Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum. I have an 8 month old female who is very aggressive on a leash. I believe she was attacked as a pup before I got her at 3.5 months- it seems to be fear aggression and not blatant aggression ( I was an ACO) Currently I'm using a spork harness on her with a nylon lead. I've tried using a choke chain. Her big issue is that she becomes so upset I cannot divert her attention from the other dog, I try to move her aside and will stand in front of her and have her sit, not talking to her until she is calmer. I've used a noise deterrent which seemed to work the best. She has met strange dogs off leash and been fine and playful. does anyone have any suggestions on what else we can try. She is supposed to start obediance school (puppy class) this week. She has become so frustrated that she has nipped me. I lost my sable male to hemangioma before I got this pup, and he had issues but after a lot of work I could take him anywhere with any person or dog and enjoy it, not so much with the pup if we meet another dog on a leash. She is very sweet and loves people otherwise.

Welcome to the forum Jodi. I have a few questions - hope that is okay!

Have you read any of the threads on desensitizing?
What types of noise deterrant have you tried?
What type of training are you using with your pup for her basic obedience?
And finally, how much and what types of exercise does this gal get daily?

Again,welcome to the forum.

Hi, I have no problems answering questions.
No I have not read any of the Leerburg threads on desensitizing. I tried walking her with a friends dog when i first got her and she was attempting to bite, we tried the dog walking ahead of us, next to us, and behind us.
The noise deterrent is called the "pet corrector" its basically a can of compressed air that hisses. Its never pointed at her just when she starts to show aggression I activate it and then praise her when the behavior stops. I've used it with her with some success. I've been trying to work on one thing at a time so as not to overwhelm her.
I've been using positive reinfocement, more praise than food rewards- when she gets so frustrated I've held food in front of her nose and she would pay no attention, just continue to try to get at the other dog.
We usually walk 4 miles a day in a conservation area where she can be off leash and really gallop. when there is no snow on the ground we try to do 6 miles, some of it in the convo land and some downtown where she gets to meet people and dogs.
she has a super high prey drive, initially was chasing cars on-lead but I've managed to train her out of that.
I've been planning on bringing her to a doggie day care to meet other dogs but its 40 miles away and i work nights and its not a good excuse i know.
Just as background, when she was weaned her breeder allowed her to sleep outside in a fenced yard by herself, her mother was a very dominant female, my pup was the oldest of the pups and her other littermates were sold before her and one sister that they planned to keep so they didn't really attach to her. Supposedly she had met other dogs with no problems but I don't think I believe that, and I can't help wondering if maybe this early "independance" has contributed to this behavior now? breeder did have 4 or 5 adult sheperds who lived in the house.

oh and forgot to add, I currently work 3 nights a week and she is kept at a kennel overnight for 1-2 nights a week, the other nights a petsitter minds her at home.

Jodi I suggest you read some of the free e-books that talk about pack structure... If you have not gone through the groundwork program you and your dog are missing out. This very well may address some of your problems as well...

Have fun...

On page five of this thread is a list of posts on desensitizing.

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/310856/page/0/fpart/1

I am not experienced in dog aggression, but I'll share with you a few thoughts which might help. I'm sure others will chime in.

I'd immediately stop putting this dog in situations where she has to interact with other dogs until you get some basic obedience established. Right now, you are speaking Greek to her - she has NO idea what you mean, nor does it sound like she is looking to you as her leader yet. This takes time and training.

I completely understand what you mean by wanting to work on one thing at a time, but you have selected the most difficult issue to work on without a foundation of the basics. Without the foundation/training - putting food in front of her when she is in high drive is going to have absolutely NO effect.

I'd begin Marker Training yesterday, in a quiet, calm enviroment. Get this gal listening to you, having fun learning and understanding some basics so that when you begin to expose her to more exciting situations, she has a basic language/understanding of what you are saying.

Is she more toy or food driven WHEN NOT IN HIGH DRIVE? The answer to that will be what you begin using as her reward. (Once you read the free ebook on marker training on this site, we can go into more detail.)

I would STRONGLY recommend avoiding doggie day care!! I'm thrilled it is too far for you! Really, really a bad idea for this dog. "Supposedly she had met other dogs with no problems but I don't think I believe that..." ;

Again, I know other folks will get here, but I strongly suggest going back to square one, and begin basic obedience / ground work with this dog. It should be all about you and her for a while - she does NOT need doggies friends, in fact it sounds like she doesn't want any.

Just to clarify I don't deliberately put her in situations with other dogs, as a former ACO even I know that's not a good idea.
Unfortunately due to my living situation she has to be kenneled if the pet sitter is not available.
I will look at the thread.

Jodi, Didn't mean to sound as if you were doing anything wrong -just trying to give some input as to where you might want to start.

I look at the marker training link-clicker training I'm very familar with.
she actually is very obediant other than her leash aggression, has an excellent recall-even when seeing a loose dog in the conservation area, sits/down on command, we're working on stay...
Yes, I've chosen the most difficult issue to work with because it is the most dangerous one As I said she has met dogs off leash (not planned and done well) it is strictly on a leash that she is the worst. The doggie day care I was considering is a place that works with quite a few aggressive/fear aggressive dogs-particualrly pits and other aggressive breeds.

If the marker training is something you are very familiar with, you can see how this will be helpful to begin working with your dog at distances from other dogs, while on leash. Getting her trained to focus on you with the look command and her basic obedience, etc.. and then start working her at distances from other dogs while she is on leash - then gradually working her closer to other dogs, etc... I hope the threads on desensitizing help with that process.

It was not clear that you had basic obedience started - when you said you were working on this one thing I thought you meant this issue alone. Yes, it is the most dangerous and needs your attention. IMHO however it is going to be through a process, not just a "do this" and voila!, as I'm sure you know.

The day care you were thinking about may be the best place on earth for aggression issues, but there are hundreds upon hundreds of posts on this forum which talk about professional trainers who don't have a clue on how to really handle this issue. That's why I'm a bit hesitant about them for dogs with any dog-related issues. JMHO.