Occasionally aggressive male patterdale terrier.

ParkLane

Hi everyone, I really would appreciate some help/advice regarding my male dog, he’s a patterdale terrier.


When he was a puppy he was attacked over a field by a dog much bigger than him and has been attacked a few times since then as well, one time requiring surgery on his ear. He is now really unsettled around other dogs.


With small dogs (if we can’t get the lead on him in time) he runs around them, barking and yapping but with bigger dogs he goes a step further; he growls and gets very, very close to them. He’s never bitten another dog but he looks aggressive when he’s doing it and it’s distressing for me and obviously other dog owners. He always, always aims for dogs much bigger than himself, just this morning he tried it on with a bull mastiff. My dog is small and scrawny.


I just want to say he’s usually a total softie and has never been aggressive in any way with humans and despite his macho act has never actually bitten another dog. Normally we get the lead on first, which is fine and the walk passes without incident but it’s just so upsetting on the occasion we don’t.


He doesn’t respond when he’s called, which is a big problem. If a dog is coming in, I call him but he just ignores and I struggle to grab him.
He has been neutered and is about 8 years old.


Is it worth looking into behavioural classes? Money is tight, and I can’t imagine him doing well in a room with a group of strange dogs.


Or is it just a case of not being let off the lead when being walked? I’m looking online now for a harness lead, as he strains and chokes himself with a normal collar. We also use an extender lead.


I actually have two patterdales, he is the second and they’re fine together. We trained them both as puppies – the oldest girl comes when called, sits when told, never runs off and at the first sign of trouble with a dog is gone and is a joy to walk. Despite being trained the same, he’s just the total opposite to her.


Thanks so much for any advice you can give, I really do appreciate it.

blue_monkey_2

If they do not come back, do not let them off so let them on the long ling or extendable lead. Teach him recall on that. Mine do not get let off as she is not in the slightest bit interested in me when I do. Do not let him bark around other dogs, it's not nice for the other dogs or owners. If he cannot behave then do not give him his freedom like you do the other.

I' recommend getting a behaviourist in, they do not cost as much as you think but do not choose one that has an 'all in' price but a price per visit. Expect to pay around £80 for the first visit.

If he is pulling and choking, get a gentle leader or halti so you can teach him the basics. It'll also help you to stop him getting to another dog and you will be in control of him. but you do need the behaviourist really. A harness will take the weight off your arm but not teach him not to pull. I was told not to walk mine together as I had one tht pulled and one that did not.

Some dogs do not like other dogs, in the same way some people do not like other people, you just have to find the right way of dealing with it.

Raksha

It sounds as if he's learnt to do the big and scarey act to prevent the other dog getting in first. A GOOD behaviourist will be able to help you with this by careful desensitisation. Many will use a stooge dog (Angela Stockdale is well known in this area and works from North Devon)

blue_monkey_2

Raksha wrote: »

It sounds as if he's learnt to do the big and scarey act to prevent the other dog getting in first. A GOOD behaviourist will be able to help you with this by careful desensitisation. Many will use a stooge dog (Angela Stockdale is well known in this area and works from North Devon)

My friend had this problem with her dog and had a behaviourist round, my friend was epxecting her to make her dog like other dogs again (also attacked) she said that she couldn't but found a way fo dealing with it. The dog can be walked off load these days so there is hope. But it will take a lot of work and dedication on your part, it cannot be a half hearted effort (goes with any dog training really I suppose).

rev229

My dog can be aggressive to other dogs. She was from a rescue centre and was fine when we first got her. We put her in kennels the first year we had her whikle we where on holidays. She was only in the kennels from 5pm-8am as we couldn't have her in the cottage we rented. Not too sure what happened there but she was never the same with other dogs after that short stay! she was scared of every dog that came anywhere near her she had been fine with other dogs prior to being in the kennels. It got much worse after she was then bitten by another dog. I have spoken to the behaviourist at the vet and she advisesd using a muzzle. I now walk her off lead in the woods most of the time and she is fine with other dogs. But i know she is fear aggressive and very protective of me. she has growled and snapped at other dog walkers who get too close to me when stopping for a chat! With the muzzle on I know people give her a wide berth other dogs are less interested. And she is very well behaved and can't bite or harm another dog/person. But she can still eat rabbit poo. Walking her on lead all the time was not the solution as she needs to be free to run and explore as doggys do!

GonzoAston

I have a Patterdale who will not come when called. Around the house and Garden he is fine, and comes as soon as you call, out and about, forget about it.

I bought a 50ft Police Training and a harness. This was the best investment I ever made. I still use the same lead now for the last 7 years, onto the second harness. Lead cost around £5.00 from Ebay, and Harness around the same. I tried with training classes, but hes just too excitable and not treat or praise focused. At least with this lead he gets a good run with other dogs in the field (watch out for tangling them up) and also watch out for trees. In an open field, its great.

