My dog, Mello, is a 2 y/o Black Lab mix. I've had him for about a year. He is a shelter rescue. We've been through obedience classes, and I still train with him. He's a very high-strung dog with lots of energy, as all Labs are. I must say that he doesn't get the exercise that he really needs. I know I have to go out and walk him more, and we need to get to a place where he can run off leash (not many places where I live, however). Still, all the exercise in the world, I don't think, will cure him of the problem I have.

He has been wearing a prong collar since I got him cause, frankly, that's the only collar with which I can control him. He has come to hate this collar. But unless I have it on him, he becomes unruly, disobedient, and quite aggressive with me.

Yesterday, I took the collar off of him, and he went insane. This isn't the first time I've removed the collar, and is not the first time that he gets aggressive with me. It's as if he knows I have no control over him when the collar is off.

Anyway, he wants to fight with me. Growling, mouthing me, jumping on me until I wrestle him down and get the collar back on. I've tried ignoring him (turning my back), but he comes at me with fierce aggression. I'm at my breaking point with him. In fact, yesterday, I was so mad that I drove him to the Animal Shelter to simply get rid of him. By the time I got there, I had calmed down and couldn't allow him to go back for fear that they might put him down.

I'd like to transfer off of his prong collar, but it's the only way I can control him. I'm getting tired of fighting with this dog. I've made the mistake of getting so mad at him as to slap him in the face when he won't calm down. I've had to him several times. I've tried to raise my knee up to hit him in the chest when he charges me, but it doesn't phase him. I am afraid that I've damaged our relationship through hitting him.

What can I do? Is it possible to fix a damaged relationship, or do need to rehome him?

It almost sounds like the slapping and knee's have become more of a game to him. Do you correct him with the prong collar? How does he react when you do?

Steve, I do correct with the prong collar, and he cooperates. On walks, with the prong, I can get him to do what I want, but I do often find that I have to correct him for walking ahead of me. He does not pull me on walks.

Cooperates, but does he snap into good attention with a nice attitude, or just quit pulling?

I'm not trying to corner you into anything Terry, I'm just thinking you've used the collar and leash to stop him from doing anything but walk under control, probably with some pretty good pops.

When you take that away, all that pent up energy and frustration is letting loose and your knees and slaps are ineffective compared to what you can do with the leash.

Try some light ob you can reward for when he's onleash and maybe add in a clear release. Maybe a long line, let him relax and be a dog here and there.

I think I understand what you're saying, Steve. Our walks are quite regimental. By that, I mean we start out walking with him at heel for about 15 minutes. Then, I give a 5-7 minute break for him to "be a dog" and sniff, mark, etc. Then we go back to a 15 minute walk at heel, then another break, etc. The walks are 1 hour each day. Is that what you're saying?

Yeah, basically. But you've taught him only that he's GOING to walk by your side, not that its a good place to be. Its easy to fall into always trying to stop everything with a high energy dog and never really teach them what it is that you do want.

Thats all I'm thinking, is that it could be as simple as some rewarding for obedience and some more play. As far as the prong, keep it handy so if he does start going ape, put it back on and correct him, then take it back off. Make him think it can come appear anytime.

And I doubt Mello is dominant any more then he's mellow.

 Quote: steve strom

Yeah, basically. But you've taught him only that he's GOING to walk by your side, not that its a good place to be. Its easy to fall into always trying to stop everything with a high energy dog and never really teach them what it is that you do want.

Thats all I'm thinking, is that it could be as simple as some rewarding for obedience and some more play. As far as the prong, keep it handy so if he does start going ape, put it back on and correct him, then take it back off. Make him think it can come appear anytime.

Me too.

"I must say that he doesn't get the exercise that he really needs. I know I have to go out and walk him more, and we need to get to a place where he can run off leash (not many places where I live, however). Still, all the exercise in the world, I don't think, will cure him of the problem I have."

I suspect that you might be hugely underestimating the value of structured exercise and also the problems that are triggered by frustrated energy building up with no real release.

When you say you are still training, do you mean short upbeat marker sessions? If not, that would be something I'd start asap.

Do you have enough safe room for fetch? That can make for tongue-dragging exercise for the dog (good) without killing you.

I'd probably also consider an informal loose-leash command to use for the walks, and I'd make the pace really brisk, along with more frequent but shorter "release" times.


eta
Not to beat this to death, but everything you describe, if someone came tome with these issues, would prompt instant "way more exercise" advice, and, as Steve says, more play, before anything else.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (08/26/2011 05:15 PM)
Edit reason: eta

Marker? Huh?