Quote: Aleida Cebreco

I will .... avoid certain situations. ... My experience level with this type of dog is very novice.

Maybe this is not universal, but if I were you I wouldn't want to repeat and reinforce reactions that I'm not having success at dealing with. I wouldn't want to make a habit more firmly embedded. What I would want is to build up the dog's confidence and learn to deal with the dominant component of his aggression first.

Again, JMO.

 Quote: aleida cebreco

Guilty here!! lol. Yes I do tense up, but dont know what else to do. I dont want to give him slack on the leash cause I dont want an accidental bite. Would it be ok to put his muzzle on until I feel comfortable with a loose leash? To sort of test what is making him stressed and to see what might make him act out.

Aha! Thought so. Every time you tense up like that, you are reinforcing in his mind that there is something to be tense/aggressive about. Try pretending that he's NOT going to go off during a situation, yet correct him for it IMMEDIATELY if he does. You really have zero control if you're clutching that leash with white knuckles and holding him against your leg. He's reading you more than you think. I've mentioned it before, but I use this technique to fire my dog up when I don't feel like chatting with someone on the street. Works great. I just gather up the extra leash, hold him close, and presto!

I would use a prong still, since this doesn't sound like an "overdrive" situation. I do refrain from prong corrections when my dog is seriously p'd off at another dog and about to make a move; if I use the prong to correct him, he will launch an attack w/intent to kill. But I really think you're adding fuel to the fire here, and the prong would work if you stopped tensing and just calmly corrected him for being a jackass.

Aleida,

I have very limited experience, but have had to reeducate one dog aggressive dog, a GSD/lab. She was very aggressive towards other dogs, and was OK with people, unless they reached for her or a family member. I used a combination of desensitization, using treats initially to divert her attention from a source of aggitation to me, and also very consistant obedience to give her life structure. I kept her away from other dogs and crowds, and over time found her to relax around other dogs to the point that she can walk near them with no sign of stress today.

I learned a lot from this site about how to handle a reactive dog. I also bought the DD DVD and collar, and used that to correct her when she aggressed towards another dog. When I first started using this collar, I did have to lift her a number of times, and she was not thrilled, but now she is much calmer, and it is there just for insurance. Her body language is very different, it is a real internal change. She is still very happy, relaxed at home, there has been no damage to our relationship at all. Also, now that she is more reliable, I can let her run off lead late at night, and the exercise is very good for her physically and mentally.

Know exactly what you are going through...just starting to come out the "other side" with my 8 month old. Exactly same scenario.

Hard to be a calm assertive leader when you are suddenly developing an anxiety disorder and practically wetting your pants when you see someone approaching!!!

I made up my mind to work through this with my dog. Jenni W. said something in another post, something about being on her dog's side. This thinking TOTALLY applies here.

My pup was not behaving this way up until 6.5 months or so, and yes, it was an eye opener when he changed into monster child...this was something new for him too, and obviously, he had ZERO problem taking control of the situation if I wasn't going to...it was/is my job to help him through this with a calm, assertive approach. (TO He#$()!%^ with the non-dog people who think your dog is a FREAK.)

This is totally workable and again, requires YOUR focus with what was mentioned previously. Imagine your calm puppy in the social situations and act accordingly.

This is what we did. We essentially started over. We walk with prong. Although like was mentioned previously, don't use it for corrections, as motivational stuff seems to work *a lot* better for us.

Walks for a while with no people (early mornings). Then slowly started walking places I knew there would be a few sparse people. I'd watch him close for his language and either give the quiet command if he seemed like he was going to bark, or treat him if he walked right through it...timing is (like always) critical here. Praise when he acts well.

Always aware of our surroundings, I'd spot a human before him, and I began to give him a heads up..."there's people" {happy sounding voice/tone} to define this for him as a good thing, then treat when he'd look at them then up at me.

Practice, patience, determination, obedience and rewards will take you places you can't even imagine at this point.

Sorry to hijack,


*** Mod delete ***

Needs new thread.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (10/03/2007 01:06 PM)
Edit reason: accidental hijack

Adriana, could you start your own thread? It's too confusing to be replying to the OP when others have thrown in their own stories for feedback.

 Quote: AdrianaParianos

Sorry to hijack, .....

Adriana, we need you to start a new thread. Just go to the Aggressive Dogs forum http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/19/page/1
and click on New Topic.

Thank you.

I am PMing you your post so you can copy and paste it to a new thread. Check your PMs.

Sorry still new to this!
Adriana