What do you recommend for a year and a half medium - large size dog (60 pounds) who is a very aggressive chewer?

Question

Hi Cindy,

    Two quick questions.....

    Just bought two bully sticks from you.....and yes I know what they are and it makes me smile to think of it as I know a few people that might need the same treatment......but that's another story...

    What do you recommend for a year and a half medium - large size dog  (60 pounds) who is a very aggressive chewer.  Bones (real or artificial are out) rawhide bones are ok, cheap bully sticks last two seconds, and she guts stuffed animals.  Have everlasting treat ball and also use Kongs stuffed with peanut butter.  Would love suggestions.

    Second question...Bought your Dogtra collar and DVD on how to use this collar. This puppy was originally wild and has developed into an absolutely perfect dog in every way except for  one.  She absolutely loses it when she sees another dog or person.  Not from aggression but from wanting to play with them.  I had a bad experience at a puppy play school that involved both her stifles and as a result I can't let her play and don't want her around other dogs anyway especially after that.  I don't let people pet her either.

    I was going to try to use the Dogtra with this but don't want her to associate other people or dogs with something unpleasant....or is that the track I should be taking.  She is incredibly obedient in all other aspects except when she sees another dog or person and then nothing gets through to her......not even the basic "sit" and of course "stay" is out of the question.  She has basic obedience perfect it's just the "detractors" of other living things that give her trouble.

    Would appreciate your advice on using the Dogtra collar for this.  I used it earlier in her training, and she did so well in everything I haven't used it much lately.

    Thanks,
Linda

Accepted Answer

I don’t ever advocate rawhides, not for any dog. They can be treated with toxic chemicals and they don’t break down properly in the dog’s digestive tract and can cause digestive problems or even blockages.  I would use raw knuckle bones (you can get them from your butcher) or stuff the toys you have with peanut butter, cream cheese, ground meat, etc.. and freeze it.   I find that dogs that are such aggressive chewers are typically dogs that would benefit from more exercise.

    You use the collar to reinforce a voice command. It’s not got anything to do with punishment that the dog should link to people or dogs.  When I ask my dog to listen to me, he will either comply or he won’t.  Through fair and consistent training he knows that if he doesn’t listen, he will be told NO and (depending on the dog and the level of his training) either asked to repeat the exercise or will receive some type of correction.

    Your dog needs more work under distraction, and so you first need to work with her with the distractions FAR AWAY and as she gains fluency, increase the distractions.  There is no quick fix to this, it’s all about setting up your training so the dog can learn what brings her success.

    Cindy