Can someone help me with my aggressive dog??

MrsTinks

OK so far there is one point I'd look at changing... You say in your first post that you use a retractable lead... Loose it and get a proper lead - you do not have any decent control over a dog like this using a retractable lead. Get something like a control training lead, this will make it a little easier.
Second - what collar are you using? Have you tried a halti?
Kira (see avatar) is dog aggressive although slowly improving, but if we go anywhere we're likely to encounter lots of dogs she still goes on the halti, mainly because I like my shoulder still attached to my arm

Next - find a good reputable dog trainer - if you go to local classes go along for a couple of classes as observers BEFORE you take the dog along. You need to know that you are happy with the training methods used and that you feel confident with the trainer, otherwise you are pouring money down the drain.

Last but not least... this will take time... We started working with Kira when she was just over 1, at 3 we're still looking at her as a work in progress! On the up side we took her to a country fair on the bank holiday weekend and even when other dogs lunged at her barking and snarling she didn't retaliate - this is a HUGE step forward for her!
Ofcourse she still enjoys teasing her archrivals when out for a walk because asking her to walk past 2 spinones in their back garden would juts be toooooooo much

puddy

marshallka wrote: »

Jenner, I think he would be OK going to some training classes. At least you could do this with him as the people that run these classes would have dealt with dogs like him all the time. They will give you the confidence too to deal with him with other dogs. Perhaps you could muzzle him at first and see what he is like. I think you have a lovely doggie really from what you are saying. They are very intelligent collies and want to please you so much. I would try classes rather than a one to one.

PS just going to look into these treat balls too. I want to get mine one.:T

the treat balls are great. he uses a big pink one from pets at home, its got jw embossed on it. i also want some buster cubes now as they will be harder to ge the food out of.

we have tried a muzzle in the past but he has scratched his own face trying to get it off and wont walk along with it, oh dear

puddy

mrcol1000 wrote: »

My staff is agressive to other dogs because she has been attacked three times by our neighbours dog. She is okay as long as other dogs don't get too close. We took her to training and she was okay unless any of the dogs got too close when she growled and lunged for them. At training they think its because she is on the lead and we are taking away her chance of running so she stands and fights. But I wouldn't trust her off the lead to be honest.

We have just accepted that our dog is agressive to other dogs and so only let her off the lead when there are no other dogs nearby. When we do have to pass other dogs we just postion her on the opposite side of the dog so in effect I am in between her and the other dog. I also pull her in if she is on extendable lead well before she sees the other dog so she doesn't assoicate the being pulled in with seeing another dog. As we pass the dog we just keep her close and if she starts growling we just tell her in a soft fun voice to stop being silly and the dog isn't going to hurt her. 90% of the time once we are past the dog she loses interest. Its only if they growl or bark back that she tries to turn around and see. She sometimes growls and often lunges but very rarely barks. The only problem is when other people have the dog off the lead and the dog won't leave her alone and you trying to drag her away with these dog constantly coming up. This is when she goes mad and tries to attack the dog. But the way I see it if your dog is off the lead and keeps coming up to my dog who is on the lead then I am not in the wrong.
Anyway most of the time she lunges sometimes growls and you get a dirty look from the other owner. Ironically my dog also wags her tail and growls sometimes when shes other dogs. Also a few dogs have acted submissive round her and she has actually played with them. I guess she realises they aren't a threat?
Training will help. She is much better round dogs since training and she is getting better with other dogs. She rarely growls at them now unless they do. We were told at training the whole concept with dog on dog agressive is to show the dog your in charge (all the time not just on walks) and when she reacts to a dog to act unbothered and use a nice high voice to show the dog there is no problem. Its diffcult at first as your first reaction is to tell the dog off and pull it back but it gets easier. The only thing is that some people think your happy you have an aggressive dog as you don't tell the dog off but lucky I have thick skin!
My partner takes treats out and every so often gives the dog one of them to train her attention but I am worried that by giving a treat when the dog is agressive to get the attention away is rewarding agression. What do you think?

my boyfriend says the same thing as you about other dogs off the lead, he thinks the other owner is in the wrong but i dont know if i agree with that. i think it is my responsiblity if my dog cant behave around others properly, we have huge disagreements about it because i say he is in denial about the dog's behaviour!!

i tried the treat thing on walks, he was loving it and i thought i had found a way to get his attention, however, the minute another dog was in sight, i (and the treats) did not exist. i think that if your dog does respond to your command when using treats then surely that means she is on her way to obeying you at all times, not just when she is being good,,, but then im not an expert and its just guesswork.

i was reading about tail wagging too, apparently there are 3 different types of tail wagging, the high up stiff tail is dominant/agressive, the mid mast side to side wag is happy and relaxed, the wagging tail that is hanging down is being fearful/submissive. our dog also wags his tail when he is lunging and growling but i dont think he is being happy!!

puddy

MrsTine wrote: »

OK so far there is one point I'd look at changing... You say in your first post that you use a retractable lead... Loose it and get a proper lead - you do not have any decent control over a dog like this using a retractable lead. Get something like a control training lead, this will make it a little easier.
Second - what collar are you using? Have you tried a halti?
Kira (see avatar) is dog aggressive although slowly improving, but if we go anywhere we're likely to encounter lots of dogs she still goes on the halti, mainly because I like my shoulder still attached to my arm

Next - find a good reputable dog trainer - if you go to local classes go along for a couple of classes as observers BEFORE you take the dog along. You need to know that you are happy with the training methods used and that you feel confident with the trainer, otherwise you are pouring money down the drain.

