dealing with dog aggression

[Nina&Bill]

Hi all,

We've had Amber, our 2 year old rescue, for about 4 months & the situation has been an unending learning experience so far. She's currently in Basic Obedience level 2 & doing quite well but the Trainer had ommented on Amber being dog aggressive.

How would you correct a dog for acting aggressively towards another. I don't mean lunging & savaging, I mean issuing the correction before the dog has a chance or an inclination to act while also reinforcing that "other dogs are good".

Thanks,

Nina

[mmgy]

My 2 1/2 y/o brittany Cleve decided last week that Pearl, the white boxer in our class, was looking at him funny so he started acting out whenever they locked eyes. My instructor had me wheel him around instantly, and start issuing commands--sit, stay, spin, touch, whatever--to get him focused on me. So now, that's what I do every time he looks in her direction.

I think you and I are in the same level of obedience. Wish I knew the next step, but I'm sure someone here does.

M2

BTW-Pearl is an odd-looking girl....if I was Cleve I'd do the same thing!;)

[Carina43]

M2, that is exactly how I was instructed to deal with Cooper when he was going through a time of being very reactive to other dogs (he still is sometimes, and I do the same thing.) We also practiced the "watch me" command, and I enforced that too.

It worked well, and I'm doing the same thing with Dutch, who also has his moments when he sees other dogs.

[Nina&Bill]

Thanks M2 & Carina,

That's basically what I do with Amber now, keep her focused on me & don't let her fixate on any of the other dogs. If she starts to get emphatic about staring at one (you know, right before that forehead starts to wrinkle) we move.

But how about meeting other dogs? Or should that not happen for awhile? I've had an outstanding degree of successs with "strangers" coming into the house & her greeting them with wags as opposed to barks by my using the goofy tone of voice & "look who's here!" to convey the impression that these people are welcome & we're happy to see them. Would this work when
meeting other dogs as well?

It's frustrating, I wish she could just write down what's bothering her & what would make her feel better

Nina

[Rottygirl1]

Hello all:

I have been having the same problem with Diesel. (my poor boy, he is all over this forum....lol) Diesel is 12 months old today and at about 8 months old (I think thats when his Testasterone kicked in) started becoming dog aggressive. (towards other males so far) We used to have two Minipins a male and a female. The male and Diesel were both still intacked. My minipin is 8 yrs old and I never had him fixed. (why, I dont know, everydog I ever had when I was growing up was never fixed so it didn't really occur to me all of the downsides to not being fixed) One day Dallas was eating from Diesels food bowl and as Diesel walked by Dallas snapped at him and Diesel reacted back and ever since then they couldn't even look at each other without fighting. Needless to say I had both of them fixed (didn't make any difference for Dallas, too many years of Test. running through his body) I had to give the two minipins to my mom b/c I was afraid for their lives.

From that time on Diesel thinks he is the **it! When he goes to class and he see's another male, no matter the size, looking at him for too long, watch out! His trainer has suggested that I watch him contanstly and always break the eye contact. That does work well. I want to get another Rottie in the near future, a female of course, but Im sooooo worried that he will be aggressive to her too. Has anyone had this problem and then got another dog? What was the outcome?


For all the others with the "top dogs" breaking the eye contact is very very important, always keep them focused on you.

:)

[Carina43]

Rottiegirl, Cooper turned overnight from a sweet "little" puppy into a lunging, roaring, hormone crazed idiot at the sight of another dog (especially males.) Part of it was frustration, I think, and part hormonal stupidity. You're right about preventing eye contact, once they lock eyes it's really hard to get the attention away!

Nina - I don't know, I was leery of Cooper meeting strange dogs (still am, though he usually surprises me by being a complete gentleman) ... I have realised he is much more likely to act stupid while on a leash. Perhaps because he feels safer? Maybe Amber is the same way...maybe you could leave a leash attached just in case, act happy and relaxed & see how it goes.

