Ok, so what if it's a brain injury/problem Jason?

I knew a little dog who started having seizures and was never the same. He ended up being put down for extreme aggression. We need to know why he's having them, how long, what his personality was like before, etc.

Christi said something that didn't make any sense to me. She said it happened literally overnight, and that's why she doesn't think it's a health problem. I don't see why one cancels the other. Did I misunderstand?

 Quote: jason penwell

Sorry for the late reply but living in italy the times are a little different.


I saw you guys talking about the prong collar and maybe using it to help correct the behavior. I know I am going to catch a lot of flack for this one but I Personally would advise against it in the situation (for your sister). If you put a pinch on a dominant dog and pop him, you better be ready. Your sister would have to be taught how to give a STONG NO KIDDING correction with out the risk of putting him into drive. I think people will agree that multiple light pops can actually put a dog into drive and now top that with a dominance issue. If he get mad about it he may just turn on your sister. if he is a hard dog and you dont set the path of, "you will listen to me and I am the big cheese" a pich just may piss him off. I am still for the e-collar in conjuction with lots of excersise. JMO

Jason, I think there are a couple of things here.

First, is that most 'dominant' dogs aren't truly dominant, but just lacking structure. The chances of this dog being a hard, dominant dog that will become angry at corrections and turn on the handler are, I feel confident, extremely small.

I'd actually put those chances at non-existent b/c the OP mentioned that she corrected him with a prong collar and that he responded well to her correction with no problematic reactions. So it seems clear to me that a prong collar could be used safely with this dog.

Given the finances of the sister, it makes sense for her to continue using the prong collar b/c a)she has it; and b)the dog is known to respond well to prong corrections. It doesn't sound like she's in a position to buy an e-collar right now (and I think that is a purchase that if you're going to get it, get a good one, and those aren't cheap).

THAT said, I think the discussion of which collar to use is at this point very much secondary to determining what is going on with the dog medically.

Edit: Christi, I hope it's OK, but I posted generally about the situation with respect to the possible medical issues on another board where I'm quite certain I've seen people using IMOM to raise funds for dogs with medical conditions. If anyone can give me more information about IMOM or other avenues of veterinary funding I will PM you.

Good morning all,

Jason, you are right, it was really possible he would react badly to the prong in the state he was in. Fortunately it was ok. If I still had my e-collar I might think about it. I don't really know how to use it to train. I was using it for proofing. You do also have a point that just because he didn't go after me, that he won't go after her. Fortunately he's about 15 lbs, and might give her some nasty gashes but nothing life threatening.

Jenni, I suppose I spoke hastily. I would seem odd that the minute this old dog got back from the groom, his brain suddenly went haywire. But I wasn't really thinking about how he might have an ongoing condition, and this was just a catalyst of some kind, making the behavior more noticeable.

Jennifer--thanks, I appreciate it.