Ok….so I mentioned elsewhere I am concerned about Teagan’s aggression, partially b/c I will be doing some long races (30 hours) where I need the dogs to be looked after, and going away for one race in Alberta hopefully, and I’d go out the week before to get a bit used to altitude.

My brother has volunteered to look after the dogs, and other animals. In May he’s going to be renting the basement apartment in my house from me, so he’ll be around the dogs regularly (or at least, it will be easy for him to be around them regularly). He’s taken Luc when we’ve gone hiking together, and is fine. He is nervous that he won’t know how to handle Teagan, given her aggression. I will say, she has cut him (she mouthed him, he threw her off him and got a little cut) and he didn’t freak out about it – of course, he has a (fear) aggressive cat NONE of us mess with, so….he’s had worse. Still, not at all good.

I had dinner w/him last night, so he knows she tried to bite me on Wednesday, and he knows about the dog incident as well. Obviously I want to be open with him. So he’s still willing to dog-sit for me (YAAAAYYYY!!!!!), but – he is nervous and wants to work on handling her.

So….suggestions? This is probably a dumb question, but I guess it’s also about integrating someone who isn’t with us regularly into the ‘pack’ and to be first beta, teagan can be second beta….or something. 

I told him the biggest thing will be how confident he is.

He wants to start running to get in shape, so he’ll be going slower and shorter than me. I used to take Teags on ‘get into shape’ runs, and I have to say, she could go pretty fast for an overweight dog (that also had HD). After her HD/bone chip in the left hip diagnosis, I haven’t run her, though the vet said I could. She’s lost a lot of weight, which would help. He was thinking about taking her with him….I thought we could try it and see how she responds w/her hips.

I guess doing will be the best thing. I was thinking I could have him come over and he could get used to putting on the DD collar and prong, same with the muzzle, etc.

Should I have him do obed. with her? I don’t want to make it a big chore for him to prepare either, but I thought that could be good. I’m not sure how much we’ll need to do.

Both dogs know him, and like him (though when he came over for dinner last week, Teags did greet him by grabbing the book out of his hand and running off….like she’s so literary).

I have a 30k race the end of March, so it’ll be around 3 hours – I was going to have him come, and take the dogs – Teags in the prong w/back-up, and muzzled – and they could watch the race. It’s a busy race, but I thought it would be a good socialization opportunity for the dogs, and a chance for him to practice. I have a 78k race in April that will also be a good opportunity I hope (assuming I can convince him that going to all my races will be fun....heh).

This is pretty important to me, all this is a lot of training and if I can't get someone to take care of the dogs, I won't do the races. I don't think I would like to board either dog, especially with Luc's background, and I don't know if I'd feel comfortable w/a petsitter coming in, as they might say 'yes, i have experience w/aggressive dogs' but then, not really, or not really handle her properly.

Just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions or thoughts.

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I told him the biggest thing will be how confident he is.

I think this will be the key to the success or failure of the situation. I know with my own dogs that they immediately sense someone who is not comfortable around them.

Shannon

thanks.

is it a good idea to have him handle teagan in a couple of situations i know will provoke her aggression? or is that an 'avoid that!' idea?
....i'm just thinking, that way i will be there as backup, and if something happens when i'm gone, he won't be totally caught off-guard.

....i'm going to owe my brother huge at the end of this!!!!

If I remember rightly didn't either Luc or Teagan and your brother have a real go around on that infamous camping trip? Didn't your brother also make it plain to the dogs who was going to be in charge? Teagan is always a question mark given she doesn't take any sh#$2, but if she is made to understand where the cards lie, and brother is fair, it shouldn't be a problem. He can not be afraid (as you have learned).
If I had to make guesses via the internet, Teagan won't be a serious threat. Oh, she my front him up, but nothing serious. The idea of the two of you, your brother and your self working Teagan together is good. You can help him with her quirks and show him how she is used to being handled. Beyond that however it's going to be between him and Teagan. Just one suggestion for the first time you all start working together. When you put her collar and leash on, have your brother or who ever there, have her sit on lead and make sure ahe's paying attention, then and only then (make a production out of it) hand the leash to your brother before going out for your exercise or whatever. Do this for the three or four days preceding your departure. That way you can help your brother and Teagan get used to each other. After you leave through the two of them will have to work it out. You can only smooth the way.
Honestly if I lived closer I'd be happy to board both Luc and Teagan for however long. So if you're not heading toward Maine this is the best I can do; let your brother and Teagan get to know each other, tell your brother to keep his head and wits about him and it'll all be okay.

