Quote: Colleen Safarowicz

You're right. sorry, out of the six dogs I have owned, there are two of them I would not ever take certain things from. The other four I can take anything from. So one short of being half of them. In any other instance I am not afraid of any of them.

You have work to do. You can do it, but going forward with the idea that it's OK to be afraid of your dog(s) won't get you to pack leader status.

Please get the videos and read the articles. Your dogs deserve a pack leader. Not having one is a huge stressor and source of anxiety in dogs' lives. And when you also create a pack.... your responsibility multiplies.

Thank you so much for all of the advice!! We're going back to the videos. While we are in the process of becoming pack leaders and not door mats, what is the correct action to take if a dog becomes aggressive? I had a foster about a month ago for two weeks. In that two weeks he snapped at us 3 times for trying to get him by the collar and take him outside or to his crate. Other than that he was a sweetheart. Then one night we decided to take him to the pet store. When we got there and I went to get him out of the truck (just by reaching for his leash) he attacked. He grabbed my arm and I pulled away and he went right for my face. Then my husband (John) went to get him and he did the same to him. He then started ripping up the back of our truck. We went to directly to the vet because he was going nuts. Once we got in the truck he was fine although I would not reach back and pet him. But, when we got to the vet and opened the back of the truck to let him out he tried to attack again. It took 20 minutes to get him out of the truck. Once out of the truck he was perfectly fine again. I hate to say we did have to have him euthanized which was heartbreaking but considering he bit us three times in the house (four puncture wounds in my husband's arm, ripped his hand open and bit my leg), went after another dog in the house for no reason and had issues with being in the truck, there wasn't a lot we could do. He was a 90 pound Am. bulldog who could really have hurt someone. Anyway, what are you supposed to do in a situation like that how do you restrain the dog without getting bit?

Here is something that you may not want to hear, but I mean it in the kindest way possible, thinking of both the humans and the dogs in the situation.

You need to become a pack leader before you take another dog, I believe. You are not really doing dogs a favor to take them and let them stay un-adoptable.

You probably already have too many, but let's start with what you have.

I would start listening to podcasts TODAY, and printing out a few articles and reading them TODAY. I'd start with Groundwork and Dominant Dogs.

I'd order the Pack Structure DVD and the Dominant Dog DVD now (today), and I'd watch them both more than once.

Fostering is good, and I applaud you! But unless you are helping fosters to become adoptable dogs, then there is no real long-term benefit to them.

JMO. You can do this. We'll help! But start now.

http://www.leerburg.com/nr.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/dominantdogs.htm

http://leerburg.com/dogtrainingpodcasts.htm

http://leerburg.com/introducingdogs.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/combos.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/dogtrainingebooks.htm

There is so much *free* information, step by step, to go along with (or to absorb while you wait for videos) that there's no reason not to start today.

I have both of those videos. I just want to clarify one thing. I do not foster dogs and make them unadoptable. I have fostered many many dogs that went on to get great homes. Unfortunately sometimes people at shelters from other states lie to us and tell us a dog has been temperment tested and passed but we get them and they are clearly aggressive dogs. I do everything I can to make those dogs adoptable, even pay for training out of my own pocket. I have only kept one dog that was not adoptable which is Sen, who I was originally writing about. In the year and a half that I have been fostering I have only had two that were unadoptable including Sen. I do not believe Sen is unadoptable, he would just need an owner with experience and there are not many people willing to take a dog with issues. Although my six that I own (7 counting Sen) can be wild sometimes, for the most part they are well behaved. They get along with other dogs and love people. They accept the fosters so much so that the fosters can have free run of the house with my dogs. I even have pet rats that I rescued that can sit on the sofa with my dogs. I'm not perfect at training and have a lot to learn about pack structure and being the leader but I do not make homeless dogs unadoptable. I really do appreciate the advice and I certainly will go and watch the videos and learn from them.

 Quote: Colleen Safarowicz

I have both of those videos. I just want to clarify one thing. I do not foster dogs and make them unadoptable. .... I'm not perfect at training and have a lot to learn about pack structure and being the leader but I do not make homeless dogs unadoptable.

No no. That was not what I said or meant, and I'm sorry if it sounded like that. What I meant was that there is no benefit unless you are turning them into adoptable dogs.

I do applaud fostering 100%. I also really honestly believe that there is a responsibility that comes with it to work with whatever issue caused the dog to be abandoned or surrendered (like Sen).

This is the place to learn how.

I would start by picking up those food dishes and changing the way the dogs are fed.

I would not think of it as making the other dogs go along with something that only Sen needs.... no no. I would think of it as something they *all* need and want, which is structure and leadership.

I know that you can do this. Anyone with this much love for and caring about surrendered and abandoned dogs does have the wherewithal to become a stellar pack leader.

P.S. That's great that you have placed many dogs!






Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/07/2008 09:08 PM)
Edit reason: P.S.

 Quote: Colleen Safarowicz

Unfortunately sometimes people at shelters from other states lie to us and tell us a dog has been temperment tested and passed but we get them and they are clearly aggressive dogs.

I'm very sad to hear this. I am guessing that maybe they are not so good at testing? I hope that's it, and not that you are deliberately lied to.

QUOTE: I even have pet rats that I rescued that can sit on the sofa with my dogs. END

The mind picture made me laugh out loud.

I wasn't offended, no need to apologize. I agree with correcting the problems which is why I will not ever put Sen down. I hope I can learn to be pack leader, probably my husband will be better at it then me!!! My dogs are more spoiled then my kids and my kids are pretty darned spoiled!!

 Quote: Colleen Safarowicz

... I hope I can learn to be pack leader ....

Oh, you can. Especially when you see that the dog(s) become calmer, more confident, and happier when they know they have someone in charge.

Listen to the podcasts.... watch the videos. It's amazing how watching and listening to real pack leadership gives a great mental picture of how it looks and sounds..... reading is wonderful, but to really cement the information, nothing beats watching the real thing.

You will be able to do your own training. Video number 302 (Basic Ob) will pay for itself in training fees ....

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: colleen safarowicz

... I hope I can learn to be pack leader ....

Oh, you can. Especially when you see that the dog(s) become calmer, more confident, and happier when they know they have someone in charge.

Listen to the podcasts.... watch the videos. It's amazing how watching and listening to real pack leadership gives a great mental picture of how it looks and sounds..... reading is wonderful, but to really cement the information, nothing beats watching the real thing.

You will be able to do your own training. Video number 302 (Basic Ob) will pay for itself in training fees ....

Colleen,

You need to start telling yourself "I AM a pack leader". I have faith in you that you can do this. You would not be here otherwise.
Connie has given excellent and sound advice.
But, you need to believe in yourself as well as watch, read and listen to all the information provided. Be confident and in-charge.

Head up, shoulders back and do it like you mean it. That is the key. Trust me, I know what you are going through and it CAN be done.