Dog Behavior Q&A Episode #103
what’s up everyone Jeremy majors here
with macadam a dog training out of Green
Bay Wisconsin and we are alive this is
episode 103 for our weekly show where we
take your questions
and we try and answer them to the best
of our ability so if you have any
questions please feel free to ask
multiple questions to you’re not just
subjected to one question and remember
that these questions help others so your
question will not be the only issue so
on don’t be shy and ask some questions
well right now we are here and there’s a
dog that is in the green bay area
somewhat close to us where I guess
someone posted on Facebook that they’re
in trouble the dog is very aggressive
and their dogs are going to have to be
given up and and all that I hear well
the owner had said that the dog was
fixed or not fixed Oh Lord there was
probably about 50 people who chimed in
and said get the dog get the dog really
change this behavior at all and there’s
a lot of people that are arguing with me
currently out that and so that’s a good
little subject to talk about
so we’ll maybe answer some questions
first and then get to that but does
neutering help yes or no is the question
that everyone seems to be pretty
convinced that neutering is the is the
solution so
we’ll talk about that all right
hi Kim how are you okay my internet it
has has not been working which is why
I’m kind of here late and so I apologize
if it’s a little glitchy hopefully this
show goes smooth what
what’s up Jamal what’s up whatever we’re
gonna talk about dogs being neutered or
not that’s a good topic because it seems
to be a hot topic on some Facebook post
so we’ll just go ahead and get into it
all talk a little bit about it does
neutering your dog know when it comes to
aggression because that’s that’s the
solution that was being passed around on
this post does neutering help and there
was a lot of people giving me crap
because I wasn’t a vet and so but I
would disagree with them on that part I
don’t think that’s really deal with
behavior they just do the neutering but
they don’t deal with the aggression and
they don’t deal with the aftermath of
you know when the dog it does get bigger
I’ve watched plenty of dogs throughout
my entire dog career or whatever this
will be here thirteen but plenty of dogs
and I’d monitor them before they got
neutered and then I observed them after
they got neutered and while there is a
difference it’s very moneyed it doesn’t
make a difference especially when it
comes to you know territorial aggression
I mean the dogs not just biting anyone
you know they act like oh good lord now
got on to the subject of people hating
on e collar you know there’s this one
person who said no matter what you do do
not go with a trainer that uses an e
collar and I’m like really are is there
is there a world of people who actually
think that there are like eight collars
make dogs aggressive we should also talk
about that as well all right we got some
questions coming in let’s check them out
Kim says dozer has a soft tissue injury
in his shoulder positive news as they
suspected in bone cancer thoughts on
mind games toys etc while he’s on leash
restriction oh goodness
that’s a tough one you know he likes to
move a lot yeah can he if he can walk
that would be cool
I I do have a video although I don’t
promote trick training but you may want
to look into doing some things that just
require him being right in front of you
as far as just like teaching them tricks
one of the things that I teach up my
dogs or I like to teach dogs is how to
stand on command so when they’re in a
down or asset get them to stand on all
fours that’s sort of a little trick you
can do going back back and forth from
down sit stand down sit stand where he’s
not really moving it that much you know
what I mean – wouldn’t hurt him that
much so you could do that and then you
can do that with distance – say you get
really good you can do that you know
make a mistake walk across the room get
him to stand from from a down position
while he’s across the room little things
like that I mean again I’m not a big
advocate of trick training because you
know it doesn’t do much in my opinion
because I’m you know coming from but
behaviorist standpoint but
that’s what I would try see if you like
it hi mom
all right next question
oh they can answer that I’m sure people
who have neutered dogs some in box may
have serious aggression yeah hello great
topic interesting and important it is
how far out were you booked for training
in rehab how much time do they spend
with the dogs on the day of daily basis
great question it’s been about six hours
with the dogs on a daily basis and
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booked out until March so March would be
the first available spot
why don’t you inbox me because I may
have another later spot for you if
you’re interested so go ahead and inbox
me but as of now it’s March all right
okay let’s see
hey Jeremy do you believe that a
household with two fighting dogs mail
bully breeds can ever be fixed as