Luc will clean up after. LOL
Randy

thanks randy

darn! i should've planned races down maine way

i think steve (my brother) will be good - it's more making him feel like he's got it covered. what happened w/him and teagan before is she got out of the cabin at xmas (while i was in the bathroom) and tried to get in the car that he was unpacking. teagan has a real thing about cars....anyways, he grabbed her collar, she mouthed him, he threw her off against the car and her tooth sliced him as he did that. he was actually more worried i'd be upset her threw her off against the car. (no, it's not like it was at an injury causing force, and i didn't have all that much sympathy for ms. teagan there)

that's the only time he's seen any sort of confrontation. he missed the ex-PSD attack.

thanks for the advice - it will help me make sure steve is comfortable. i like the suggestion about making a deal out of giving him the leash. he's worried that he doesn't really have any dog experience, so it really is making sure he's in a place mentally where he'll be confident i think.

....luc cleaning up....heh.

Jennifer,

You mentioned having a prong collar on Teagan while your brother is looking after them.

Now, considering you're worried about aggression Im not sure a prong on the dog would be best while you aren't there. As Im sure you know, sometimes a prong correction during aggression can amp up that aggression and that wouldn't be a good thing. The DD collar sure (again, as long as he knows how it's used and when it should be used)but could you make the back up a flat collar or something instead of the prong?

Or make sure that you're brother COMPLETELY understands exactly when & how the prong should be used and when it shouldn't be use.

Confidence, definately he has to come off like he has no worries where Teagan is concerned. If he shows even a little bit of hesitation or comes off like he's not sure of himself, i think Teagan will pick up on that quite quickly.

hmmm....that's a good point, i hadn't thought of that.

my concern about not having the prong on her is she appears to be collar-wise - she's gone after people twice who weren't me (not counting my brother's scratch) - once, i would say it was provoked (it was the owner of the ex-PSD and PSD washout who attacked us), and once, i don't know what set her off - but it was one of the first times i walked her off-prong (it was snowing, and i can't stand flakes on my glasses, she went after some guy who to me looked like a harmless blurry blob). i would worry she'll act out if not on the prong.

but you are right - when i first got her, i miss-timed a couple of corrections, and she escalated. maybe that's something i can work on w/my brother.

I m not sure it's something you can "work" on with your brother, it doesn't sound like there's enough time. Especially if he's not that confident. I would personally just not put the prong on a dog if the person on the other end of the leash didn't understand or hadn't had any experience with using one on a dog before.

It would only take a mis-timed correction (and we all know how important the timing is with corrections of any kind)given by your brother and there could be trouble.

Even if she is collar-wise...i would think having the DD collar on her would be better than the Prong. But even with the DD collar, make sure he handles that correctly.


Edited by Wendy Lefebvre (03/10/2008 12:43 PM)
Edit reason: spelling

well, with alberta, we've got 5 months....so that's okay.

but you're right, around the bay is just a couple of weeks away. i figured having her muzzled would add the extra safety - but, i do know that muzzled dogs can cause damage, especially if they're strong (which she is).

i was wondering if showing him the DD collar would be more confusing.

he's not unconfident around her, it's more a matter of he doesn't have any experience so is worried about that - which could translate into a lack of confidence though.

Why can't you tell your brother to read Ed's ebook on the website? Have your brother do the groundwork with Teagen first before he plans to do anything with her? The point is to teach your brother be aloof and act like he doesn't care about Teagen. It makes her realize that her life is much boring when she has to stay in the crate for first few days.

When she is with your brother, it is more fun than stick around in the crate. After she gets more freedom, that is where your brother starts to show her what behavior is acceptable and not. I'm sure she will get the clue first few minutes. I prefer someone has done groundwork with my dogs before they give any corrections. That is how I am.