Mo is approximately one year old; a basenji/terrier mix. I adopted him from a rescue group in July, unknowingly about his fear aggression issues, especially towards men. While he has made tremendous progress, issues continue to arise and are driving me bonkers. He seems fine one day, then the next its almost we are back to square one. Let me provide a brief history of actions I have taken to help manage his issues.

What I have done:
I have worked strenuously to establish that I am alpha in the pack. I don’t allow him anything he wants freely, unless he has to go to the bathroom. I make him sit before heading out to go to the bathroom or for walks, try to be the first out of the door, don’t allow him to sleep with me, make him sit for his meals. I have taught him many tricks and commands, though I find that he listens only when he wants or when I have treats. Every week we attend a yappy hour hosted by the rescue group I adopted him from, where we work on obedience with the various trainers who are in attendance. I regularly walk him (at least 2times a day) and dogpark, to ensure he gets enough exercise.

Issues:
Triggers to his fear aggressive (fear biting, lunging, or barking excessively) are when he is sleeping and someone tries to pet him, a stranger petting him (which in my opinion is their own fault for not asking me first before petting my dog), and when we walk by specific dogs who reside in my building. His dog on dog aggression is on leash only, as he is wonderful in the dog park. Most dogs he is fine with, but others always set him off. When he becomes aggressive, I tell him no, hush, bad. I try to redirect him with a command or treat, but that doesn’t work unless we are far from the other dog. If he continues I will alpha roll him (as he is 14lbs) and wait until he submits.

Finally, he also has horrible separation anxiety. He cries and barks for hours while I am gone (I have had complaints from neighbors). To resolve this, I have tried freezing pb and kibble in a kong, giving him bones, keeping a tv or music on, etc.

I am not sure what to do anymore. I live in a high rise currently (as I do not enough money to buy a house – Im only 24) and see about 20 dogs daily. Again, he is fine with most of them, but others, he freaks. His separation anxiety has gotten out of control, making me fear that I will be evicted due to his barking.

On a more positive note, once someone has earned his trust, he is very affectionate and playful. He never has accidents within the home and is well behaved when I am home. I spend every minute I can with him and take him almost everywhere I go, except work and class.

Anyway, if anyone has any helpful hints on how to get him to respond to my commands and redirection, I’d greatly appreciate them. Also, how in the world do I help his separation anxiety?

Thanks!

wow, i just wanted to say you are not alone. these are my dog's biggest issues too (fear aggression/leash reactive to dogs and separation anxiety. so i just wanted to say you are not alone!

i live in an apt building too, and she is a loud barker when i leave, and have gotten several complaints. my LL is a dog owner/lover though luckily, so she has been understanding. i hate using crate, but i have been crating my dog in the morning when i leave, in the bedroom and closing the door with music on, a kong, etc. she doesn't like it too much, but i think it helps the anxiety a little bit (almost like her being able to bark and jump around made it worse), and if anything I think it's harder to hear her in there, so the neighbors might not hear as much.

i am still working hard on the aggression too. i've recently started doing clicker. not sure i that's something you have tried. i have tried the alpha rolling, etc, and it just doesn;t work for her. yesterday i got so upset, i decided that i am just going to plain out ignore her for as long as i can. i spend too much time spoiling and loving her, and i think she needs more discipline.

my other thinking is, i want to try a basket muzzle and have her greet dogs with it on leash (like yours, she is much better off leash than on). i have no idea what it will do, but i figure it couldn't hurt to try.

good luck!

 Quote: jenn verrier

my other thinking is, i want to try a basket muzzle and have her greet dogs with it on leash (like yours, she is much better off leash than on). i have no idea what it will do, but i figure it couldn't hurt to try.

You are wrong. In the event that she attacks another dog, even if she's muzzled and can't bite, she can still do damage. If she scares the other dog, that dog can be affected for life and may become dog reactive/aggressive from that. How fair is that to the other dog and its owner? So yes, it CAN hurt, and aside from the effect on the other dog, it can make your dog even more reactive and allow her an opportunity to "practise" her bad behaviour.

Nose to nose introductions with a reactive dog is never a good idea. Read Ed's article on introducing dogs.

Edited by Angela Burrell (09/14/2009 02:09 PM)
Edit reason: typo, oops

 Quote: angela burrell

 Quote: jenn verrier

my other thinking is, i want to try a basket muzzle and have her greet dogs with it on leash (like yours, she is much better off leash than on). i have no idea what it will do, but i figure it couldn't hurt to try.

.... aside from the effect on the other dog, it can make your dog even more reactive and allow her an opportunity to "practise" her bad behaviour. ... Nose to nose introductions with a reactive dog is never a good idea.

Never!

On top of all Angela's great points, what a good way to create helpless anxiety in an already-reactive dog.

 Quote: angela burrell

Read Ed's article on introducing dogs.

http://leerburg.com/dogparks.htm

you might want to read this article while your at it.
The dog might not have problems there yet, but i wouldn't be willing to risk it with my dog if i were you.
especially a smaller dog running around with larger dogs.
if he decides to snap at the wrong pooch, the outcome won't be pretty if the other dog decides to put your's in his place


and Alpha rolls really shouldn't be performed.
they generally cause more problems than solving them. And it doesn't really sound like it's working for you if you have to do them on a continual basis. It's not getting through to your dog that his behaviour is unwanted.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: angela burrell

 Quote: jenn verrier

my other thinking is, i want to try a basket muzzle and have her greet dogs with it on leash (like yours, she is much better off leash than on). i have no idea what it will do, but i figure it couldn't hurt to try.

.... aside from the effect on the other dog, it can make your dog even more reactive and allow her an opportunity to "practise" her bad behaviour. ... Nose to nose introductions with a reactive dog is never a good idea.

Never!

On top of all Angela's great points, what a good way to create helpless anxiety in an already-reactive dog.

 Quote: angela burrell

Read Ed's article on introducing dogs.

My dog actually has done nose to nose introductions before, when NOT pulling on a leash, and she has done well (a couple times) with that, and if we are behind the fence, she can do a nose to nose introduction because i think she feels like the fence is a "protection".

The thing I thought was, she does better with introductions of any kind, when she senses that i am not nervous about her doing harm. If she had a muzzle on, I feel like i would be more confident, and just letting her approach a dog to sniff would help her. no?

 Quote: jenn verrier

If she had a muzzle on, I feel like i would be more confident, and just letting her approach a dog to sniff would help her. no?

No. Not IMO.

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=251711&Searchpage=1&Main=24232&Words=desensitizing&topic=0&Search=true#Post251710

for desensitizing pointers

walking a DA dog with a muzzle on and not letting them interact with other dogs is fine (IMO), but i wouldn't force a muzzled dog with issues to interact with any dog.

It's adding un-due stress to the dog and the situation.

What happens if you just keep on walking by the dog she's reacting to, don't hesitate, don't falter just keep walking and take her with you. If she tries to stop just keep going. And whatever you do, don't react! I know it's hard, but practice it.
Have you tried that?
(and yes I have experience with a DA dog)