Stopping aggression

calypso · 02-28-2007

We have a year old mixed terrier that we have had for six months. She was in and out of a shelter early on before we got her. She is nervous and aggressive when meeting other dogs when leashed. At the beach we leash her and our other dog when people are near because a few times when off leash they have rushed up barking a few times to walkers. I heard that distracting her with treats when another dog walks by will help but what do you do if the other dog is off leash and things start amping up?

Poohbear · 02-28-2007

The quickest solution would be to have YOU ignore other dog, and start walking in another direction. Most dogs, who have a dog aggression while walking on leash, seem to want to protect their master. So, by you, showing no feeling for the other dog, and walking away, you are showing your dog, that you are leading, and that dog doesn't matter. Of course, have a treat handy to give when your dog follows you without bothering with the other dog. It is an on going process, but soon, your dog will start to become desensitized with others. We would take our dog for walks at local fairs, and with other dogs there, I would search them out, not get too close, and as soon as Rex saw them, his head and tail would both come up, then I would pretend I had no clue what his problem was, and we would just go our merry way. I would find something fun to focus on, and soon, he was ignoring the dogs also. Good Luck!!

calypso · 02-28-2007

Thanks poobear, I am going to try that. While you are walking away though, do you also ignore your dog if it is pulling and growling at the other dog or can you verbally correct it as you walk away? Also, can your dog interact with other dogs now after working with it?

BestBuddies · 02-28-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by calypso

Thanks poobear, I am going to try that. While you are walking away though, do you also ignore your dog if it is pulling and growling at the other dog or can you verbally correct it as you walk away? Also, can your dog interact with other dogs now after working with it?

Good questions Calypso. I'd like to know more about this also.

Poohbear · 02-28-2007

At the first, he would try to lunge and bark, while I wanted to walk off, so I started at home with no distractions, except our cats, with down stay until I say Lets walk, or the more formal Heel. The cat would help by being a brat and running by, and I would then walk the other way with a lets walk. Rex understood soon that what I said goes. Then the first time again, around another dog, that one on leash also, he didn't want to listen, so I hooked to a choke chain,(which I had with me) gave a good yank and release, said lets walk in the same way I did around the house, and almost dragged him for about 5 ft. As soon as he was at my side, I said Rex Good, and snuck him a treat. He got the hang of it, and we tried to train everyday, for about a month. I think we only missed 2 days, and not 2 in a row. I can now, take him where other dogs are, and he ignores the strangers, and has playdates with 4 others. But only 2 at a time, as he is 2yrs this month, and still can play rough.
When a dog is off leash, I would put him in a down stay, and step on the leash so he couldn't get up easily, and I stepped between him and the dog, and sent the other dog on its way. That told Rex that I was leader and protecting him.

calypso · 03-01-2007

Does giving your dog a treat while the other dog is near cause your dog to get possesive about the food?

Poohbear · 03-01-2007

I have never given him a treat while he was completely focused on another dog, he had to be trying to focus on what I wanted, and had to be looking at me. Also, with people, he would not be food aggressive, he just had it in for other dogs. I also, did have people come up, (ones that he knew) and give treats while he was behaving.
During playdates, I would and their owners, all have treats, and when things got too rowdy, we would put them through their paces, sit/stay, down/stay, recall, all not on leash, and treats were given freely, with no aggression whatsoever. But, we all waited, until they all were comfortable with each other before incorperatiing a little training into playtime.
A friend had a dog, that would always lunge and growl at people and animals on walks on leash. She taught her dog to down/stay everytime someone or a dog came close. Submission at its upmost. Neither her or the other human would make eye contact, and after the others were on their merry way, she would start walking, and then give a treat. It worked for her, but I found that to be almost immpossible with Rex, but I can and sometimes do, do it now with him. It does depend on the situation with us.
It is still on going, and now that it is winter, we haven't been out as much, so this spring we may have to start maintenence training to remind him that the status quo is still the same.
Dang weather report says 2 feet of snow for our area, thru Sat. morning, and I want to start doing something!!

Poohbear · 03-01-2007

I just reread everything, and Raggs said what I should have, my brain doesn't give my fingers time to put it all down.
I have 2 commands for our walks. The formal Heel, where he MUST stay at my left, sit when I stop etc.
Our Let's walk, is when we are just out and about for exercise. He knows that as long as he doesn't pull me or choke him self, he can go around me sniffing and enjoying nature. I usually, have a 10 foot leash for these walks. I use a 6 foot one for the more formal walks.
I found during our Let's walk, walks that if I start jogging or whatever, moving faster then an amble, he automatically heels to stay with me. He has done this on his own, but when I realized what was happening I encouraged that behavior.

daphne · 03-01-2007

I used clicker training to help my dog deal with his aggressive behavior towards other dogs. You start at home and teach your dog to sit and look at you, when that behavior is taught at home take it to the streets. Take your dog outside and move closer and closer to other dogs have him sit and look at you, click and treat. Move closer and closer and soon your dog will learn to ignore the other dog and look foward to the click and treat. Weaning the dog away from the click and treat is pretty easy.
My terrier now can walk past other dogs without snarling and barking, and we have even started going to a dog park where he ignores the other dogs, and has started playing with some of the calmer dogs.

Poohbear · 03-01-2007

Clicker training works for some dogs, but for a GSD like mine or another large breed dog, it might not. It didn't with mine. I can not get Rex to respond to the clicker, but Baby a JRT, is great with it. I would do both if it worked!