Author: Evie Van Hove
In dog behaviour therapy, we often find that problem behaviour in small dogs is considered less serious than in large dogs. Yet small dogs can also clearly exhibit behaviour that crosses boundaries when they feel uncomfortable, tense or overwhelmed. This case of Fonske from Berlaar illustrates well how growling, snapping and lunging are not simply ‘sudden aggression’, but are usually signs of underlying tension, frustration, physical discomfort or conflict in his interactions with people. Fonske is a Biewer Yorkie of almost three years old, referred to us because his behaviour had clearly changed in the preceding months.
The scope of the problem was wide-ranging. Fonske would growl mainly when he was told not to do something, or when people tried to move him or pick him up at times when he didn’t feel comfortable with it. There were incidents in the house where he growled fiercely when he was lying on a seat, when he was disturbed whilst resting, or when someone tried to handle him physically. He also displayed difficult behaviour towards visitors: he would nip at people’s calves when they were walking around, and would bark for longer when he was put in his crate to allow visitors to enter in a controlled manner. In addition, there was an incident involving a grandchild, during which he growled dangerously when picked up whilst excited about food. These are precisely the situations in which many owners become uncertain: the dog is friendly and affectionate at other times, but suddenly reacts aggressively in very specific contexts.
What makes this case particularly relevant is that medical and physical factors were also at play. The case file contained repeated references to gastrointestinal problems, vomiting, irregular stools, excessive flatulence and previous dietary management. The owners were also right to wonder whether medication or physical discomfort might be influencing his changed behaviour. In addition, there were signs pointing to stress sensitivity: accidents when unfamiliar visitors arrived or when someone spoke loudly, marking behaviour indoors, scratching behaviour interpreted as a coping mechanism, and high sensitivity to certain actions such as being picked up, dried off or approached whilst resting. In professional dog behaviour therapy, this is a fundamental principle: behaviour is never separate from physical well-being.
"So, in Fonske’s case, it wasn’t about a ‘dominant dog’, but about a dog that clearly indicated in specific situations that something was too much."
The approach taken in this support programme therefore did not involve correction or coercion, but rather management, predictability and the positive reinforcement of behaviour. It was advised not to disturb him whilst he was sleeping, to announce actions in advance, to avoid moving him physically without prior preparation, and to supervise visitors in a controlled manner. During walks, he was given more space to sniff around, and it was explicitly recommended to keep the lead looser and to ask him to come along rather than pulling him. To outsiders, this may sometimes seem ‘minor’, but it is precisely these adjustments that often make a big difference in stress regulation. Skills such as ‘look here’ and ‘here’ were also taught to build attention and cooperation in a calm manner.
In addition, a great deal of work was done on handling and grooming. Brushing remained a sensitive issue, although certain areas of the body were manageable. For this reason, a Lickimat was recommended for his grooming table, so that brushing could be associated with a more positive emotion and built up gradually. It also became clear that when it came to bathing and drying, the dog needed more predictability and less pressure. When there was another incident after a bath, we did not push the issue further but defused the situation by stepping back and approaching things differently later on. That is an important professional lesson: not to ‘win’ over the dog, but to avoid escalation and maintain trust.
The progress in this case was clearly positive, although, as is so often the case, it was not entirely linear. Already after the first few sessions, the owners reported an improvement. The adjusted diet seemed to be doing him good physically; he gained weight, begged less at the table and the walks were calmer. He was given more opportunities to sniff around, adapted better to the routine and even began to wait patiently by the door. Later, it was also noted that there was no longer any aggression towards the grandchildren and that they could pick him up again. This suggests that the combination of predictability, reduced conflict and targeted guidance actually had an effect on his emotional response in daily life.
At the same time, it remained important to stay realistic. By the end of the training, there were still some areas for attention, such as a growl directed at the groomer and a difficult moment during drying after a bath. But the context had become clearer in those instances too, and above all: the owners learned to react differently. They stated what they were going to do, avoided known growling situations, and no longer entered into conflict. As a result, the behaviour almost ceased to occur. In many cases, that is the real progress: not that a dog never gives a signal again, but that human and dog understand each other better and difficult moments no longer escalate every time.
For vets, behaviourists and owners, this case holds several important lessons. Small dogs displaying aggression signals must be taken just as seriously as large dogs. Growling when picked up, handling aggression, tension during visits and conflict behaviour around rest or feeding require a comprehensive analysis, not simplistic interpretations. Medical history, gastrointestinal complaints, coping behaviour, stress signals and context-specific triggers must always be taken into account. And above all: positive dog training is not an optional extra, but the safest and most sustainable way to build behavioural change.
The case of Fonske from Berlaar therefore perfectly illustrates what Huisdierentherapie.be stands for: understanding dog behaviour in its full context, not reducing problem behaviour in dogs to ‘not wanting to listen’, and guiding owners towards greater calm, safety and predictability. Anyone searching for terms such as dog growls when picked up, small dog aggression, dog growls at visitors, dog behaviour therapy at home or positive behaviour therapy for dogs will find in this case study a genuine example of how lasting progress is achieved: not through quick fixes, but through time, practice, observation and a welfare-focused approach.
Evie Van Hove holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Animal Behaviour and is a qualified puppy coach, dog trainer and behaviour coach. She has been the manager of Pettherapy.be since 2021.
