Ear infections…
Head shaking, pawing or scratching at the ears, odor, brown discharge, and redness or swelling inside the earflap indicate an infection. This may be caused by injury or by foreign bodies in the ear (ticks or plant matter from running through high grass), by bacterial or fungal infections or by mites. Flop-eared dogs are very pronto this ear infection, particularly cocker spaniels. In my dog-grooming days, I don’t think I ever groomed a cocker with healthy ears. Fungus infections inside the ear can be caused by leaving bath water inside them, or from too many treatments with antibiotics. Chronic ear infections that are bacterial or fungal are signs of a reduced immune system and may also come from food allergies
Bullying…..
Play is apparently highly reinforcing for a great many dogs. The derailing of play by overly rough behaviors therefore serves as a sufficiently rotten consequence to purge it from most dogs’ repertoires. Likewise, play attempts directed at non-consenting dogs fall flat and so also usually diminish in frequency. For some dogs, however, roughness and harassment of non-consenting dogs is quite obviously reinforced. they engage in it all full tilt, with escalating frequency and almost always direct it at designated target dogs. this can be enormously distressing for target dogs, as well as for humans who witness it.
Owner Guarding….
Dogs may be selectively aggressive when approached most notably approach by other dogs, through people can also be targets, if they are in proximity of their owners or when on leash. Some owners find the “jealous” behavior flattering or amusing, while others are distressed. Owners often attribute the behavior to “protectiveness.” The topography of the behavior is identical to other kinds of resource guarding, and it responds to the same kinds of treatment exercises, so it would seem logical to consider the owner to coveted resource in these cases.
Why Does My Dog…?
It is perfectly normal thing for them to do when they want to give warning and call for assistance. Persistent barking, however, can drive owners and neighbors up the wall. Some breeds are naturally more vociferous than others, so if you are looking for a relatively quiet dog, don’t by one of the guarding breeds. If you do have a guarding breed, don’t give it the run of your garden when you go to work, otherwise you will come to find some irate neighbours brandishing a court order. Having accepted that the basic function of barking is to give warning, a lot of dogs bark for other reasons. The barking as an attention-seeking behaviour; they bark out of excitement; some highly excitable types bark at every little noise, and some dogs bark for the sheer hell of it. If you have a problem barker, it is sensible to try and establish what triggers it off and whether this is the area that you should be controlling.
