Why dogs turn on their owners

Beckman's Dog Training
14 Feb 202212:17
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video script, the speaker addresses the complex issue of dogs turning on their owners, dismissing common misconceptions and focusing on three main causes: redirected aggression during walks or near fences, mental illness in dogs which can lead to sudden and unprovoked attacks, and pain or injury causing dogs to react aggressively. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing these signs, seeking veterinary care when necessary, and using preventative measures to avoid such incidents.

Takeaways
  • 🐾 Young dogs nipping and jumping are not considered 'turning on their owners' but rather a normal part of their development.
  • 👀 The speaker emphasizes that a dog's eyes can change dramatically before an attack, indicating a shift in mental state.
  • 🔥 Dominance behavior, such as a dog lunging at its owner, is not the same as a dog truly turning on its owner with the intent to cause harm.
  • 🦷 A dog that is 'turning' on its owner will bite hard and shake its body, sinking its canines in with the intent to do serious damage.
  • ⚠️ Redirected aggression is a common cause for dogs to 'turn' on their owners, often happening during walks or near fences.
  • 🚫 The speaker advises against allowing dogs to get to the point of extreme frustration where redirected aggression becomes possible.
  • 🧠 Mental illness in dogs, similar to conditions in humans, can lead to unexpected and dangerous behavior changes.
  • 🤕 Pain or injury can cause a dog to react aggressively, even towards its owner, as a way to protect itself from further harm.
  • 👶 Children and puppies are perceived as unpredictable by dogs, which can lead to defensive behavior if the dog is in pain or injured.
  • 🍽️ Dogs in public places like restaurants should be monitored to ensure they do not react aggressively if accidentally hurt by a falling child.
  • 🐕‍🦺 Breed-specific issues may contribute to aggressive behavior in some dogs, possibly due to poor breeding practices leading to mental health issues.
Q & A

  • What are the three main reasons a dog might turn on its owner according to the transcript?

    -The three main reasons are redirected aggression during walks or at fences, mental illness, and pain or injury.

  • How can you differentiate between a dog play-biting and actually turning on its owner?

    -Play-biting involves nipping and jumping without the intent to cause serious harm, while turning on the owner involves the dog sinking its canines in with the intent to do serious damage.

  • What is redirected aggression in dogs, and how can it be managed?

    -Redirected aggression occurs when a dog, frustrated during walks or at fences, attacks its owner's leg. It can be managed by preventing the dog from getting overly frustrated, using methods like the doorway method to calm the dog down before reaching that state.

  • How does the transcript describe the signs of mental illness in dogs?

    -Mental illness in dogs can be indicated by sudden, unprovoked aggressive behavior, where the dog's eyes change and it appears to go somewhere else mentally, as seen in cases of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

  • What role does pain or injury play in a dog turning on its owner?

    -Pain or injury can cause a dog to react aggressively to avoid further discomfort, such as a dog with an ear infection or back pain biting when touched or approached.

  • How does the transcript suggest dealing with a dog that shows signs of mental illness?

    -The transcript suggests taking the dog to a vet immediately for proper care and possible sedation, as mental illness can make the dog extremely dangerous.

  • Why might a dog attack a child more readily than an adult?

    -Dogs may perceive children as unpredictable and more likely to fall or act haphazardly, which can make them proactive in trying to avoid being hurt, leading to aggressive behavior.

  • What does the transcript say about the importance of a vet visit for dogs showing aggressive behavior?

    -A vet visit is crucial to identify any underlying injuries or pain that might be causing the aggressive behavior, ensuring the dog's health and safety.

  • How does the transcript define a serious dog bite?

    -A serious dog bite involves the dog sinking its canines into the victim and potentially shaking its whole body to cause significant damage.

  • What should owners consider about breed-specific behavior related to aggression?

    -Owners should be aware that certain breeds may have genetic predispositions to aggressive behavior due to poor breeding practices, potentially resulting in conditions like 'Cocker rage syndrome.'

Outlines
00:00
🐾 Understanding Canine Aggression

The speaker discusses the complex issue of dogs turning on their owners, emphasizing that it's not as simple as breed. They differentiate between normal puppy behavior and true aggression, explaining that young dogs being playful and nipping is not the same as a dog intentionally harming its owner. The speaker identifies three main reasons for this behavior: redirected aggression, mental illness, and pain or injury. They describe how a dog's eyes can change during an attack, indicating a serious intent to cause harm, and stress the importance of seeking professional help when a dog shows signs of aggression towards humans or other dogs.

05:00
😿 Redirected Aggression and Mental Health in Dogs

This paragraph delves deeper into the concept of redirected aggression, where a dog may attack its owner's leg out of frustration, which is a serious but somewhat common issue. The speaker also talks about the rarer occurrence of mental illness in dogs, which can lead to unprovoked aggression. They recount a personal experience with a dog that displayed sudden and extreme aggression, which they attribute to a mental health issue. The speaker advises taking dogs showing such signs to a vet for a thorough examination and possible sedation, highlighting the danger posed by such dogs to their owners and others.

10:02
🤕 Pain-Induced Aggression and Breed-Related Behaviors

The final paragraph addresses the third main cause of a dog turning on its owner: pain or injury. The speaker provides examples of how physical discomfort or pain can lead a dog to act aggressively, such as growling or biting when approached. They also touch upon the topic of breed-specific behaviors, mentioning the concept of 'Cocker rage syndrome' as an example of how certain breeds might have a predisposition to aggressive outbursts due to poor breeding practices. The speaker concludes by inviting viewers to share any other scenarios they might know of where a dog has turned on its owner, beyond the three discussed.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Aggression
Aggression in this context refers to a dog's display of hostility or readiness to attack. It is a central theme of the video, as the speaker discusses various reasons why a dog might exhibit aggressive behavior towards its owner. For example, the speaker mentions 'redirected aggression' during walks or at fences, where a dog may attack the owner's leg out of frustration.
💡Dominance
Dominance is a concept that refers to a dog's attempt to assert control or authority, often in response to a perceived threat or challenge to its status. In the video, the speaker uses the term to describe a situation where a dog lunges at its owner, which is not considered 'turning on' the owner in the context of serious aggression but is still a form of dominance behavior.
💡Mental Illness
Mental illness in dogs, as discussed in the video, refers to psychological conditions that can cause abnormal behavior, including aggression. The speaker recounts an experience with a dog that suddenly became aggressive without any apparent reason, suggesting a possible mental health issue. This is an uncommon reason for a dog to turn on its owner but is an important consideration.
💡Redirected Aggression
Redirected aggression is a specific type of aggression where a dog redirects its initial aggressive response towards an object or another animal towards a person or another target, such as the owner. The video mentions this as a common reason for dogs turning on their owners, particularly during walks or at fences.
💡Canines
Canines are the pointed teeth of a dog, designed for piercing and tearing. In the video, the speaker describes how a dog that intends to do serious damage will sink its canines into its target and then shake its body. This behavior is indicative of a dog 'turning' on its owner in a harmful way.
💡Puppy Teeth
Puppy teeth refer to the initial set of teeth that a young dog has before its adult teeth come in. The speaker mentions how older dogs with thinning skin can be injured by the sharp puppy teeth during playful nipping and mouthing, which is a normal behavior but not considered 'turning on' the owner.
💡Mental Illness in Dogs
The video discusses mental illness in dogs, comparing it to human conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The speaker suggests that such illnesses can cause a dog to exhibit aggressive behavior without any apparent reason, as seen in the case of a dog that suddenly tried to attack without provocation.
💡Pain or Injury
Pain or injury is identified in the video as a potential cause for a dog to become aggressive, especially if the dog is in discomfort and someone approaches or touches the affected area. The speaker gives examples of dogs with ear infections or back injuries that may react aggressively when approached.
💡Breed-Specific Behavior
Breed-specific behavior refers to tendencies or traits that are more common in certain breeds due to genetic factors or historical breeding practices. The speaker mentions 'Cocker rage syndrome' as a possible example of breed-specific behavior, although it is not proven, suggesting that some breeds may have a predisposition to certain types of aggressive behavior.
💡Dog Bites
Dog bites are a serious concern and a key focus of the video. The speaker differentiates between a dog playfully nipping and a dog that bites with the intent to cause harm, sinking its canines into the skin and shaking. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and severity of a dog bite when considering whether a dog has 'turned on' its owner.
Highlights

Dogs' eyes can indicate when they are about to attack, similar to big cats.

Dogs turning on their owners can occur due to three main reasons: redirected aggression, mental illness, and pain or injury.

Redirected aggression usually happens during walks or at fences, where the dog attacks the owner's leg out of frustration.

Mental illness in dogs, such as bipolar or schizophrenia, can cause them to attack unpredictably.

Pain or injury can lead a dog to attack, as they might anticipate being touched in a painful area.

Young dogs being crazy and nipping is not considered turning on their owners.

Dominance coupled with separation anxiety, like a Malamute lunging at its owner, is not turning on the owner.

A true attack involves the dog sinking its canines and shaking its body to cause damage.

A common question asked is if the dog bite resulted in a doctor's visit, indicating the seriousness of the attack.

Dogs can exhibit signs of mental illness, and this can lead to unpredictable and dangerous behavior.

Dogs' reactions to kids can be due to kids' unpredictable movements, which dogs might see as a threat.

Injury-related aggression can be due to ear infections, tooth pain, or back injuries.

It’s crucial to take dogs showing aggressive behavior due to pain to the vet for proper treatment.

There can be breed-specific issues, like Cocker Spaniel rage syndrome, which may involve genetic mental illness.

Proper training methods, like the doorway method, can prevent dogs from getting frustrated to the point of redirected aggression.

Transcripts

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Dog BehaviorAggression CausesMental IllnessRedirected AggressionCanine PsychologyOwner SafetyAnimal HealthBehavioral IssuesPet TrainingDog Attacks