opposed to just being managed if they’ve
been fighting for almost two years in
the home do you feel dogs can hold a
grudge after continuous fighting great
question yes I do think I do think that
two fighting dogs in the home can be I
don’t want to I don’t like the word
fixed that their relationship can be one
of which you don’t have to manage that’s
what else there and I say that because
when you’re dealing with two dogs or any
dog for that matter you’re dealing with
a relationship and their focus should be
on how to get them to see what they used
to see if they were always fighting
that’s one thing but if there was a
period of time where the dogs didn’t
fight and they were buddies and that’s
what we have to try and get back to and
so again it’s the relationship thing but
it’s going to take a lot of control from
the owners the owners have got that can
completely take control of both dogs for
the other dogs sake
so I say that by saying what I mean by
that is one dog has got to be able to
trust the other dog and in order to do
that we have to intervene
so the dog can actually say I don’t need
to engage in fighting because I trust
you now but before that trust has to
happen before that can even happen the
dog has got to I mean the the the owners
have got to step in and control all
energy enzyme there can be no you know
nope
obviously but the areas where dogs fight
the most is over bones over food and
over people and so you take that away
you take those things away or make it
not okay and dogs don’t they don’t
necessarily like to fight so you know
it’s it’s again all about maybe creating
some separation but not separation in
the form of putting one dog putting a
dog over the separating them by some
sort of doggie date gate or putting them
in a kennel or something like that not
that type of separation but what I mean
is separations through your controlling
you know putting both dogs on a bed and
allowing that calm energy to be
established a relationship that’s the
key calm energy will re-establish the
relationship will help them trust each
other and then eventually they’ll
they’ll learn that they don’t have to
try and control one another right great
question
all right there is research to show that
in dogs neutering can actually increase
and cause dog aggression I have personal
experience with this vets are taught
that neutering decreases the dog’s
population so that it’s be pushed they
do not deal with behavioral but rather
refer it out many vets are coming around
on this as they realize the importance
of hormones and bone maturity our vet
supports our decision to keep those are
intact but as you know you can never be
boarded and so many local trainers
refused you know that is ridiculous why
is why our trainers refusing and
boarding places refusing to take dogs
that are this is a read it is ridiculous
and the vets do push it because it helps
keep them getting paid obviously the
more that they do surgery the more that
they can get paid but it’s just
ridiculous man they have
I mean you should have seen this
conversation it was just everyone was
saying step one get them fixed first
thing you want to do get him fixed it’s
like no you guys shouldn’t even be
giving out advice like that because
you’re not a vet or a behaviorist so the
post was about an aggressive dog and
their solution was to get the dog fixed
right away and then you know when as
soon as I stepped in they had a big
problem with that but I invited them to
the show so hopefully some of them are
watching that’d be great
maybe we might even get them to to
answer some ask some questions that we
could that’d be even better we adopted a
dog from Lucky seven in May 2000 18 he
came from Houston and he hates my
husband we have tried everything it
seems like it’s getting worse where he
growls and barks the whole time my
husband is in the house
diesel will not look at him take treats
from him or let him pet him we are at a
loss as he liked everyone else he comes
in contact with even all males help
that’s okay so what I would do Tammy is
[Music]
what I would do is when you have someone
when you have a dog that doesn’t like
another person in the household the
person that he doesn’t like has to let
the dog come to him okay so the husband
should not even try to give treats
should not try and pet let give the dog
some space the other thing is whoever is
whoever the dog is you know if the dog
is growling in between so smokes at the
time so say that I’m you right so I’m
Tammy
dogs sitting right here husband comes
and tries to pet the dog right here make
sure that that scenario doesn’t happen
because dogs can get a little bit of
little bratty when they’re right next to
you so you may have to or other people
may have to sort of push them away so
that he can be open
the possibility of being in that
relationship or are considering that
relationship I just had my neighbor who
has an Australian Shepherd do the same
thing so the Australian Shepherd lived
with the woman for a very long time now
they’re they moved in and the man of the
house gets growled at whatever bubble
