Sandy,
You learn to gain the trust of those type of dog you'll always look for another of the same. The same dominance issues, the consent social climbing pain in the ass never slacking off push I'm better then you attitude. They are always the best. Once you earn their trust and respect you have a friend for life.

Truely special.
Randy

Carol… The important thing is you addressed it the best way you thought possible at the time. There are not many people who have taken full on bites from their own dog. Most humans would just shut down and have let the dog get away with it.

When it first happened to me, I over corrected my dog for improper aggression towards a third party. Like Ed pointed out in his post.. the numerous prong collar corrections I made combined with a laundry list of phooeys over stimulated him and then the aggression came right at me. My little man saw the Lord that day… and we have not had a problem since. I work a ton of OB with him just in case! lol


I bumped the little man’s crate the other day by accident while I was working in the house.. he started growling. Stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one.. inside the crate.. no means of correction… Thoughts of a Dog Whisperer episode came to me.. I stood over him inside the crate, made eye contact… and just wore him down in this dominant position until he laid down and looked away. God I love that show!

 Quote: Sandy Moore

I thought my future with Lear was over and cried a lot about it. Like Jenni, I considered giving him to someone, someone who can handle that much dog cause didn't know if I could. I was broken-hearted and couldn't bear the thought. Like Jenni said, this was my baby. I don't quite know how to not feel like that. Cindy wrote to me that she knew I wanted a cuddly dog, but Lear is not that dog. Cindy (what a wonderful lady - wow) and Ed, as well as some of you whom I know and respect and who handle these types of dogs, are my heroes.

I'm realizing you don't learn much with the softer temperament dogs (boy, do I love those), but it's the tough ones who teach you the real lessons. So I'm thankful for my dog, for his love, for all that he is and I'm keeping the monster.

Thanks for sharing Sandy like Carol said awesome post.

Everybody's posts in this thread have really given myself and I am sure others lot's of real meat to chew on for when or if a dog decides to come up the lead at its handler.

I've have learned lots here and will be a better handler for it.

 Quote: carol boche

Awwwwwgg....damn Sandy, you made me cry. Seriously, you did. (and I am not a cryer)
That was an awesome post.
You are the best thing for Lear and I can pretty much tell it goes both ways.

Thanks Carol . When I read my post made you cry, I got all emotional.

Ditto to what Connie said about the barking in the crate. That's definitely what Lear's barking was, being kept from "leading his pack". Great way to put it, Connie. No separation anxiety whatsoever. He does fine when I leave the house.

Randy, your post was an inspiration. I certainly believe what you said. Thank you!

Geoff, thank you, and just for clarification, in those 6 incidents Lear didn't come up the leash at me like he did with Carol. Unfortunately, he was loose all 6 times. Although he did have the drag line on after the first incident took place, I couldn't get to it without going past his head (and teeth) while he was in that attack type mode. I would have been bit had I tried. He has, however, come up the leash at me, not with the severity that Rock did with Carol, rather with warning growling and snapping at me, during corrections. When he does that, since he has always has the dominant collar on now and since he only does it during a correction, I do have the other end of the lead. So I pull on the lead and hold his head up with enough pressure to cut off his air until he calms, then I release the leash and he's settled down.

Carol, I want to thank you again for starting this thread. You gave me the courage to post about Lear, which I admit I didn't have until you posted about Rock. YOU rock!

 Quote: Geoff Empey

Everybody's posts in this thread have really given myself and I am sure others lot's of real meat to chew on for when or if a dog decides to come up the lead at its handler.

I've have learned lots here and will be a better handler for it.

And the most important thing: Be vigilant for signs so that it never happens.

I agree with the post saying that Carol dealt with it; now she can ramp up the leadership with that dog, but there's no benefit in overthinking her action that day.

Matthew, I am so with you on learning a lot from Cesar Millan. The biggest thing for me is to watch his unassailable calm authority.

It's great to have a thread like this one, because it gives people the opportunity and impetus to think over what they WOULD do (and how to avoid it in the first place).

Dear Carol: Just wondering how you and the ROck are doing now.
How has your response affected him?
How are you doing with it all?
God bless you
Sharon Empson

Well, things have been good. He is coming along on the basic pack leadership stuff and his drive has not changed.

Playing "fetch" goes well and he has not broke from a down yet until I release him.

So, I think it worked, but he is sporting a beautiful hunter green DD collar and a short tab just in case.

Dear Carol: So glad to hear that.
May God bless you
Sharon Empson

Carol, I'm glad to hear it. Rock's a great dog--even people have a mental hiccup every once in a while!

And as a bonus, I think a lot of people learned a lot from your experience. I know I did.

Cheers!

Thanks Amber and Sharon.
I am pleased with the progress, but we had established it before, so I am sure it is a refresher for him. But it has only been a week, so we will see what comes down the road.

I worked him on a 160 acre air scent last night and he did well, it was dark and cold and I had my "victim" in a tree. So, all that has happened did not effect his work.