What Went Wrong With Buddy?

Rolan Tripp, DVM¹

Buddy was the cutest puppy they had ever seen. He was curious and fun loving, and the perfect buddy for their three-year-old daughter, Julie. They wanted to do everything right and follow everything their veterinarian suggested. Since their veterinarian didn't provide pet behavior counseling, they just did what seemed natural.

To keep Buddy safe, they kept him isolated from other dogs and people. To keep him entertained; they gave him anything he wanted as a toy. Everyone shared when Buddy asked for food. After all, he was one of the family. Whatever Buddy wanted, he got. He rested on their furniture and slept on their bed.

At four months, he began demanding attention by barking or nudging and they gave it freely. At about five months old, they noticed that sometimes he didn't like being touched so they respected his wishes. They thought it was cute that he growled when anyone went near his food dish. At about six months old, they considered obedience school, but never got around to it. They resisted neutering after a friend told them it might change his personality.

One day, Mom tried to move Buddy off the couch and he snapped at her. They figured Buddy's feelings were hurt, so they tried to soothe him. After that, Buddy became increasingly short tempered. No matter how much they petted and reassured him, he still acted tense all the time and was increasingly disobedient. It seemed he was always shaking his head, as if saying, "No, I won't do that." When he began urine marking and destroying things, Buddy became an "outdoor dog."

When Buddy was seven months old, he bit the neighbor who came over for a visit. They assumed the neighbor did something to deserve it. When he attacked a friendly dog on a walk, they thought, "Buddy is just that way." They took him on fewer walks after that.

One day Julie decided to give Buddy a kiss, and didn't notice she was near his food dish. When the Doctor told them Julie had permanent damage to her face, they were shocked that Buddy would "turn vicious." That very day Buddy became history and a bitter memory. Everyone in the family was permanently scarred. They began to warn everyone not to own a dog because dogs are untrustworthy and can cause such heartache.

What went wrong with Buddy?

Puppy selection testing might have shown that Buddy had a genetic tendency toward dominant aggression. When Buddy was young, he missed Puppy Socialization and Training class. Therefore, he didn't learn how to make friends with other dogs and people when properly introduced. He didn't learn manners that would have allowed him to stay indoors with his pack. Most importantly he didn't learn to think of all humans as higher ranking pack members.

When Buddy could choose anything in the house as a toy, he mistakenly assumed that everything was his. Then he discovered that he could paw or nudge anybody anytime and he could control them to not touch him whenever he wanted. He could demand food or attention and they gave it submissively. They also unintentionally gave Buddy the message he was the leader by allowing him to sleep in the high status places. He could go anywhere, but could tell them to stay away from certain areas. His male hormones further encouraged Buddy to dominate others.

Another early sign of dominance was Buddy's disobedience. It seemed each time Buddy displayed his status by ignoring their commands or growling, they rewarded him by petting and talking to him in soothing subordinate tones. When the big female tried to move him from his favorite resting spot, he put her in her place with a warning snap. Soon Buddy thought he controlled the world. He enjoyed his power and position. Since the other dog on the walk and the neighbor didn't show sufficient submissiveness to Buddy, it was his job as leader to put them in their place. After all, Buddy was put in charge by the big male and female pack members.

From Buddy's point of view, attacking Julie was necessary. When the child tried to kiss Buddy, he interpreted this close approach with eye contact as an attempt to take his dominant position in the pack. Considering the previous messages that he was the leader, it became Buddy's duty to attack this insubordinate challenger.

Buddy's family had unintentionally selected a dog with a predisposition for dominance aggression. Then, with all the best intentions, they unwittingly molded him so he would predictably attack dogs, adults and children. The only reason this doesn't happen more often is that dominance tendencies have been bred out of most non-guard dogs.

Separate from the emotional pain, the legal liability of aggression can financially destroy a family. The veterinarian's role could have included pet selection counseling, puppy classes, daycare, neutering or prescribing a head halter. Visits could have provided behavioral information on how to decrease aggression by maintaining positive leadership and ruling out medical contribution to the aggression (like the irritation of a chronic ear infection). At the very least the DVM could have referred the case to a competent canine behaviorist.

¹ Affiliate Professor, Applied Animal Behavior, Colorado State University Veterinary School

Petopia.com Director of Pet Behavior and Wellness

Veterinary Director, Animal Behavior and Training Association

Content Consultant and On-air personality, Animal Planet Network

Used with permission.