I have a 50 lb English Terrier Mix that chases anything that moves, typically ankles or people that are running, biking, skateboarding, etc. He is aggressive with other dogs. What can I do?

Question

Hello Ed:

I have a 50 lb English terrier mix (6 yrs), very sweet and loving when around people/strangers while in my house, backyard or on leash. Off leash, he chases anything that moves, typically ankles of people that are running, biking, skateboarding, etc. He is aggressive with other dogs. The most nerve racking is he goes after children. I picked him up from an unknown family handing out puppies when he was 8 weeks old. He was shy as a puppy. I've had dogs all my life, and if I knew he was going to be this way I would have socialized him with children a lot more as a puppy. I never had to do that with my other dogs.

I do not let him off leash ever unless it's a totally secluded area, which I feel bad about because he loves to run. He has been through three obedience training classes, and in addition I had a trainer come out to my home for a couple months. That was most effective, but costly! He does very well at training, although is sometimes quick to snap at another dog. A few weeks out of training, he goes right back into the same mode. I feel like I have to put him in training every six months or so. Do you have any other suggestions? I am very protective of him, and know I will always have to be careful with him, but at the same time nervous that he may get loose and possibly bite someone.

Thanks, SM

Accepted Answer

The problem with this dog is "it lives with someone who has not properly learned to train a dog." Your email just confirms what I am constantly telling people:

1. Handlers need to learn to train their own dogs at home before they take them to obedience classes.
2. Sending a dog to a professional trainer is a short term solution to a long term problem. It almost NEVER is a permanent solution.
3. Hard dogs need HARD CORRECTIONS for them to respect their owners commands.

This dog needs some serious correction. This can be accomplished with a prong collar or an electric collar, but none of this will work unless you decide that you are tired of this dogs behavior. You need to develop the attitude of "I am tired of this shit and I am not going to take it anymore!!!" This means that you are going to learn to correct this dog hard enough that it respects the consequences of not minding - a VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT.

Raising a well behaved dog is like raising a child. It requires consistency, praise and corrections when called for. Good dog training is not rocket science.

If you cannot change your ways you will always have a terror for a pet and you deserve what you end up with.

If you would like to learn something about the principles of obedience training a dog, read the description for my Basic Dog Obedience video. You will probably find that you have not had the full picture on the steps of training a dog must go through before it can be considered fully trained. You can also read why I am not a fan of taking an untrained dog to obedience classe