Aggression with Lakeland terrier

[Fionacarden]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Hi there, I have a Lakeland Terrier. He used to be a working dog before i got him. I have had him three year and he has always been a bit of a growler. Usually when you ask him to move of the chair for eg.
Recently he has got worse. He is standing up to me and snarling at me. Sometimes he starts for no reason at all.
I have tried being strict. I've tried ignoring it. I don't know what to do. Please help.

 

[JudyN]

How old is he now? It would be worth getting a full vet check, including blood checks, in case there's any underlying illness/discomfort.

My dog would always have reacted badly if 'told' to move off the sofa, or physically moved. I trained it as if it was a trick - to go on the sofa when asked, rewarding him with a treat, and then to get off the sofa, with an better treat. It worked so well that after a while, if he heard hubby approaching the front room, he would jump on the sofa just so he could be asked to get off it again and get a reward!

Another approach, if your dog is particularly defensive, is to call him from another room (a solid 'indoor recall' is really useful). The basic aim (which applies in other situations too) is to remove any aspect of confrontation, and find a way of converting a 'telling him what to do' situation into one where you're offering him something he really wants and he doesn't even realise he's doing something you want him to do.

 

[Tinytom]

Lake land terriers are hard core especially if he is an exworker ...with terriers I never think growling, snarling is aggression he is trying to tell you he doesn't like whatever it is that's happening....aggression would be biting without warning....
If I want my terrier to do something I will give them a treat to get off of the sofa for example ....
I agree with a vet check up too would love to see photos please