BADOG

MY WIFE AND I HAVE A TWO YR OLD FRENCH BASSET, LATELY SHE HAS BECOME VERY TERRITORITAL TOWARDS OUR CHIHUAHUAS. SHE HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF GRABBING THEM AND SHAKING AND LEAVING CUTS ON THEM. WHAT CAN WE DO TO SOLVE THIS? THE CHIHUAHUAS JUST WALK OVER TO HER AND SNIFF HER OR JUST ANYTHING AND SHE ATTACKS THEM.WHAT CAN WE DO? WE LOVE HER AND DONT REALLY WANT TO GET RID OF HER FOR FEAR SHE MIGHT DO THIS TO OTHER DOGS.

SophieB

We've always had Bassets and sometimes another rescued breed too like we have a Cocker Spaniel with our Bassets but have never had any problems... in fact more often than not, the Bassets have ignored the other dog in the house!

It sounds territorial but I wonder if the other dogs sometimes sneak up on the Basset when you're not looking and give him a nip and he's putting them in their place! I can't imagine a Basset hurting anything... in fact, quite the opposite as they're so docile... maybe it's the French in her!!!

Mikey and others will be here later with some good advice! My advice would be to get another Basset so your Basset doesn't feel outnumbered by what my husband calls "whipper-snappers"!!!!

Tuesday

Maybe something happened. I don't see any basset being aggressive for no reason. Try hiring a dog trainer to see if they can help figure out what caused this and how to fix it. For now, keep them separated. I hope there is a solution. Good luck!

BADOG

yes, we thought that, she has to deal with three chihuahuas so i guess that could be it. we are just worried she will hurt our nieces and nephews if she isnt made to realize her actions. right now we just put her in time-out in the garage. im worried though if she will feel punished for doing whats instinctive. we have two australian sheperd puppies someone dropped at our house last sunday morning, so that may be part of it. she seemed territorial towards our female chihuahua before though. we are going to consult our vet tomorrow about it. we have a friend who is taking the puppies to their house tues. though.

Mikey T

The fact that the chihuahuas come back is a good indicationthey are not scared and is the situation is exactly as Sophia portrayed see
He Just Wants To Say "Hi!" Aggression or appropriate response to rudeness? Far too many dogs suffer because handlers & trainers don't know the difference between the two.

ALSO how old are the puppies? Generally puppies younger than 16 weeks are given wide lattitude in their behavior by adults it is called "puppy license" but as the puppies mature sexually (younger in smaller dogs) that licence is taken away and the puppies are routinely hasseled and put in ther place.
see Social Hierarchies
Puppy license and adult behavior–STOP SEPARATING PLAY.

If the intent whas to harm the pups thier would be pucture wound on them not scrapes. The fact there are no puncture wounds actual shows good bite inhibition. on the part of the basset.
How to Assess the Severity of a Dog Bite

\Why? has the dog done anything to a human to warant that fear? Dog behavior is very context sensitive. If the behavior only occurs with other dogs that that is what it will continue to do.

I am going to guess teritorial is not the right word here. She is protective of her posessions. ie. where she sleeps, her body, toys, food etc. Does she engage in the same behavior with human? What is the dogs reaction if you where to grab for the food bowl while she eats? Reactions in these contexts is not teritorial aggression . It is know as resource guarding which again is a normal behavior. Being a normal behavior does not make it an acceptable one. Also keep in mind because a dog will guard from other dogs does not mean it will do the same with humans a lot depends on the dogs expected out come. For example: if the dog expects that a human will put in a special treat in the food bowl when they grab for it, it is much less likely to defend against its being taken than a dog with the expectation that they will loss the contents. This is the basis of most behavior modifcation programs for resource guarding. For a more complete understanding I suggest:

MINE! - A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO RESOURCE GUARDING IN DOGS

a fair review of the book
Be aware that most vets have no behavioral training. I am not say don't use a vet as a resoure but realize the limitation. Most are however able to recommend a good behaviorist to work with you.

add'l resourses in finding a behaviorist

Find a counsultant IAABC

Directory of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists

Find a diplomat ACVB

SophieB

I didn't realise there are 3 Chihuahuas!!! I can't ever imagine a Basset Hound hurting anything, especially your nieces and nephews, in fact, quite the opposite is true of Bassets (unless someone treats them really very badly and even then they would be too soft to retaliate)!!!

Mine and my family members' Bassets have been all brought up with babies and children and none of them, including rescues of unknown origin, have ever put a foot wrong! Just have a look at these videos to see the Basset nature with young children and babies!

Kirska

I have an 18 month old nephew that comes over and Anabelle is only dog I've ever had that allows babies to hit them, pull on them, etc etc and not even seem to notice. I think the temperament of bassets is one of their strongest assets so this thread surprises me too.

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Mom to Anabelle and Lila, 9 (?) and 8 years old rescued ladies and Harley, 11 year old Corgi/Beagle/Basset/?? mutt

"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

SophieB

Having read this again... I'm sorry but I find it hard to believe without video or picture evidence.... and anyway, bassets are very soft mouthed dogs and when ours are playing and enjoying a bit of rough and tumble with each other, they sometimes grab one another with their mouths, but their teeth seem to be covered by their gums.

Our Bassets are so soft-mouthed that whenever they lift eggs from where my friend's hens have laid them, they can carry them in their mouths without even cracking them and I can't imagine them leaving 'cuts' on your other dogs! Have you got any pictures of your Basset 'shaking' the little dogs and pics of their 'cuts' or is this a joke?

Mikey T

It is never good to assume an individual dog will act like that norms of the breed. Individual frequently do not fit norm. I own a basset that I would never trust with a small child though she is the best dog I have ever owned with other dogs. She is capable as demonstrated on a number of occassion of putting holes in humans. Just another reason to to not to as problen in a dog v dog diad is related to a human v dog one. They are seperate interactions and little can be assume in the way a dog reacts to other dogs is how it will react to humans as well.


While abuse is often sited as a reason for inappropriate behavior especial fear based aggression it is not ussually the cause, simply poor genetics (not breeding for temperament) and poor socialization account for the bulk of it. In the case of the dog mentioned above the breeder is well known to rescue groups and they see a lot of her dogs with similar temperaments.

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Just wanted to mention that some dogs do not have appropriate response to puppies, and also that when there is such a size difference injury could occur even if the larger dog does not intend to do so.

My family used to have a lab/shepherd mix who broke the skull of my 12 week old Basset puppy. The same dog also killed a 6 week old kitten who went in his bowl. This was a dog accustomed to living with other dogs and cats, but was definitely possessive. Whether he intended to harm the puppy or not is unknown, but the result is the same.

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