How To Socialize A Brussels Griffon Around Strangers



Posted: Monday, July 13, 2009

by John Jackson
GreatDogSite.com

A Brussels Griffon can have a severe reaction to strangers, if the dog has not received the proper socialization. The dog has a naturally inquisitive and speculative nature, making them overly sensitive of strangers and other dogs they do not know. When a Brussels Griffon is approached by a stranger or someone not known to the immediate family, the dog will react very strong and if the behavior is not discouraged, it could lead to more serious temperament problems down the road.

A Brussels Griffon has a very curious expression; this is not only part of their natural appearance, but part of the overall breed. The dog can be extremely suspicious when around people or animals he or she does not know. Unfortunately, unlike many other breeds, the Brussels Griffon is not content to simply sniff a stranger or unknown dog, the reaction of this breed is one of extreme barking and defensive posturing. The Brussels is not a guard dog, but will definitely let people know when there is a strange person or dog approaching the home.

Many owners report the bark of a Brussels Griffon to be extremely annoying, particularly when the dog is simply observing people walking by the home. A Brussels is a suspicious dog which may be a result of an inferiority complex due to being a small size, the dog feels vulnerable to others who are larger and outweigh them. This can be a problem for those owners who do not discourage and break the habit before it becomes a nuisance.

Much the same as with any type of dog breed, a Brussels Griffon when allowed to exhibit aggressive behavior towards strangers, will grow even more defensive. Any type of aggressive behavior such as growling, snapping, showing teeth or biting should be strongly discouraged and frowned upon. The dog should not be allowed to bark at strangers in the home and when the dog is a pup, the best thing to do is get him or her used to being around a wide variety of people and other animals. This helps the puppy learn proper socialization skills and will allow better acclimation to strangers and animals when the time comes.

While a Brussels Griffon will love and bond with those he or she knows, the dog will take time when warming up to strangers. When encountering strange people, the dog may bark excessively, particularly if he or she has not had early and adequate socializing. With strange animals such as other dogs, a Brussels may become aggressive and overly protective of his home, toys and food.

A Brussels Griffon should never be allowed unsupervised around small children. Children will want to reach out and pet the puppy, and that would be fine under the watchful eye of a responsible adult. However, small children can be very loud and lively; this type of behavior can result in a Brussels being accidently hurt. Even if the dog is not hurt, this can result in him or her becoming even more leery and suspicious of strangers in general and unable to be properly socialized.

This article was written by John Jackson and has been contributed by http://www.greatdogsite.com. For more information on the Brussels Griffon, please visit our page http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Brussels_Griffon/.
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