My dog is agressive to other dogs.

t_r

That's disgusting just had a quick look at there web site can't say I'm impressed with them.

In all cases before a dog is rehomed, the following will be completed:

• Health assessment by our vet
• Behavioural assessment by our staff
• Home check/vet recommendation (new owners to us)

What happened to the behavioural assessment? it looks like the place is being run like a business not a charity with no thought to the welfare of the re homed dogs once they have been gone more than three weeks.

LillyJ

t_r wrote: »

That's disgusting just had a quick look at there web site can't say I'm impressed with them.

In all cases before a dog is rehomed, the following will be completed:

• Health assessment by our vet
• Behavioural assessment by our staff
• Home check/vet recommendation (new owners to us)

What happened to the behavioural assessment? it looks like the place is being run like a business not a charity with no thought to the welfare of the re homed dogs once they have been gone more than three weeks.

On his behavioural check it said "barked at another dog" I still have the form here. They make you sign a form to say that you understand that the dog could be agressive and we understood that. To be honest I am glad his problems are with dogs - he is impeccable with humans, including small children who he seems to love.

I am not sure it is the best rescue to be honest either but my boyfriend is a police man and as such a lot of strays get looked after in his police station overnight and then go to the dogs home. We have fostered a couple of these overnight before to save them from being in police kennels and so when the time came to get our own dog we felt that this was the place we wanted to get one from as we felt the dogs were very needy.

Our dog wasn't actually a stray, he was unwanted by the next of kin of the owner who died, and I believe he was treated very well indeed; inside the house. Outside is another matter as he has clearly never been socialised.

I am a bit annoyed at the dogs home really, as, while I understand that they do not always know the dog is agressive, they could at least recommend a course of action, which they haven't.

All strays in the birmingham area go to the dogs home, and I can say for them that they never put a healthy dog down. Without them I don't know what would happen to the huge numbers of dogs they have so I suppose they have their good points.

t_r

I did see the bit on there euthanasia policy. I think they have just got too big and are one step removed from being a dog pound. I wonder if they charge the local authority for the stray work.

But back to your problem have you had a look here http://www.apdt.co.uk/ to see if there is a local trainer.

I know there's some on here who don't like Barkbusters which is why I have not mentioned them before but for around £200 they provide one to one training for twelve months I think its 300 for lifetime. I know my trainer uses her dogs with socialisation issues etc. It is a franchise so I can only speak for my trainer but they are trained and will be able to asses your dog to understand what is going on and why.

LillyJ

t_r wrote: »

I did see the bit on there euthanasia policy. I think they have just got too big and are one step removed from being a dog pound. I wonder if they charge the local authority for the stray work.

But back to your problem have you had a look here http://www.apdt.co.uk/ to see if there is a local trainer.

I know there's some on here who don't like Barkbusters which is why I have not mentioned them before but for around £200 they provide one to one training for twelve months I think its 300 for lifetime. I know my trainer uses her dogs with socialisation issues etc. It is a franchise so I can only speak for my trainer but they are trained and will be able to asses your dog to understand what is going on and why.

I hadn't seen Barkbusters before so I might look in to that. There isn't anyone on the other website local to me (well there is one but she doesn't do one to one).

I need to take him to the vets at some point to get him weighed for his worming treatment (he has got bigger since last time!) so I will ask her when I get there. She recommended the halti which has been a godsend to be honest, we couldn't cope without it.

Sometimes I just want to muzzle him and let him off the lead but I know this wouldn't be a good idea for anyone! Even in the country side where there are no other dogs I can never be sure one won't come along so he has to stay on the lead. I just feel so bad for him. He would get walked a lot more (currently only once a day really - but for over an hour and often gets runned by my boyfriend) as I would be able to take him.

cally1978

Sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear, after watching the dog whisperer, I realised that my dog was anxious/aggressive with other dogs because of me, I was projecting my feelings onto him, when I had him under control and more confident in the home and following my lead he became less aggressive with other dogsxxx Even simple things like I allow people into my home, not him and he can only say hello when I allow it, it has made for a happier calmer home all round, when this was achieved he became more curious about other dogs rather than the bite before you bite me attitude he had previously, he realised he didn't have to look out for me and be outwardly aggressive as i am the one on control not him xx