I do know that the tension a handler can transmit to a dog can have a significant effect. The first time I took Dutch for a private lesson to see how he would be with strange dogs (he is very domineering and hard headed) he was acting tense when I was handling him, in the presence of some of her dogs. The trainer told me I was making him tense because I was - even though I was really trying not to be. She took him and he did much better with her. Once I took a DEEP breath and really relaxed, I saw a diference in his reactiveness.

But I would say, if you're not really sure, not to force the issue until you are confident you can get her attention. I've had Dutch 6 months (adult intact rescue dog) and am just getting to that point...

[Rottygirl1]

Carina:

That's exactly how Diesel was, this sweet dog who would play with all the other dogs in his class, who turned overnight. I'm glad to hear he is not the only one.

I do believe greatly that if you feel tense and nervous they will sense it. Tonight we took Diesel to class and I handled him for the first time in 2 weeks (2 classes) and I was so confident in myself that he did much much better. Even the teacher complemented on how good I was and he was too. (even though he did get stupid a couple of times)

Since enforcing the NILIF (I swear by it now) I have been a real drill sargeant and I quickly put him in place. I don't take any crap from him anymore! I'm not treating him like the pretty boy he thinks he is! :D I'm the boss and in charge.

Also, this lady who I have become friends with through class came up to us to night too see what he would do (she also owns 4 rotties, so she had no fear) She called him over to her and he looked at me first and I said "its ok" and then he went over to her and was loving on her. I was so impressed that he looked to me for reassurance that it was ok. (something he never did b4)

My Diesel is coming along with alot of training, Im proud of him.

My boy :)

Good luck to all :)

Michele

[lblax]

since the topic here is dog aggression here is a quote you might find interesting this is direct from the akc description of the breedThe behavior of the Rottweiler in the show ring should be controlled, willing and adaptable, trained to submit to examination of mouth, testicles, etc. An aloof or reserved dog should not be penalized, as this reflects the accepted character of the breed. An aggressive or belligerent attitude towards other dogs should not be faulted.

[Carina43]

Well, Larry - that is true - but does that mean one should tolerate one's dog lunging at other dogs?

I've never quite understood that clause in the standard. I've been to a few shows, as a spectator, and have never seen dogs acting agressive or belligerent towards other dogs, at least without provocation.

I can assure you Cooper would be really obnoxious if I let him do what comes naturally! Whether or not the standard says it's acceptable. :)

[lblax]

Originally posted by Carina43
Well, Larry - that is true - but does that mean one should tolerate one's dog lunging at other dogs?

no but what it does mean is dont beat yourself up to much if you cant accomplish your goal and live within the limitations of your dog

[Judi W]

I often regret that in the standard as the novice uses it to excuse dog to dog aggression. Please note - it says "attitude", not an uncontrolled idiot. A dog like that is useless for any purposes as it allows its dog aggression to override any work required of it. The dog should be able to tend to business. No, it is not expected to frolic like a pile of Goldens however a dog that is overwhelmed with its wanting to challenge other dogs is not correct for work. One that is so intent upon aggression that it ignores its handler needs a CTJ meeting.

It is not just redirection - the attempt to gain eye contact should first be met with a correction and immediately followed with some obedience heeling involving a change in direction. Remember, you are not always goint to be in a position to redirect (at a trial for example) so the correction is to let the dog know it is wrong in attempting to start trouble. The redirection is to defuse the issue, but the correction is important.

[Carina43]

Larry - I see what you mean, but I don't see it as as limitation that cannot be overcome! For the most part, I have overcome it with Cooper, but I realise it's something I will have to keep working on his whole life. To live within the limitations means that I either have to curtail much of his public activity, (not acceptable), or lower my expectations (ditto.)

Cooper and Dutch have both exhibited aggressiveness towards strange dogs, and I am very proud of the fact that I am able to overcome it, or at least I am trying really hard. :) To me, this means I am capable of molding their behaviour, which in the long run affords them more freedom.

Judi, what is a "CJT meeting"? I am probably being dense...