Why is my Parson Terrier aggressive with older dogs and puppies?

Aggression is complicated because it can be playful aggression, dominance, possessive or anxiety. Unless you are very familiar with canine behavior, training and body language, this is a situation that requires a dog trainer. The trainer will watch Trevor’s behavior and then will teach you how to modify your behavior to change his. You should also get a few books about dog behavior and training so that you can learn how to recognize the body language as this will help. Neutering Trevor can also help to decrease unwanted behavior. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Gradual desensitization, correction of negative behaviors and patience are required. Slowly introduce him to one pup at a time. Correct any aggression immediately and praise/reward good behaviors. As he acclimates to one pup, introduce him to another (slowly) then another and another. Be consistent in training and corrections. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, may decrease and anxiety or aggression. A structured puppy socialization class may also be of benefit. Contact the local Petco for a list of offerings.

Without being able to observe the behavior, it's impossible to know if this is true aggression or if this is play behavior. True canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Unless you are very familiar with reading canine body language and training, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Rough play is a completely different behavior and will not generally be affected by neutering. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry that you're having this problem with Cssh! Aggression issues between dogs can be very complex, so without being able to actually meet him in person and observe his interactions with the other dogs, it's very difficult to say what might be causing this. Some dogs simply don't get along well with "new" dogs once they have grown out of their puppy stage - this could well be the case with your dog, since he's about 6-7 months old now. This isn't necessarily abnormal, but it may mean that your dog is not a good candidate for casual socializing with strange dogs. If you want to try and get a better idea of what may be causing Cssh's aggressive behavior and see if anything can be done to improve it, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist - he/she can evaluate your dog in person and help you understand exactly what is happening. If needed, they can also help you put together a detailed plan to work on the problem. Your veterinarian should be able to find out where your nearest veterinary behaviorist is located, and set up a referral for you if you wish. In the meantime, I would recommend not allowing Cssh to interact with any dogs that he doesn't already know and like since there is a significant risk that he will continue to behave aggressively, which could cause injury to him or other dog.

Hi Aaron, I hope I can help you with Taz! I would recommend first neutering him, and then having him seen by a professional behavioral expert. Aggression in dogs can be hormonally related, and having his testicles removed can help reduce that aggression. Having him seen by a professional behavioral experts is also important. Working with aggressive dogs can be dangerous, and I never recommend owners do it on their own. That is a situation that is best left to an expert. I would speak to your vet about a referral to a professional behavior to work with your family and Taz. Hope this helps :-)

Unprovoked aggression can have many causes. You don't specify whether or not your dog is neutered, but if he's not, I would consider it very likely that his aggressive tendencies are related to testosterone, and schedule surgery to get him neutered, as removing the source of testosterone (i.e. the testicles) will help tremendously in controlling his aggressive tendencies. If he is neutered, then it's likely that his aggression towards other dogs is rooted in fear. He will need some careful training to help to reverse these feelings, and it may be quite difficult, but is certainly possible. Talk to a trainer in your area about starting with a good general obedience class, which will improve not only your bond but also his confidence level (and thus reduce his fear). You'll have to work to reward him for good behavior by using a small delicious treat to gain his attention and keep him from trying to go after other dogs on walks. In the meantime, always keep him leashed when he's outside in order to protect him as well as other dogs.

That is certainly possible! Try playing a game with him this morning like fetch or tug-of-war that can be played in the house. It’s very likely that if you can burn off some of this energy, the play aggression that you are seeing will stop, at least for a while. Puppies require daily activity or they can be naughty. If you’re still seeing aggression issues, please post again. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to ask any additional questions.