable behavior and that he is the alpha, AT ALL TIMES. He must focus her considerable mental energies on that. Every command must be obeyed instantly. Even barking must be controlled, instantly. Frequent "downs" and "stays" are useful. Burning off this dogs energy with exercise and teaching her to retrieve are essential (come, sit, etc.). An Eskie will learn more from play, in many cases, then structured training. For an Eskie, it is better to make training a "play period". Of course this requires owner creativity and love. Actually, instead of prey drive, as Marc terms it, I would prefer the term "play" drive. For example, I have taught my Eskie (and vice versa) from our retrieving games far more than she learnd from the sit/stay, off, etc combos. Those she learned almost instantly. The challenge was to focus her attention and make obeying consistent. During play, I made retrieving a game similar to baseball or football. I invented, with her, mulitple "play" formations, receiving patterns, transitions and combinations (at least 50). On the beach, I throw her ball way out and make her concentrate on its shifting location, sometimes for as long as 10-15 minutes until the ball is close enough to shore for her to run out and get it. The ball must be returned to my hand, perfectly or the retrieve is unacceptable and I will make her do it right. I have even taught her to retrieve sea gull feathers. One of her great joys is to spontaneously bring me that perfect feather which she has a grat knack of finding. Finally, she has taught me more than I have taught her, almost correcting me if I use the wrong training style with a look that can only say, "you know that won’t work…try this…"

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hey, Dog behavior experts — I need some advice.   >I have got a 2 1/2 year old miniature American Eskimo female who I got from >the shelter about 6 months ago.  She has been just a sweety.  She is, however, >a very dominant dog, and it has taken quite a bit for me to establish myself >as alpha.  She is a quick learner though and did well in obedience school.  I >have worked hard on her training and she now exhibits signs that she respects >me a little more after we have had some time to bond.   >She has high pack drive.  She always loves to cuddle up next to me and to be >petted.  She also has extremely high prey drive. She loves to chase things, >including bikes, squirrels, etc.  I have gotten used to this, and I can read >her signals in advance and take action.   >Here is the problem — she is normally very friendly around people, but there >are certain times that she is unpredictable.  I take her to a park sometimes >to play with another dog friend.  If someone walks by who looks the slightest >bit different(maybe wearing a big hat, or now a hood since the weather has >gotten colder) she will sometimes flip out and take off after them barking.   >She has even nipped at a couple of people.  I know this is not acceptable and >I have to stop it.  I want her to be able to play off the leash, but I don’t >like being unsure of her reaction around people.  I have taken to using a 40 >foot nylon line attached to her in the park now, so she can still have her >freedom, but I can grab her if I need to.  Can someone suggest why this >behavior may be happening??  I have no idea of her background before the >shelter.  I have talked to a couple of trainers in my area and there response >is "Well, don’t let her off the leash".  She also tends to be dog aggressive >with larger dogs — don’t know if this is related.  She is generally >friendlier with women than with men.  

Many of the behaviors or characteristics you describe are common to Eskies. These include: (1) High Intelligence. A strong desire to please. A need for structure and training due to their high energy level and intelligence. (2) What you call pack behavior but is basically a strong need and desire for human companionship. Also a common Eskie attribute. (3) An Eskie female can be sweetly dominant. All this means is that you must place limits, even on her persistently sweet behaviors. Otherwise she will wrap you around her little "paw" so to speak. (4) The "prey" drive you describe is not what I have typically found. Eskies do love to play and "preying" is one form of play for them, particularly when the other dog is willing. However, Northern breeds are known to love to chase, etc. (5) Eskies are highly discriminating. They will notice only small changes in appearance, mannerisms, gaits, etc.. Anything that appears unusual to them may arouse their curiousity and protective instincts. Barking at the "unusual" object is not uncommon. (6) Nipping at other people is NOT common Eskie behavior and is not even related to (5) above. In other words, an Eskie can discriminate readily, but her typical reaction is a bark. It is NOT common for Eskies to nip or attack. (7) It is not common for Eskies to be aggressive to larger dogs, for the simple reason that the behavior is "stupid", ie, why would an intelligent smaller Eskie attack a larger dog. She might try to fake out the larger dog with barking, bluffing or fancy running. She might become annoyed and warn him if he invades her territory/possessions (which includes you), but actually fight and confront… what would be the point???. Most Eskies think that way. Finally, my Eskie prefers females over males. Actually woman love her. Which is great as far as I am concerned… Final Note. My Eskie is sweet, brilliant, obeys on first command, will "stay" for hours under command and displays undying loyalty and love. Eskies, due to theri intelligence can learn anything and modify their behavior assuming they are in good health and have not bee abused. The only limit your Eskie will be due to YOUR lack of creativity or persistance, not hers. Eskies who are reasonably breed are stable, highly intelligent, sweet dogs. You must continue to expose your Eskie to different types of people, animals and situtations (in a controlled manner).

Response:

>Your advice to this owner is basically sound. However, my experience >is that Eskies, though protective are NOT by nature aggressive. Also, >if you knew the breed better, you would know that Marc’s greatest >"ally" is that Eskies have a very strong desire to please.

Hi,   There sometimes is a fine line between aggression and protectiveness. When a dog leaves it’s play area to bark and charge,this is aggressive behavior. It is not passive(opposite of aggressive)behavior. If dog is not taught to be discrimiminating she becomes aggressive. Just like other "protective" breeds such as shepherds,dobies,etc. I’m quite familiar with the breed for I have worked with a few dozen of them. Most with problems that are similar to this folder. Bob Maida

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