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p.s. how do I add a picture to my posts

You must upload your picture to somewhere on the net, your own website or a picture hosting website. I use http://www.photobucket.com
Once you upload your pictures, copy the IMG code, and voila! Remember to resize your picture(photobucket allows you to do that) so it isn't too big for this page. Good Luck!

Hi David,

My bet is that the lemon juice ain't going to cut it. Personally, I think that is just a band-aid and not going to solve the problem. As I am sure you are aware, this is an issue between your wife and the ACD and it needs to be worked out between them. Simply put, I think your wife needs to establish that this is unacceptable behavior and that there are fates worse than death - and aggressing towards her will bring about one of those fates

I have a house with multiple ACDs and many different personalities therein. I tend to gravitate towards the drivier (and edgier) ACDs so I have quite a bit of experience with "Come to Jesus" discussions What is your wife's opinion on reprimanding the aggressing behavior? Is she willing to take it in hand? If not, I have doubts that the behavior will dissipate any time soon. I would suggest her doing the "Nothing in Life is Free" sort of training and I would make her be the primary caregiver of the dog for the time being. They need to work out this issue.

A word to the wise on the e-collar - I would be hesitant to use this. Particularly if you do not have someone good aiding you on the use of it. I use electric in some of my training but in this situation I think it would just be a band-aid and, depending on the ACD, could just escalate the situation.

Good luck!

Hello David:

I have an ACD that had aggression issues with my mother.

The issues have disappeared with groundwork of the sort described in this website and on the videos referred by to Carol above.

My mother and the ACD are now good buddies after establishing her control over resources and certain consistent groundwork type exercises when taking for walks, playing with toys and using food rewards.

The lemon juice idea from your trainer is as Ingrid said a band aid. Band aids don't work with ACDs. Also with ACDs you often can't simply impose your will with an annoying but relatively trivial correction like the lemon juice. I conclude this trainer: a) doesn't know about groundwork; b) doesn't know about ACDs(hence the groundwork is so important): c) is used to giving advice to owners who aren't really willing to do much work to develop the relationship with the dog.

I bet this dog will respond well to groundwork.

On electric collar training: I've reinforced recall with my ACD using ecollar. I find it a good tool. However it is for refined training, and not for establishing the relationship with the dog. You and your wife need to put that dvd away for a while and start at the ground up with this dog.

Based on my experience, and what you've described, I bet you'll succeed.

AM

Thanks everybody for your input, I was thinking along the same lines as you guys. Aussie is a gentleman for me, because he knows it just won't do any other way. We seem to see an improvement when I leave the dog completely alone and my wife handles all his needs. This kills me because he is so good for me and I am a person who enjoys any interaction with my dog. I guess I have to take myself out of the equation.
Thanks Again, Dave

I agree with Andrew you are probably experienceing ranks issues between you and you dog and your wife. Having her do groundwork with the dog and taking control will more than likely work.

To describe it better is that you are the pack leader he is next in line in his mind and your wife is below him depending on how he reacts to her. If you ACD has shown aggression in some form to her and she has backed off or shown fear towards him and has let him get away with it could also have contributed to the situation.

She also needs to become his pack leader.