Today we live in an age of bullies. They are guided by insecure attempts at being number one in their area. Maybe they were born with arrogance, or saw an opportunity on the school field or in the corporate arena.
Signs a Dog Could Be a Bully
Harassment is a common occurrence in workplaces where gender equality is questioned and where competition encourages the powerful to dominate. We may have created the same personality in our dog if we are the bully at work.
A half an hour in the pooch park will see whispers and backs turn while your Standard Poodle assumes a dominant role. Poodles are monarchical in France where many a King Louis sat on the Chateau de Versailles throne with a spoilt Poodle in his lap.
Are you hearing your dog growling at other dogs or trying to mount them? All these are signs of attempted dominance and your pooch will usually comply if you’re a “lover, not a fighter”. Bully dogs will bark at any dog they see, lunging to prove who is boss.
If you have several dogs at home, doggy tantrums can be common. There could be some scraps if one or both of your dogs are trying to get attention. Pining one dog to the ground reveals who is boss. This can easily upset even the most submissive pup. Then, the other pup will retaliate by biting the other’s paw.
It might be worth moving on if your dog is not enjoying a nice walk in the sunshine and the Terrier nearby stops by and stares at you threateningly. Trouble could be in the making if your dog has a stiffened tail and a rigid body posture. A bigger dog that is constantly chasing your dog can be a sign of harassment.
If your Boxer is always harassing other dogs at the park, you might get tired of making excuses to the owners. You may also feel embarrassed that you are a bully dog. This is also true for toddler parents who may be shocked to discover that their little one is a terror-bug, making other children cry. It is possible to compare your dog to a 2-year-old child, which most scientists believe is a good indicator that your dog is learning appropriate behavior. Scientists have shown that dogs are similar to humans in brain structure and cognitive abilities.
If the bully dog is also a large or muscular breed, serious problems could arise. Bully dogs are powerful and can cause serious harm to people and their pups. Barbara Woodhouse, an 80’s dog trainer, said that there are no bad dogs. Only inexperienced owners.
A woofer is being bullied on the other side the dog fence. The submissive signs that this sensitive pup displays include yawning and tail tucking as well as rolling on their backs or whining.
History of Dog Harassing
The infamous zoo study of captive wolves in the 1930’s by Rudolph Schenkel, a Swiss animal behaviorist, started a war of words with dog trainers who concluded if wolves bully each other to become the Alpha leader, why would dogs be any different? Quora informs us that the wolves studied were not in the wild, so how they behave in their natural environment was not dully noted.
Psychology Today states that harassment is a common behavior in monkeys. Dario Maestripieri, a primatologist, has observed the practice of picking on weak members of a group. Buddy was bitten by a bully macaque, but he didn’t retaliate and instead ran away. Buddy returned to the group and was bullied more severely. He was seen as vulnerable so he had to be taken away forever in fear of being killed. As humans can also be intolerant of weakness, animals and humans can exploit vulnerable people to raise their self-esteem.
Instead of condemning dogs for their dominance, it might be worth looking at how dogs learn from humans. Dogs can read our facial expressions and body language to tell if we’re sick. They are likely to pick up on human harassing behavior.
Dogs are able to mimic our behavior, which means they have plenty of time to spend with us. They are also genetically evolving alongside us, which is another scientific fact. Humanity is well-known for sticking to ideas and maintaining the status quo over centuries. Only when a respected voice tells us otherwise, can we evaluate our position on a topic.
The fairytale tale of wolves being arrogant enough to make friends with humans is not consistent with the theory that Alpha males are fighting within the pack. Why would a leader give up their “top dog” position to be ruled over by humans? This must have been an unusual event with wolf pups being taken, or a few hungry wolves.
The Science of Bossy Dogs
When the breeding of dogs began thousands of years ago, the idea was to make them physically astute for the job at hand. Molossian dogs were bred by an ancient Grecian tribe who wanted physically muscular and intimidating dogs for warfare. From the Molossis dog came the Mastiff, and a new vocation for fighting dogs for Roman amusement in the Colosseum.
Bully dogs are dogs that have a strong stance and are banned from many countries. The goal of early breeders was to produce high-performance dogs. However, there was no concept or genetics. Some would argue that the original dog creators, such as Border Collies, with their natural ability to herd sheep, and the super sniffer Beagle Beagle, didn’t have a bad record.
Dogs that were intended to be aggressive looked just like the rest. Dog fighting is still very popular and people are cruel to the dogs. This is what makes Pitbulls, even big-hearted pets, so nervous at the dog park.
Woofers who harass other dogs may not have been socialized and so jump all over other dogs, thinking it’s fun. Unsocialized Pitbulls or Mastiffs can be as bad as children who are left to their own devices.
If the bullies in the park are not taught social skills during puppyhood and if they have an aversion towards aggression, trouble is likely. A Maltese or Chihuahua that has not learned to interact with other dogs could become tiny-tot ankle-biters and make the big dogs run for cover or attack in self-defense.
Train Your Dog to Not Harass Other Dogs
If you have the dog park bully lying on your sofa, it’s time to action a behavioral change. Victoria Stilwell, an advocate for positive encouragement, says dominance in the animal kingdom is generally devoid of violence, so asks why dog trainers insist on physical punishments.
A scientific study in the 1960s suggested that punishing dogs who have done wrong was futile unless they are caught chewing on your shoes or urinating on the ground. They are very short-sighted so if you start disciplining your woofer 30 minutes after the incident, they will become confused and lose trust. Research shows that aggressive discipline is possible – and it’s rightfully so. It is demeaning and even painful to be hit.
Dogs with less socialization than their older siblings will be more aggressive towards other dogs, whether they are at home or in the park. Do not try to intervene in the middle of this. Wait for your chance to get your dog away. Pet Helpful suggests that the bully dog take a “Time Out” to stop their behavior. You can use a negative connotation like “UhAh!” to help your dog align this term with their behavior.
A command could be used to train your dog to stop rough play and bullying. The doggy park is not the right place for your dog if they are unable to resist the temptation to play with other dogs. Dogs can meet their match, just like humans. This could lead to a costly trip to the vet.
Dogs can sometimes harass their owners by demanding attention and barking at them. As a large or small dog, trying to control their guardian can cause great distress. Your woofer may make you feel like you are leaving your home, or even want to. This is a sign of insecurity. It could also be a result of trauma or illness.
It can be difficult to teach a dog the way of the world after they have grown up. Use a muzzle to keep your dog from jumping on other dogs and trying to bite you. You can take them to the dog park but keep them on a leash. To make sure they are comfortable with other dogs, you want to teach them how to use the dog park.