Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed | 6 years and 9 months old | 8 lbs
I rescued a 6 y/o Shih Zue (sp) on 10-7-19. She has low vision & low hearing, and is very tiny (8 lbs), but when she came here, she was a happy, inquisitive, loving pup. My problem is with my Pug - also a rescue, who has been the exclusive dog of the house for the past year. THe Pug is being very assertive with her, has roughed her up a couple of times, & I can see daily changes in the new pups behavior - she's afraid of the Pug, and is retreating into herself. I don't know where to turn!
1 Answer
Published on October 26th, 2019
Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not capable of correctly interpreting dog body language. For that reason, your best option is to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Best of luck.
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