will allow any tries to pet so I said so
I said no one pets the dog until the dog
goes to you to be paid and it only took
like one day and the dog wanted to be
pet and so so sometimes if dogs sort of
are deprived from of what they like
they’ll seek it out and others to get it
okay but if they’re gaining all of their
there they’re fixed so to speak from you
know people that the dog lives with or
whatever they’re gonna be less likely to
be open to establishing relationships
with others but here’s the other thing
the husband can walk the dog the husband
can feed the dog the husband can take
the dog out to pee and poop and do some
things – that will also help very much
but it shouldn’t be
he shouldn’t be trying to push himself
on the dog because some dogs are sort of
you know resistant to that so two things
create separation from you know maybe
yourself and the dog so the doc and you
know want to be pet enough to go up to
your husband and then the other thing is
let your husband do some activities with
the dog so that they can establish a
relationship all right thank you very
question feel free to ask another one
all right when is the show the show is
now I love your passion bless you and
your family bless you thank you very
much I appreciate that I have a very
dominant female she this question is for
Jamie I have a very dominant female
she’s aggressive with people of all ages
and will hump
she hates strangers and scares everyone
wondering if you had any tips on getting
her to be okay with people coming into
the door and how to handle the hyper
dominant female lab Wow
okay so first and foremost where’d you
get the dog and if you got it from a
breeder then you should call the breeder
and inform him or her that you have this
problem and that they need to be aware
of breeding aggressive fearful dogs
second of all okay this is a game plan
within the household you have a very
dominant female make sure that the dog
is getting adequate exercise when you
have people come over is a wonderful
opportunity to let to get your dog some
really good exercise the more the more
anxiety that can get rid of the better
they’ll be alright so get the dog some
ashes on but secondly you have to start
controlling that dog as if people were
there today so why don’t you go ahead
and be more Stern honor in the house
when it’s just you in her okay we got it
from Craigslist at nine months all right
so you don’t know about the breeder okay
throw that out forget about it forget
about it
all right so but like I said when it’s
just you in the house you have to be as
tough on her as necessary to get her to
act the same way if people when it’s
just you and her when people come over
all right so what I would do is have a
bed get a bed place it somewhere and
then make her go there more structure if
in that dog’s life is going to again
help her be more open to the possibility
of accepting strangers but it starts
with how she acts when it’s just very
easy and convenient for her to do
whatever she wants which is when when
you are home when she’s home and or it’s
just the people who she feels safe with
and
no one else so if she has a problem
bottom line if she has a problem with
strangers coming into the house she have
she must listen to a level that that it
won’t matter who’s there what happens
that she must listen to you for example
I tell my dog to go lay down it doesn’t
matter if someone comes in the door or
not the dogs gonna go lay down but what
does that do and teaches the dog that it
doesn’t have to go address the problem
because the dogs trying to be
controlling door open I want to control
the situation that’s what the dog says
I’m so I’m gonna go towards the door and
bark and maybe even bite that’s
controlling that tells us we have to do
that and we have to take control okay so
I like my dogs to bark but once I’ve
sort of checked out the situation now I
want them to stop barking and go lay
down so I can open my door and have my
guests come in so I tell them to go lay
down open the door my guests come in my
dogs are still in the down because I
don’t let them just get up on their own
I’ll invite them to get to come say hi
once everything is calm okay that’s a
lot of information but bottom line is
once again you have to take control of
her more more and it’s easier to do so
when it’s convenient for you not to do
so I hope that helps
I have youtube videos explaining exactly
how how to get what I just explained the
how to place or how to go to your bed
and yeah that’s pretty much what you
need and then what to do when guests
come over also I have a video that
explains sort of the technique on do
that I can dive into the technique but
that what we’d be here for a while
alright thanks for your question feel
free to ask another one
okay any info on some quick tests or red
flags to look out for when pulling dogs
from a kill shelter into a rescue foster
group to get more adoptable dogs or even
tips to share for doctors to look for
when choosing to adopt passing this on
to my rescue friends alright yeah that’s
a good question um a couple of good