HTH

victoriav

I have a rescue patterdale a year old, and he had previously sometimes been aggressive, and had bit me, (I now know what triggered it*) however, he has now much improved and hasnt done it for a very long time, I must add he was about to be euthanised as previous owner had been cruel and abusive, so i had to expect a problem or too and he hates been *touched on his neck as previous owners they tried to strangle him, I got a dog behaviourists in and he's a changed dog...well worth the time and effort. He is now very loving and loyal. He washes my face at bed time. i'm really glad I saved him. He had to learn to trust again. He has allowed a groomer to tidy him up he was looking like last years hanging basket, but now a smart boy!

I have a motorised treadmill for him,as he has massive amount of energy and a little burst of this runs it off, in addition to plenty of walking.

I have had other dogs previously, but patterdales are very different.

NB he tries to dominate my rottie, who's as soft as anything, and ignores him! They play nice together.,but are never left alone together.

UKTigerlily

Hiya, in my experience it's definitely worth getting in a trainer/behaviourist. I adopted a Staffy over 2 years ago who isn't good with other dogs, we'll probably never know why. She's now able to walk offlead with my trainers two Gundogs & it's taken over 2 years but it can be done. (She's 7 1/2 so not a young dog either). Today she greeted a Whippet/Lurcher type dog & was wagging her tail, it's small steps but she is getting there. I'll always have to be careful but we now know that if she's offlead & I have her ball she has no interest in other dogs that are onlead, she will recall away if running to one when I squeak her ball etc

This means we can do offlead walks in some fields near to me as other dogs are rarely there & always a long way away so I have time to put her onlead if any run over (would see them coming from a long way off). She plays fetch offlead everyday in the park, sometimes with a GSD there on his lead & is never a problem.

If it wasn't for the trainer we have weekly i'd never be able to let her off or mix her with other dogs, she doesn't know/want to play with them but is happy being around them & not aggressive to them.

Because yours does run around other dogs & won't come back i'd get a long line for him as some onlead dogs can be aggressive (mine is likely to lunge & grab if onlead, she doesn't harm the other dog but can give them a fright so I don't let it get to that stage & an offlead dog running around her would wind her up).

Anyway, keep with it because I never thought mine would go offlead with another dog & ignore it/be happy! I'm sure he will get there x

cannyscot_2

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Hiya, in my experience it's definitely worth getting in a trainer/behaviourist. I adopted a Staffy over 2 years ago who isn't good with other dogs, we'll probably never know why. She's now able to walk offlead with my trainers two Gundogs & it's taken over 2 years but it can be done. (She's 7 1/2 so not a young dog either). Today she greeted a Whippet/Lurcher type dog & was wagging her tail, it's small steps but she is getting there. I'll always have to be careful but we now know that if she's offlead & I have her ball she has no interest in other dogs that are onlead, she will recall away if running to one when I squeak her ball etc

This means we can do offlead walks in some fields near to me as other dogs are rarely there & always a long way away so I have time to put her onlead if any run over (would see them coming from a long way off). She plays fetch offlead everyday in the park, sometimes with a GSD there on his lead & is never a problem.

If it wasn't for the trainer we have weekly i'd never be able to let her off or mix her with other dogs, she doesn't know/want to play with them but is happy being around them & not aggressive to them.

Because yours does run around other dogs & won't come back i'd get a long line for him as some onlead dogs can be aggressive (mine is likely to lunge & grab if onlead, she doesn't harm the other dog but can give them a fright so I don't let it get to that stage & an offlead dog running around her would wind her up).

Anyway, keep with it because I never thought mine would go offlead with another dog & ignore it/be happy! I'm sure he will get there x

We've a staffy the same -he is on the lead unless we are in afield at a time no-one else is about. How much has this cost ??? surely every week for 2 years is a fotune -is it really worth it?

skipsmum

I have a pattie, they really are a breed of their own. Ours is a rescued working dog, weve had her 5 years now. She needs a huge amount of excersise and attention - but has the attention span of a gnat and chases everything. We use an extendable lead in case of sudden squirrels, birds, flies, planes, bikes, carrier bags, pushchairs, etc.... (so far she has eaten 12 bees at a cost of £62 a time as she has a bee allergy!)
She has always been difficult with small female dogs (chasing them and then snapping( but she was bitten by a mastiff a few years ago and has since had issues with big dogs as well. I try and walk her a long way before letting her off lead as if shes tired shes less likely to be bothered by other dogs.
As Gonzoaston said, pats dont tend to be treat or praise focused which can makesrewarding good behaviour hard.

I love this quote from terrier rescue..."you cant train the terrier out of the terrier!" Might use it in my sig.

skipsmum

victoriav wrote: »

again. He has allowed a groomer to tidy him up he was looking like last years hanging basket, but now a smart boy!

lol:rotfl::rotfl:dont they just!