Mieta-How encouraging!!

Mieta,
It sounds as if your dog found a new master in you. Sounds as if your dog has accepted you as the ALPHA leader. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Be consistent with the corrections, thats the answer to all corrections. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi Mieta, you've had this dog for nigh on seven years and you know there are no easy answers by now. You either isolate it from other dogs (and kids) or you put it down. I don't believe that at this stage you can train it out of seven years worth of self-reinforcing behaviour. I have been in the same situation as you. Unfortunately we live in an era where litigation is a constant threat and you could end up in real strife. There are plenty of nice sound dogs available, more trainable - ones you won't have anxiety over. I'm sorry but I'd put it down.

Hi Mieta, you've had this dog for nigh on seven years and you know there are no easy answers by now. You either isolate it from other dogs (and kids) or you put it down. I don't believe that at this stage you can train it out of seven years worth of self-reinforcing behaviour. I have been in the same situation as you. Unfortunately we live in an era where litigation is a constant threat and you could end up in real strife. There are plenty of nice sound dogs available, more trainable - ones you won't have anxiety over. I'm sorry but I'd put it down.

Meita,

I think that you may have finally gotten the point across. It isn't a one shot deal, but with time and work it should work out. When you get moved, find a trainer that deals with this problem and work with them to get the dog under control.

Most issues can be worked out at any point in a dogs life. The longer you let it go, the longer it will take to correct. This is a dog that will need a kennel if it is to be out side. Tying it isn't an option. It will make the problem worse. Tying it with a muzzel will likely get it severely injured. It will not change it's behavior and the first time it "challenges" a dominant dog it will be attacked and have no way of defending it's self.

Mieta, I've done the same thing with my bitch. While it made an impression the first few times, it did not change her behavior. I have to do it every time. Without me right in her face to make it very clear that she is not to go nutso, she will still go nutso. She is 6 years old. Just keep that in mind, that you may not be doing anything to change the dog, but are, rather, learning how to take control of the situation.

Off topic a bit, those comments can be so irritating! You can't win. If you correct her, you're cruel. If you don't, then you're a horrible person for having such a horrible dog. Just yesterday I gave a man a glare that would have melted the polar ice caps! I was walking my Lab on the sidewalk and we came up near a man and his two goldens. The man was sitting in the grass with his back toward us, talking to another person who was standing in front of him. The goldens calmly watched as we got nearer, then, without warning, one of them charged at us, pulling the man over backward with full force. It caught me off guard (stupid me, I should have been expecting something), nearly pulling my arm out of its socket when my dog responded by charging back. I quickly got my dog under control, while the man with the goldens just laughed and said "He always does that" as if there were something funny about it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

That's when I gave him "The Glare". I would not have, had he made an effort to control his dog and not laugh about it.

L Swanston and Mieta... glad this is working for you (the face-down thing)... don't want to rain on anyone's parade here, but you try this with certain dogs (especially some I'm-the-baddest-ass-on-the-planet dominant males) and they are going to take your face right off for you.

This is just a public-service warning for anyone who wants to try this on their own dog. KNOW YOUR DOG. Better yet--KNOW YOUR DOG and don't try this without a muzzle.

Pete

I hear you, Pete, and I NEVER recommend that tactic to ANYONE. I do know my bitch, and know that she is not likely to bite me. I have also rolled her in response to her aggression, and she immediately submits to me. Any and all prong corrections she ignores (and I DO know how to issue one properly), but rolling she cannot. Again, I absolutely would not recommend this to anyone, especially over the internet. That would be irresponsible. Too many people have had their faces taken off by doing such stupid things.

I was only trying to tell Mieta that while it may seem like it works at that time, it probably won't change the behavior in the long run. Hate to be pessimistic, but I am speaking from my own experience, as that's all I have to go on.

I guess that I am just looking to make sure that I absolutely, ABSOLUTELY, try every last possible corrections possible. No, I am not naive to think that my mix will GS, Lab, Chow mix will suddenly become wonder dog.

I am going to keep going at this until I have to move. That will keep my moving in the positive direction of control. I can't just give up. I just can't.

I told my husband about the kennel information. He said that he will talk to a few people and look at the right kind of contruction for HER situation. But other than protecting others, how does kenneling alow her to control herself?

I can see everyone's point about rolling the dog or getting in it's face. I can do this but if my husband tried or someone else...no, I don't think that would be a bright idea. She does submit to me. It is a dog problem, not people problem.

Putting her down and keeping her is still at 50/50. I am being realistic, I just want to be sure that she and I did our best. She commands so well for me without dogs in the area. I can even use hand signals. She is smart. I need to give her that last try.

I have taken a zero tolerence attitude. Are there no success stories? Are all owners/dogs failures in the type of situations????

My gosh, I am sorry about my typing/spelling!! I am a mom and my interruptions are many!!!