LillyJ

My partner is very confident with him and it is him who walks him, so I am not sure that this is the issue. He is definately submissive to us, and the thing is he has absolutely no other issues. He is perfect at home, we can let the gas man (or whoever) in and he just walks up to him sniffs him, maybe tries to lick him and wags his tail. No barking, nothing. He has no separation anxiety, no problem barking, no food agression, it is literally just this.

pboae

t_r wrote: »

I know there's some on here who don't like Barkbusters which is why I have not mentioned them before but for around £200 they provide one to one training for twelve months I think its 300 for lifetime. I know my trainer uses her dogs with socialisation issues etc. It is a franchise so I can only speak for my trainer but they are trained and will be able to asses your dog to understand what is going on and why.

The problem with Barkbusters is that they are so very variable. Good trainers tend to just use them as a marketing tool, and don't usually bother following the BB methods. Poor trainers buy the franchise, do a few weeks training and off they go. They don't ever have to have owned a dog before, let alone trained one.


The official BB methods are bog standard old fashioned dominance stuff. Growling at your dog, shouting BAH at it, using choke and check chains, throwing chains and water balloons at their feet. You could get the same advice out of an old training manual for a lot less than £200.

But until you've signed up you don't know which sort you are going to end up with.

cally1978 wrote: »

... he realised he didn't have to look out for me and be outwardly aggressive as i am the one on control not him xx

Maybe, or maybe you've just trained him not so show what he's feeling. So inside he's just as stressed and anxious as he was before, but now he has to pretend he's calm to please you. The problem with CM methods is that after the training it can be very difficult to tell which way the dog has responded. That is why his methods are dangerous in inexperienced hands.


LillyJ, good luck with him. The right trainer is out there for you somewhere! (Marie Miller is APDT by the way, she's on the list t r linked to, and she won't cost you £200!)

LillyJ

pboae wrote: »

The problem with Barkbusters is that they are so very variable. Good trainers tend to just use them as a marketing tool, and don't usually bother following the BB methods. Poor trainers buy the franchise, do a few weeks training and off they go. They don't ever have to have owned a dog before, let alone trained one.


The official BB methods are bog standard old fashioned dominance stuff. Growling at your dog, shouting BAH at it, using choke and check chains, throwing chains and water balloons at their feet. You could get the same advice out of an old training manual for a lot less than £200.

But until you've signed up you don't know which sort you are going to end up with.




Maybe, or maybe you've just trained him not so show what he's feeling. So inside he's just as stressed and anxious as he was before, but now he has to pretend he's calm to please you. The problem with CM methods is that after the training it can be very difficult to tell which way the dog has responded. That is why his methods are dangerous in inexperienced hands.


LillyJ, good luck with him. The right trainer is out there for you somewhere! (Marie Miller is APDT by the way, she's on the list t r linked to, and she won't cost you £200!)

Thanks again for your help. I am hoping the RSPCA paddock comes to something as I think walking him in the park after he has had a good old run will make him less nervy. I definately don't want choke chains, my OH has talked to police dog handlers at work and they don't recommend them. I don't want him to ever be scared of us, as at the moment he does what we ask (when there is no dog around) because he wants to, not because he is frightened of what might happen if he doesn't. And I don't want to do anything that affects his perfectness indoors!

I am going to try ringing some trainers at the end of next week including Marie Miller as I have a busy week coming up at work.

Hopefully in a years time or so I will be able to post about him being able to walk past a dog without going mad!

t_r

Ok can I say my trainer hasn't even spoke about choke chains. Yes to Bah and the water spray.
The difference in my dog is unbelievable she is loads happier now, and so is my wife lol.

Bio of BB trainer in Coventry http://barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-experts/louise-mokrzycki

Can't wait till your posting on here how well he is doing

fuzyfelt

http://www.k9connection.co.uk/

This is dog training in South Birmingham - about 20min from city centre.

Gary and Louise there are very good - phone numbers are on the site. You should give gary a call, expain your problem and he'll help out.

We took our 1st dog - Sam - there starting about 5 years ago. He came down with parvo-virus the day after we got him when he was 12 weeks old, so couldnt mix with other dogs for a while, and wasnt socialised properly so was barky with other dogs when we started. Took a couple of months to sort out at the training class, and often seemed like getting nowhere, but now he's fine, and got his gold good dog thingy. Remember, dog training is mostly for you, not the dog

Andy