Last but not least... this will take time... We started working with Kira when she was just over 1, at 3 we're still looking at her as a work in progress! On the up side we took her to a country fair on the bank holiday weekend and even when other dogs lunged at her barking and snarling she didn't retaliate - this is a HUGE step forward for her!
Ofcourse she still enjoys teasing her archrivals when out for a walk because asking her to walk past 2 spinones in their back garden would juts be toooooooo much

yes i think you're right about the lead and halti, i have been looking at these, i think i'll get them

mrcol1000

jenner wrote: »

my boyfriend says the same thing as you about other dogs off the lead, he thinks the other owner is in the wrong but i dont know if i agree with that. i think it is my responsiblity if my dog cant behave around others properly, we have huge disagreements about it because i say he is in denial about the dog's behaviour!!

There is no real laws currently that says your in the wrong if your dog fights with another (unless you encourage it to). However it is an offence to let your dog stray and not have it under control in a public place. Having it under control is usually defined as being on a lead or returning to you when commanded and being in your sight at all times. I think if your dog is on a lead and another dog keeps bothering it and ignores its owner request to come back what are you suppose to do? If my dog attacked a dog off a lead which kept bothering it I wouldn't feel in the wrong. If both dogs are on a lead then I can move my dog away but if the dog follows what can I do?

puddy

yes, i do see what you mean. i think our dog is different to that because whilst he is on the lead, if another dog (off lead) comes over looking all happy and interested, he will go for them whether they ar bothering him or not, nightmare

MrsTinks

jenner it doesn't matter your dog is legally under control if it's on a lead - the other dog is not.
If you are concerned about dogs coming up shout to the owner that your dog is not friendly and please recall their dog - if they don't/can't then it's NOT your fault if it gets hurt! I'd never let a dog run up to another dog it doesn't know - especially if it's on a lead! And it does my head in when people let their dogs run up to mine when she's on a lead! We live in a small village and everyone knows Kira isn't dog friendly unless introduced properly and everyone respects that... until someone from outside the village come walking in the fields and let their mutts run loose with no control... *sigh* we HAVE had a couple of incidents where Kira has tried to take chunks out of other dogs because they have run straight up to her and the owners have NO control... it's great when they shout "It's ok - he/she's friendly"... the look on their faces when I reply with "Great! Mine however will try to kill it if it comes up to her..."
If it's a small dog it will stand NO chance against her and she WILL try to get it, for some reason she loathes small yappy dogs... especially JRTs - and sadly these seem to be prime offenders round here for not being trained to recall... FUN!

puddy

i think one of the main problems is that my best friend has a small dog that we 'rescued' whilst on holiday in gran canaria, now theres going to be aproblem with her visiting with the dog and us all going out to the beach and whathaveyou.
my goal would be that we could take him for a walk in the woods or the beach and let him off and know that he would be safe and come back when called

elsien

I agree with what previous posters have said about off lead dogs approaching yours - if you warn them, then it's their problem.
I'm not the best person to give advice on dog aggression as it's something I've been working on for the last 8 years and we're still a work in progress.

You need to bear in mind though that it may never be safe to let your dog off lead, even if you can get some of the aggression under control. Mine is never off the lead and never will be - she's just too nervous and reacts to being startled with her teeth, and that's not going to change. She is however much better with other dogs, and if she gets silly then the halti means I can keep control of the situation.
Bear in mind as well your own body language - if you see another dog and start hoiking the lead in, you're giving the dog the message that there's something to be worried about, and you may actually be reinforcing the behaviour.
I think the first thing you need to do is sort out a consistent approach with your boyfriend, or you're always going to struggle.
Re the tail wagging - mine also wags just before she takes a flying leap. I think it's down to knowing your dog and being able to read what they're going to do just before it happens so you can intervene. Don't get too hung up on the passive/dominant thingy.
Good luck.

marshallka

Well jenner, we have just been back to the vets today and he was sedated for an op. There were other dogs in the vets and he growled and scattered across the floor but he was on the lead. He is better off the lead with others but I think he maybe thinks hes protecting us.

My worst nightmare happened as well whilst waiting for him from the op in that two rottys came in, one muzzled and one not and both with women. They really do frighten me so we asked the vet if we could leave by the back door. I was frigthened of my dog growling at them as he does (did not know he would be so sleepy though from the sedation still:o) and then trying to get them and them protecting themselves. One woman was being pulled along the vets by hers. I asked the vet for some calm me down tabs for our dog and she would not give us any. She said there are lots of dogs the same that she has dealt with. He was muzzled whilst the vet did the sedating and also the dye in the eye but fell asleep within five mins after the jab.

I sympathise with you cause its me that needs the calm me downs when I know I have to be in a small room with lots of other dogs. He was not so bad the other night but today he was really growly.:eek: