A Miniature Pinscher As Seen By New Boyfriend

Editor's Note:

In this second installment of Ask The Animal Writer, we offer number two of two initial sample questions typical of the challenges faced by thoughtful and loving dog owners everywhere. Our questions and questioners are fictional but the answers are real and intended to give you a taste of the excellent responses you can expect from our Animal Writer, Susan Kauffmann. To learn more about Susan please see her bio at the end of this story.

Please take a moment to enjoy this sample and then consider sending your question to the Animal Writer through the link below.

Happy Tails,

Craig Schmitman
Editor/Publisher
DogExplorer.com

MINIATURE MAN-EATER

My Miniature Pinscher, Willamina, hates men! She growls and snaps at every guy I date, and she actually bit my new boyfriend! I’ve had her since she was a tiny puppy, and no man has ever been mean to her that I know of, so why does she do this? My boyfriend says I should get rid of her, but there must be something I can do. Please help!

Willamina is actually a robot programmed by your father and your first boyfriend to scare off any new guy who comes near you. Okay, maybe not, but the psychological factors that would be in play in such a scenario – protectiveness and jealousy – are probably the same ones behind Willamina’s behaviour. Toy dogs like Willamina often develop extremely strong attachments to their owners, in part because these little dogs often get to go almost everywhere with their owners and are typically held and cuddled a great deal. It is not surprising, then, that some of these wee beasties don’t take too kindly to anyone they perceive as a threat to mommy – or as competition for mommy’s attention.

What you didn’t tell us is whether Willamina is reactive to all men, or just to the men you date. If she is okay with your father, your brother and that dweeb down the hall who fixes your computer – but morphs into the MinPin Maniac when there is a boyfriend on the scene, it is not that she doesn’t like men: she just doesn’t like men you like as more than friends. If this is the case, try taking a look at how you behave towards Willamina when the boyfriend is around. Does she get ignored more than usual? Shoved aside, perhaps? Insulted, teased or made fun of by the boyfriend? Left at home alone? Any of these things could upset a sensitive dog, especially if she is used to being the center of your world.

If you think this might be the problem, try making sure that Willamina isn’t completely left out the moment your boyfriend shows up. She will likely adjust to his presence if she doesn’t feel that he steals you away from her. Make a point of playing with her when he is around, then pay some attention to him, then go back to playing with her. If she usually goes everywhere with you, make sure she gets to go along at least part of the time when you go out with your boyfriend. You can also try putting her in her carrying kennel if she starts growling or acting aggressively, then taking her out and making a big fuss over her the moment she quiets down. Another thing that could help would be having your boyfriend be the one to feed her for a few days, and I mean nothing from you – no treats, nada. If all good, yummy things start coming from your beau, Willamina’s attitude might shift a bit in the right direction.

If Willamina is reactive towards all men, she may feel threatened by men, as she is used to being cared for exclusively by a woman, and men smell, look and move quite differently than women do. She may feel that men are a threat to her, to you, or to both of you. If this is what is going on, you can try the same strategies as mentioned above, which may help her get used to the presence of men and see that they are not threatening.

Regardless of whether Willamina reacts to all men or just your boyfriends, if she lacks basic obedience training (as many little dogs do), it could be very helpful to train her really well to carry out commands such as sit, stay, down, etcetera. You can then ask her to do something (“Sit…Stay”) when she gets upset, rather than asking her not to do something (Stop barking…Don’t bite). You will praise her for doing what you’ve asked, which both gives her something to focus on doing, and earns her a reward.

If you try different approaches and Willamina is still being a tiny terror to the testosterone bearers, you may want to enlist the help of a professional trainer. Whatever happens, I hope your boyfriend is kind and understanding enough to be patient with your little dog. If he isn’t, perhaps Willamina is simply trying to tell you that you should get rid of him and find someone better – and she might very well be right!

About The Animal Writer

The Animal Writer is Susan Kauffmann, a freelance journalist with an indelible fascination with all things furred, finned and feathered. Her years of experience as a horse trainer, dog trainer, veterinary assistant, wildlife rehabilitator and care giver to an astonishing array of pets have given her a profound understanding of the joys and challenges of living and working with animals. In addition, her work as a feature writer for such publications as Modern Dog, Equus and Urban Animal gives her unparalleled access to top researchers and veterinarians around the world.

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