questions so let’s ask the last one
first for adopters when you’re looking
for our dog I’ll go over it briefly
because I did go over in detail
well not in detail but much more I
explained it much more in the last
episode okay but I’ll explain it again
okay so what to look for when you’re if
you’re in a doctor and you want to look
for it I just actually posted a video
about this on Facebook coming on YouTube
too so I’ll pass that on but you want to
take in consideration the your lifestyle
you know what’s your lifestyle is it
active or is it not so active that
should determine what type of dog you
get can you get a lazy young dog yes not
like them can you get a hyper old dog
yes but not like so based on your
lifestyle and how active you are you may
you may if you’re a very active person
say you’re a runner you’re a you hike
you camp you you know take walks or
whatnot then you can get that young dog
because you’ll be able to give the dog
what it needs so you’re not a such an
active person maybe you go to work for 8
hours 8 plus hours a day go ahead and
get that senior dog pull that senior dog
let him live out his glorious days with
you you know he probably won’t need much
but a nice peaceful walk anyway so your
lifestyle and how active you are is
definitely a key for our of a good a
good start ok and then depending on what
dog you have already in the house you
should remember that male and female
male and female combination are the most
likely to get along then it goes male
male then it goes female female a female
females combination is the least likely
to get along I’m not saying that that
that combination doesn’t work because
there’s plenty of them that do work but
you if you want to optimize the jobs
getting along male and female first then
male male then female female and I get
calls most of the time it’s female
females that are fighting in the home
and then you also then want to evaluate
the temperament of your current dog okay
we already took care of gender now we
got to talk about temperament let’s get
the opposite temperament or depending on
the dog you may want to get the similar
if you can get a similar breed then that
would be the best but also get look for
same energy level or opposite
temperament because sometimes same
dominant to dominant dogs are more
likely to fight alright
so that’s those are a couple things I’ll
stop there because there’s other things
that you can get get to but um like I
said I have a video going more into what
I just explained on my youtube channel
if you go to my youtube channel don’t
forget to subscribe
what are some things I should do when
introducing my dog to a new dog she’s
great with some dogs and not so much
with others take a walk
preferably off leash sorry this question
is for a net but yeah take a walk with
your dog off leash and let them explore
each other
through movement so best way to maybe
socialize dogs is having them off leash
and you guys walking around take them to
a dog park or something you know that’d
be a good start because there’s other
dogs there to take them to a dog park or
take them to a neutral large area take
them off leash or drag a longline
whatever you want to do and then you
guys continue to walk – you know all of
you take a walk as a pack okay that’ll
work that’s the best way second best way
is to control your dog all right thanks
for your question
mmm-hmm someone’s upset okay Kayla says
being involved in dog rescue and being
around dogs backgrounds especially
strays it seems that food aggression is
a common problem especially doggone dog
we took in a puppy this weekend that was
said to go after the other dogs in the
in the prior foster home over food how
would you work through this to set the
dog foster and adoptive up for success
you know you will have to address it I
mean you’ll have to try and correct it
and so you may need a tool that that
will be able to get the dog to respect
when that it can’t engage in that
aggressive behavior and so get to know
the dog first make it easier on the dog
to be corrected by you in that situation
get to know the dog first be a little
bit ass beat
expect more out of the dog in little
areas first and/or try to see if the dog
is toy aggressive as well because that’s
to some dogs the lesser valued item
valued resource and and and correct that
to are correct that and you’ll see that
maybe the the food gets easier to to
address the issue gets easier to address
if you know what I mean but you will
have to maybe you know get them around
your dogs and then try to address them
the problem alright thanks for your
question feel free to ask another one
Polina says help my two-year-old Jack
Russell Terrier is apparently also part
beaver and has made a habit of chewing
on anything wooden in my house my stairs
the door trim bookcase we can’t keep our
eyes on the 24/7 anyway to curb this
behavior I try to get him as much
exercise as I can to keep his mind
but the chewing behavior still happened
does it happen when you’re home if you
want to answer that or does it happen
when you’re not home I aren’t because
