About Penny DiLoreto Expertise As a certified veterinary assistant and a dog breeder, with over 16 years of hands on experience, I am qualified to answer questions in the following categories; General pet health issues, dog grooming, puppy socialization, dog breeding, and basic dog training
Experience In accordance with the Veterinary Assistant program requirmements, I completed 200 hours of intern work under the supervision of a licensed Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine, and volunteered the Escondido Humane Society.
Organizations AKC, ACA, and ABA
Publications I have several articles related to; dog grooming, dog behavior issues, and medical topics, printed on various computer websites and free article content sites. If you would like to preview my articles, links to those sites, and articles, are posted on my website located at www.puppies-dot-com.com
Education/Credentials I have a Certificate of Competency from the San Diego Country Regional Occupational Veterinary Assistant Program, and attained Occupational Competencies in the following categories: Animal Handling and Restraint, Vaccines and Injections, Health and safety, Veterinary Laws/Ethics/Industry Data, Biohazard Waste Disposal Laws, Medicating and Grooming Procedures, Medical Math, Breed Identification, and Parasitological studies.
Awards and Honors I received an Outstanding Student Award for my accomplishments in these studies from the ROP program.
Past/Present Clients A partial listing of my past and current clients can be viewed on my website www.puppies-dot-com.com by clicking on the Testimonial Page.
Expert: Penny DiLoreto Date: 4/25/2008 Subject: Aggression Problem
Question QUESTION: Hi, we're new to owning a JRT. She's 10 weeks old and we've had her for 2 weeks. She doesn't seem to handle any type of discipline. She snaps and growls. She also snaps and growls if I try and take her rawhide from her. The reason I'm doing that is to get her used to having food given and taken away. I've always had large breeds and they always seem to do well with the method I use. I read a book How to be Your Dogs Best Friend by the Monks of New Skeet. Piper did not appreciate the smack under chin or the shake down at all! So my first question is what form of discipline should I use when she's being bad and how do I go about the correcting the aggression. I want to cure this now while she's still a young pup. Thank you! Melissa
ANSWER: Hi Melissa. It would be interesting to know how big a litter Piper came from. Food aggression can be caused by large litters and the need for puppies to fight for their share.
When the problem of food aggression is evident it is a good idea to feed your dog after you and your family finish eating. This establishes the alpha leader concept - the alpha leader (you) eats first - your dog will naturally understand this technique.
A good friend of mine has a page on their website that addresses food aggression and offers several tip on correcting this behavior. You can visit the site at the following address
Good luck, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions. Sincerely, Penny D.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your response. Piper is not aggressive with her meal at all. I can put my hands there while she's eating, etc. It was during a chewing spree on a pig ear. I believe she came from a large litter of 8-9 pups. I read about hand feeding them to show alpha leader so I gave her a new pig ear and held it while she chewed on it for a while. She seemed fine with that.
I'm not sure what I should use for discipline? If she feels threatened, she retaliates.
Thanks,
Melissa
Answer Hi Melissa. It doesn't matter if the aggression is during a meal, or if it's when she is chewing on her favorite chew treat - it's still considered food aggression.
If you visited the website address I gave you earlier, you should have found the discipline/training techniques they recommend - it's the very last paragraph on that page.
Good luck, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions. Sincerely, Penny D.
