I need some help in deciding if I need a dominant dog collar for Loki. He has become very aggressive towards people who are out and about when I'm walking him. It's not a problem in the house, every person we welcome in he takes to immediately. Sniffs and wiggles tale and really wants to be around guests (doesn't demand petting, but goes around and acts all happy). Outside is a different story. There aren't many people walking in the area, just going in and out of cars, houses, sometimes, not often someone walks by, just minding their own business and the dog let's out a low growl, and if someone gets close he will try to lunge at them. This is incredibly frustrating. I correct him for this, he's on a prong now when outside, and I remove him from the situation. It doesn't matter if it's me or my husband that's out with him. He's not aggressive to dogs, unless they growl at him (behind a fence). The people he growls at are not at all trying to talk to us or pet him. They're just walking. Not even looking at us.

I don't think the prong is doing any good. I watch him closely for any signs, and if I correct him before he growls, when he's focusing on people, it just seems to excite him. To be honest, I don't mind a warning growl if we're out in the dark and he sees someone approach, but it really is annoying in bright daylight and for no good reason.

Did you tell him you don't mind it at night, but the day is off limits?

Would a dog make the daytime/nightime distinction? I was thinking that this could be confusing the dog.

I have found this to be helpful with my aggressive dog, though the application of it beyond I can't speak to, but maybe you could try this with your dog. Instead of correcting her (which I will do if necessary), I have her work on something for me (different obedience commands). When I see a situation that is likely to provoke her aggression, I start to occupy her doing work for me. It's been very helpful.

How old is this dog? You also indicated that "he has become very aggressive," so is this a relatively new behavior? And, if so, how quickly did it surface?

 Quote: Thorunn Arnalds

I don't mind a warning growl if we're out in the dark and he sees someone approach, but it really is annoying in bright daylight and for no good reason.

That's nice and clear to the poor dog.



e.t.a. I see that this has been addressed.


Edited by Connie Sutherland (01/29/2009 10:07 AM)
Edit reason: eta

Was there an instance when the dog growled at a nighttime passerby who was already making you tense, and you indicated what a good thing this was to the dog?

 Quote: thorunn arnalds

I don't think the prong is doing any good. I watch him closely for any signs, and if I correct him before he growls, when he's focusing on people, it just seems to excite him.

Could it be that your corrections aren't strong enough? "Nagging" with the prong could easily just rile this dog up further, but a strong correction should stop him in his tracks. I don't mean to be insulting - I'm a female with slight upper arm strength and it took me some time to figure out a real full strength correction for my 90lb dog. Obviously you don't want to be torturous with it, but one solid correction should stop the dog and redirect it towards you. I could be way off base though - maybe someone else could comment on the use of a dominant dog collar here...

I also think Jennifer's suggestion of working on distraction/redirection using positive reinforcement would be a very helpful part of how you could approach this issue.

 Quote: thorunn arnalds

To be honest, I don't mind a warning growl if we're out in the dark and he sees someone approach, but it really is annoying in bright daylight and for no good reason.

This sounds like an easy way to confuse the dog. If you're having so much trouble with him acting aggressively towards all strangers in all outside/public environments and situations, I'd put aside your interest in something as specific as a warning growl (but not a lunge or bite) only at night (and not at any other time of day). Teach this dog to behave and listen to/trust you under ALL circumstances and leave the protection/warning behavior to instinct.

~Natalya

Alrighty, sorry for the late reply. I don't praise him for growling in the dark ever, I correct him for it just as in the day, it just doesn't bother me as much. It doesn't change how I deal with the dog. When we first got him he never growled, day or night, didn't matter, which is why I said he has become aggressive. Maybe that was just the first few weeks, or honeymoon as I've seen it on here. About how hard the corrections are, it's not just a little tug on the prong, I really want him to know that he shouldn't act this way. Sometimes all it takes is a cardoor slamming way in the distance and he does this huff sound. So maybe it's insecurity? I am so lost. But I am definitely not confusing him when it comes to day and night. Just so that's clear.

Ok, a few more answers, I have been startled at night when someone appears suddenly and that might have triggered him into growling. But that was only once or twice. That doesn't happen in the day. I'll be back tonight to answer more questions, gotta run to school. Thanks for asking all these questions, it's making me think about the whole picture.

 Quote: Thorunn Arnalds

I don't praise him for growling in the dark ever, I correct him for it just as in the day, it just doesn't bother me as much. It doesn't change how I deal with the dog... But I am definitely not confusing him when it comes to day and night. Just so that's clear.

Very good.

 Quote: Thorunn Arnalds

When we first got him he never growled, day or night, didn't matter, which is why I said he has become aggressive. Maybe that was just the first few weeks, or honeymoon as I've seen it on here.

How old is he? Sounds like you adopted him a short time ago and just recently this behavior has begun? He looks young in your pic - around 1 year?

~Natalya

*Sorry, I just read some past posts of yours - Loki IS a year old, and he's new to you as of November... right-O.

Edited by Natalya Zahn (01/29/2009 05:53 PM)
Edit reason: re-read past posts...