BehavioRx Case of the Month
for March 2006

Pomeranian Attack Dog

The client's 3 year old female Pomeranian, "Perky," lived with her two older Pommy brothers, and was viciously attacking them and the owner's husband, her children or her elderly mother whenever they came close to Perky, but only if she was under a sofa, chair or bed, where she took her favorite toys. Perky was totally submissive to the wife, "Laura," who could take the toys away and get Perky out from her "dens.". Perky had recently bitten the mother quite badly, requiring several stitches on her hand. Perky also attacked her brothers if they came too close to any of her hiding places.

The "logical" answer here might seem to be to take away Perky's toys. However, when this had been tried; Perky merely started stealing things like the kids' socks, etc., and hid with them, again attacking trespassers.

Perky also demanded attention from the wife, husband and children, but was described as "nervous" whenever the elderly mother was near. The mother had moved in with her daughter and family when Perky was one year old. However, Perky's disdain for her began earlier when she was a pup and the mother came to visit. The mother was quite unsteady on her feet due to pain in her hips and the effects of prescription medications she took daily. Unfortunately, Laura had scolded and spanked Perky for her behavior when it occurred in her presence.

Fortunately, the all the family were determined to solve the problem. The following plan was embraced by everyone, even though it meant some sacrifices for the kids, Laura, and her husband. Following the BehavioRx Brochure instructions in the "Aggression to Owners" program, all but the mother, "Grace," gave Perky the "cold shoulder" for a week, ignoring her. Grace was soon the only person who even acknowledged the dog's presence. She spoke to her softly whenever Perky came around, telling her she was a good dog. Laura had always fed the dogs, but Grace agreed it made sense that she was to feed them until the problem was solved. In addition to these steps, Perky was denied her hiding places by sliding under-furniture linen storage boxes under all the beds and other furniture. In some
locations, slim cardboard boxes had to be used.

Within two weeks, Perky was following Grace around the house like a shadow. When Grace sat down, Perky actually begged for a few pets and could be picked up and would lie on her lap, after obeying Grace's request to "Perky, Sit," which is part for the "Learn-to-Earn Praise and Petting" program. Interestingly, Perky began to growl at her canine brothers and the children when they came close to she and grace. When this happened, Grace merely put Perky back on the floor without speaking to her. In a few days the hostility disappeared.

After five peaceful weeks, all the family began to respond to Perky's requests for attention with the learn-to-earn program. In another two weeks, as Laura described it, "Perky's personality changed from nasty to downright lovable."

Previous Cases

February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
December 2000
November 2000
October 2000
September 2000
August 2000
July 2000
June 2000
May 2000
April 2000
March 2000
February 2000
January 2000
December 1999
November 1999
October 1999
September 1999
August 1999
July 1999
June 1999
May 1999
April 1999
March 1999
February 1999
January 1999
December 1998
November 1998
October 1998
September 1998
August 1998
July 1998
June 1998
May 1998
April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
December 1997
November 1997
October 1997
September 1997
August 1997
July 1997
June 1997
May 1997
April 1997
March 1997
February 1997
January 1997
December 1996
November 1996
October 1996

Return to Case of the Month

Return to the BehavioRx Home Page