Jack saying goodbye to his bits

aliasojo

zaksmum wrote: »

Aliasojo, no, I won't be speaking to a behaviourist. I know my own dog best and I can't see what a behaviourist can do that I can't.

I have to say I'm surprised at your reply. I'm not sure if you have ever been involved with behaviourists but their advice is usually spot on and their knowledge has derived from many years of studying animals. They're not some quack who will just pull something from the air.

You may feel you know your dog best but I think you are doing him a great disservice. It is of course your right to do what you feel you must.

Good luck, I hope it all works out. The op never lays them low for too long so he'll be bouncing around again in no time I'm sure.

zaksmum

aliasojo wrote: »

I have to say I'm surprised at your reply. I'm not sure if you have ever been involved with behaviourists but their advice is usually spot on and their knowledge has derived from many years of studying animals. They're not some quack who will just pull something from the air.

You may feel you know your dog best but I think you are doing him a great disservice. It is of course your right to do what you feel you must.

Good luck, I hope it all works out. The op never lays them low for too long so he'll be bouncing around again in no time I'm sure.

No, I have never been involved with a behaviourist and really can't see how someone who has never met my dog and has no knowledge of him (apart from what I tell him) can analyse his behaviour.

I'm doing my utmost to find the best solution for Jack and it's a huge concern for me. He's a brilliant dog in every other way and I hope I'm not giving anyone the idea that he's vicious, because nothing could be further from the truth.

Thanks for your input though...I do appreciate it.

meritaten

ok, I think I understand your reasoning zaksmum. I don't agree 100% but, I can see where you are coming from. I wish you and your dog the best. I hope he sails through the op, and of course, it is entirely up to you about muzzles.
best wishes
meri

aliasojo

zaksmum wrote: »

No, I have never been involved with a behaviourist and really can't see how someone who has never met my dog and has no knowledge of him (apart from what I tell him) can analyse his behaviour.

Largely because although Jack is a unique wee soul to you, he's really not all that unique in the whole scheme of things and his behaviour, actions and reactions will have been witnessed and documented many times before by a behaviourist who has studied for years and knows what each tiny nuance or action the dog displays, means.

He/she can pick up on warning signs that you may miss or simply not realise the significance of.

A good behaviourist can turn issues a dog experiences, around in such a short space of time. Given the fact that neutering can have negative effect with certain animals or certain behaviours, it seemed to make sense to at least try this first. It's not like you can't go down the neutering route later.

I know you want to do your best, I just don't agree with your logic. And I don't believe vets are the best people to advise on behavioral issues.

However I'll shut up now. Sorry if you think I've gone on a bit.

Shepherd1

I may be wrong but was it not you who posted a while ago about your dog jumping the fence to attack your neighbours dog resulting in the dog needing vet treatment. If this is the case then he is starting fights not just defending himself.

Neutering wont stop this on its own so maybe considering a behaviourist would be a good idea.

I apologise if this was not you.

zaksmum

You're right Shepherd, it was me. On that occasion I didn't see the fight start as I had Jack secure alongside me behind a closed gate and had my back to the gate putting my key in the lock.

First I knew of any trouble was the snapping and snarling. The man next door did see it and said the other dog had got out of his house unsupervised and crossed over to wee against our gate. Jack jumped over the gate, the other dog got a fright and snapped at him and the fight started. I yelled at Jack to "Leave it!" and he stopped immediately and the other dog backed off.

The other dog was bitten but didn't need vet treatment although I was very concerned, apologised and offered to pay for any it might need. The owner said as he was unemployed he wouldn't have had to pay anyway, and was really good about it all.

He said dogs do fight and his dog shouldn't have been out anyway and it could easily have been Jack who came off worse.

My neighbour said Jack didn't start that fight but I felt really bad because the other dog was hurt while Jack had just a superficial bite to his neck.

zaksmum

meritaten wrote: »

ok, I think I understand your reasoning zaksmum. I don't agree 100% but, I can see where you are coming from. I wish you and your dog the best. I hope he sails through the op, and of course, it is entirely up to you about muzzles.
best wishes
meri

Thanks meritaten for the input and the good wishes for Jack.

zaksmum

aliasojo wrote: »

Largely because although Jack is a unique wee soul to you, he's really not all that unique in the whole scheme of things and his behaviour, actions and reactions will have been witnessed and documented many times before by a behaviourist who has studied for years and knows what each tiny nuance or action the dog displays, means.

He/she can pick up on warning signs that you may miss or simply not realise the significance of.

A good behaviourist can turn issues a dog experiences, around in such a short space of time. Given the fact that neutering can have negative effect with certain animals or certain behaviours, it seemed to make sense to at least try this first. It's not like you can't go down the neutering route later.

I know you want to do your best, I just don't agree with your logic. And I don't believe vets are the best people to advise on behavioral issues.

However I'll shut up now. Sorry if you think I've gone on a bit.

Thanks aliasojo. I've had dogs all my life and there are only a few months in over 60 years that I haven't been a dog owner.

I can't for one moment imagine that a behaviourist can possibly know more about my own dog or pick up on signs and indications that I would not be aware of.

Charging over £50 an hour doesn't make them experts.

But thanks for your opinions.

Pechow

Curious, do you feel the same way about psychologists and such?

What makes them the experts are the years of studying ethology, biology, husbandry, etc.

zaksmum

Pechow wrote: »

Curious, do you feel the same way about psychologists and such?

What makes them the experts are the years of studying ethology, biology, husbandry, etc.

Yes actually...I do.