depending on I can give you a couple
different answers so yeah
let’s talk a little bit more about
neutering so see back in 2006 when I
started working with dogs I definitely
noticed that dogs do respond to dogs
that aren’t neutered Oh only to ask that
question okay yes if we have our
attention on something else like the
baby he will still – okey-dokey now I
can kind of tell you okay true if what
you’re doing right now isn’t working you
will have to add a some sort of
adversive punishment or tool because if
your dog stopped when you said stopped
or stopped when you said no there would
be no need for anything else but if it
doesn’t you’ll have to add some sort of
tool okay I’m going to list off some
tools that will work that could work
the pet convinced err that that could
work and it’s just a device that sounds
like a phaser it’s not a Taser just
sounds like it there’s a pet convinced
er that just shoots out hair sounds like
that and then there is the e collar the
e collar will work because it can be as
firm as necessary and we can be as
gentle as possible with that so those
are some tools that will work to help
get the dog to realize that chewing is
not okay look them up
I even have some videos on how to use
those tools so I start with something
simple even though we’re a water bottle
with a squirt bottle or whatever maybe
start with that but if you really want
to go
you know gentle but yeah he color will
work exactly okay yes
dogs neutering alright we’ll go back to
that so I did notice that dogs that are
neutered do some do respond negatively
to dogs that part neutered and that’s
weird to me but it’s a fact even dogs so
we use that you used to have a policy
that after your dog was neutered it’d
take about a month for those hormones to
completely come out of the dog’s body
and we only knew that because there’d be
this one dog that would just hate this
dog and or if that scenario would happen
we’d always ask the owner I bet you
you’ve got your dog neutered lately
didn’t you and almost every time they
would say yep so that being said I have
worked in dog daycares with at least
over 700 dogs medic ones
multiple dog daycare about 700 dogs and
I’ve experienced over the years the
difference between spay
I mean the difference in attitude pre
neuter post new
and in my experience it’s not that much
of a difference if any I think it is a
made-up thing to keep people from
controlling a population which is fine I
have no problem with that but let’s not
talk about neutering a dog because their
behavior is come see us because their
behavior is aggressive become chill when
Daddy Wow Reggie is gonna help me answer
some questions can I help me answer some
questions okay so yeah um I think
neutering is uh is a little bit
overblown I don’t think it is necessary
I’ve worked with dogs who are aggressive
that had their genitals and I’ve never
came back to the note to the owner and
said you know what your dog needs to be
neutered and I’ve dealt with dogs who
are very aggressive that don’t have
balls so our excuse me sorry don’t need
to say that
then don’t that aren’t neutered okay he
is calm when he hears me talking so I
think he should be good but you looking
at the camera
anyway okay next question
Oh nervous no question all right so
anyway that’s my thoughts on neutering
again I think it’s a controversial tip
topic maybe if it’s obviously gonna push
it because they get something front but
I don’t get anything from it all I do is
train dogs no matter if there’s fate or
not I do know for example that if dogs
are spayed and neutered by too young or
even for some females that they’ll act
different my dog my female dog was
probably two years old when she got
spayed and she acts different if there’s
a she’s more fearful now of things so
there’s negative things that can happen
as a result of spaying and neutering
there’s a lot of breeders breeders
there’s a lot of breeders that require
you to wait at least sometimes as 18
months sometimes it’s a year for males
and then after after the females first
cycle then they can say it’s okay to
spay we ever had a female that is spayed
too early that had a inverted vocal no I
have never experienced that doc on CBD
oil with dogs I haven’t tried it so I
couldn’t give you um recolored couldn’t
really give you a good answer but I am
what I am
open to anything that is going to help
so I may I may I may have an answer for
you soon though I may have an answer for
you soon but I have to try it first yeah
they’re doing they have CBD oil for dogs
and they have CBD dog treats
coming going around now I haven’t tried
any other yet we’ll see how it goes
all right all right you guys well if you
guys don’t have any other questions I
don’t have anything else to talk about
do you have something to talk about huh
reg tell them tell them spaying and
neutering is not always good all right
you guys I’m gonna get out of here
please give me a thumbs up or something
like that if you liked it and we’ll be
here next Wednesday okay see you later
hey bye rich hey my bye
nope right here okay look here this one
there you go
