Puppy Advice (merged)

lottyxx

gringo50 wrote: »

Not Cavaliers.
If any one could point me in the right direction.
Pref 8 weeks old with first jabs.[/quote

i have sent you a pm.

elsien

Mine (now 10 yrs) is well up for a fuss when it's just me and her, but if I come home with someone else (friends or family) she runs straight past me and is all over them like a rash. Last time my brother came to stay, they had a mutual admiration society going, and my nose was well and truly pushed out of joint. Little floozie.

babymonty

Thanks everyone, you all made me feel so much better!!:D

lfckerry

I'm at my wits end!
i have a 10 month old dalmatian, weve had a lot of issues with him since he was a little pup and have spent over £1000 on vets bills(thank god for insurance). in June he was attacked by a dog and ever since he is fearful/aggresive with most other dogs, we have started to think it was just male dogs so were thinking on the lines of hormones and getting him neutered but yesterday he had a go at 2 female puppies half his size. im not sure if neutering is a good idea when hes fearful/aggresive as ive heard it could make him worse.
he is going to training classes but doesnt get on with most of the other dogs!
i dread taking him for a walk now, ive tried a harness but it just makes him stronger and ive tried a halti but he refuses to walk on it and ends up cutting his nose. i dont want to muzzle him because if he got into a fight he couldnt defend himself. We are being responsible and not letting him off lead but hes a big dog with lots of energy and im sick of diving out of the way when i see other dogs coming.
im at a loss what to do next!! help!

Kerry

stephvetnurse

hi
absolute rubbish that neutering will make fear/aggession worse! A lot of problems in male dogs stem from the testosterone in the system.
I would try neutering, might not solve the problem 100% but could do and could help lots
also persevere with the halti it is the easiest way to control them as with head collars on horses- you control the head so they dont have any option but to follow it.
Also positive praise is the best way to go, just stop bad behaviour with a command word and praise him when he doesnt react, you could try taking a distraction out with you, so a fave toy to distract him when you see other dogs approaching and then praise him lots of cuddles and treats (carrot good as it has no fat) when the other dog has passed and he has shown no reaction to the other dog.
Your vets should have mentioned these tricks surely????

orlao

He's also at the "Kevin the teenager" stage at 10 months, most dogs, particularly males turn a bit obnoxious at this stage;) and all training goes out the window for a little while!

The other thing, could he be picking up your anxiety as dogs do react to their owners nerves IYSWIM.....

And another vote for the halti as they are worth persevering with when you have a dog that might snap as you can move the head away very quickly and prevent him doing any damage.

As he is insured would they pay for a consultation with a behaviourist to set you on the right path? Dallies are dogs that need a lot of exercise and stimulation and I wonder is boredom a part of it? Not being critical but if he's been unwell ( you mention large vet bills!) and maybe his exercise, socialization and training has been affected by illness?

HTH

O x

greenbee

Neutering is definitely worth it. He shouldn't feel the need to challenge other dogs in the same way. Dalmations tend to be pretty nervous and highly strung, so its important that they have consistent discipline and a routine.

Dalmations were bred as carriage dogs, so they need lots of exercise and don't really like sitting about with nothing to do. One of the biggest problems with having what are traditionally working dogs as pets is that they get bored, and this can easily lead to behavioural problems. You also need to remember that they have a pack instinct, so they need to know where they are in the pecking order, and what their territory is. For example, dogs that sleep in bedrooms have been known to attack other family members (often children) when they see them to be invading their territory.

It's going to be hardwork, but I'm sure if you persevere it will be worth the effort. Good luck!

RooBee

absolute rubbish that neutering will make fear/aggession worse! A lot of problems in male dogs stem from the testosterone in the system.

The removal of testosterone from a dog that is already aggressive due to lack of confidence can definitely contribute to worsening of the aggression.

OP, speak to your vet about trying the Tardak injection before deciding to neuter. Tardak is basically chemical castration, the effects of which will last for a few months and give you time to guage the effects on your dog. If you think his disposition improves during this time, then you may wish to opt for castration. However, if it has the opposite effect then you can be pretty sure that castration will not help his aggression.

I would advise that you seek the help of a good behaviourist. Check http://www.apbc.org.uk/ for a behaviourist in your area. If you have pet insurance, it might cover the cost of consultation if you can get a referral from your vet.

elsien

Carry on with the training classes as well. He may not get on with the other dogs, but being in the same room as them will help him get used to being around other dogs anyway.
My dog has fear aggression as well, so I know how it feels to have a large uncontrolled animal at the end of the lead! I know how you feel about the muzzle - it made mine more anxious because she knew she couldn't defend herself, but persevere with the halti or something similar. It's made the world of difference to me, as I can pull her head out of the way when she starts to think bad thoughts.
I would also suggest going to a behaviourist, but in the meantime, could you have a bag of treats the dog really likes, to distract him when another dog is approaching, with lots of praise when he behaves himself. Also maybe instead of avoiding other dogs completely could you start off by giving them a wide enough berth that yours can still see them, but they're not close enough to be a threat - eg across the other side of the road?
I tend to find mine gets most worked up if the other dogs are off the lead, so perhaps avoid parks etc to start with. I also warn other owners that if their dog approaches mine she's likely to have a go - if they still let their dog come near, then in my book it's their fault if it gets hurt. Although she can definitely tell if I'm worried, so try to make sure you're not instinctively tightening the lead if another dog comes near, keep it loose but so that you've still got control if you need it. Keep talking in a calm voice until you're safely past.
Mine still has the occasional go (one particular dog who's never done anything to her is a regular target) but she's much better than she was.
Does your dog have a real go straight off, or is it the old coward/bully routine? Mine tends to play safe until she realises the other dog is ok, then takes a flying leap as if to say " I wasn't scared, honest!)
Good luck.

lfckerry

Thanks for the advice guys, i really would like to persevere with the halti but he just point blank refuses to walk with it on even coaxing with treats doesnt work!he just rubs his face on walls/grass/gravel/people to the point of drawing blood!
He has had a pretty rough start in life,at 4mths he had a virus in the growth plates of his legs and couldnt stand/walk,he had to stay at vets for nearly 2weeks plus a long recovery period, hes had a bad mite problem, ear infections plus the dog attack. at such critical times in his life i can understand why he might have problems!
He doesnt have a go at dogs straight away,its like he goes over for a sniff first then starts to growl-im not sure whether he'd actually attack but im not willing to risk finding out. i think it is a fear/lack of confidence thing. Its a vicious circle though because i get aprehensive too which im aware can transfer to the dog but its really hard not to!
I really dont want an aggresive dog for the next 10-12 yrs.
I think if it was boredom he would misbehave and be destructive at home too but he isnt. he gets 3 walks a day plus playtime and lots of time training, he has kongs,toys,chews etc. i just dont now what else i can do.
I will definatley consider the chemical castration-i have heard of it before.