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My dog is an 8yr old English Springer Spaniel. He's had a few scraps with other dogs in the village - he isn't very good with other dogs so he has always been leashed but in those instances the other dogs weren't. Stupid owners but these things happen, I guess. It was annoying but I wasn't overly concerned about him having a few scraps. Their fault for not leashing their dogs properly, right? I was a little worried that he seemed to hold grudges and would pull on the leash towards where those dogs lived. I'd always keep him on a leash until I'm well clear of the houses in the village and onto the open farmland where it's unlikely we'll bump into any other dog walkers but I was especially careful to keep him leashed in light of his apparent eagerness to go to where the other dogs he'd fought with lived. My issue is that 6 months ago, a neighbours young Patterdale Terrier (who had been introduced to my dog a fair number of times without issue - a deliberate attempt to get them to be friendly to a neighbours mutt) wandered into our garden. The neighbour was a fair bit behind on the path but the pup clearly knew where he was headed and went forward without him. I was just getting my dog ready for a walk and he was doing his usual jerk move of spinning in circles while I tried to fasten his collar on  Anyway, one second I'm trying to put the collar on him, the next he's turned quick as a flash and got hold of the puppy around its midsection. I yanked him off within a second - there didn't appear to be any cuts/puncture marks on the puppy but, cut a long story short, the puppy died a few days later from a ruptured spleen and other internal injuries. hosed up, I know, but the neighbour was pretty understanding and we're still on good terms. I paid the vet costs etc despite neighbour insisting it was his fault for letting his dog into my garden without being on a lead etc. Ever since then I've lacked a bit of trust in my dog. I'd previously put the other scraps down to being a basic hazard of dog ownership and other owners not leashing their dogs properly but clearly there's something going on with my dog and increased aggression. Then yesterday I'm walking him through some fields which have broken down and abandoned allotments on one side - my usual and preferred spot because there's never anyone around there and no dogs - another symptom of my lack of trust in him, I guess, because I'm now very conscious of where I let him off the leash. I only let him off the leash when I can see far and wide for any potential dog walkers etc. and the fields here are big enough and flat enough that I can always see people a long way off. Anyway, this time I hear a dog barking and start to call my dog back to me (he's always obeyed my calls before) but for whatever loving reason he runs straight towards the barking. I sprint to catch up and find him fighting a chained-up Akita. The gate leading to the allotment had been left open. This could be its twin:  I say fighting. More like he's being dragged around by the scruff of his neck by the big fucker. Despite the fact I felt loving terrified of the other dog, I of course wade in to separate the two. Thank loving God it was chained up because I don't know what I could've done to get my dog away from it otherwise. I ended up with a torn t-shirt and my dog had a couple of scratches to his scruff and a half inch tear to his chest. He was still trying to go back for more too, the dumb poo poo. I tied my dog to a nearby fence and cautiously checked out the other dog - no marks visible but about 5 mins later a guy wanders up and it turns out he's the owner. He checks the other dog out more thoroughly and there's nothing wrong. He feels bad about the fighting but I tell him it's my fault and I'm glad his dog is ok etc. I then get my dog to a vet for patching up. What the gently caress do I do? My dog is great with people. Literally could not find fault with how he is around kids - he loves my nieces and nephews and lets them crawl all over him without complaint. He just cannot handle other dogs. Can I fix this behaviour in an 8yr old dog? He wasn't socialised with other dogs much when he was young and he did have a bad experience as a pup when another dog attacked him. I wonder how much that he affected him and given him a defensive outlook on meeting other dogs. WastedJoker fucked around with this message at 10:45 on Jun 19, 2014 |
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Jun 19, 2014 10:42
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| # ? May 28, 2024 09:58 |
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Can it be changed? Maybe. But not without significant changes in how you train and manage him. Dog aggression is pretty common, and it's pretty common that it will get worse over time as new experiences build on old ones. On top of that, a great deal of dog aggression has a genetic component. The first step is to stop him from rehearsing any more bad behaviour. Keep him contained or on a long leash at all times. The second step is to work with a trainer or behaviourist who will be able to work with you 1 on 1 and provide advice catered to your individual situation. Find someone who uses modern, science-based techniques and who doesn't rely on reprimands or punishment to address problem behaviour. The third step is to read up on reactivity and fear so you have a better handle on what you're dealing with. Ali Brown's Focus, Not Fear is a good starting point. (http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTB956) Lastly, don't expect him ever to be dog social and to genuinely enjoy the presence of strange dogs. If that happens, wonderful, but the odds are pretty low. What you can expect is for him to focus on you when strange dogs are around and for him to trust you enough to remove him from the uncomfortable situation before he feels the need to take matters into his own hands. There's a dog training megathread here that may help: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3364451
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Jun 19, 2014 14:33
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I would get your neighbor a new puppy, since your dog killed his.
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Jun 19, 2014 16:32
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I just want to reiterate the importance of keeping him on leash at all times. I have an aggressive dog too and I never let her off leash in an unfenced area. I do have a 40' lead that I bring with when I'm walking her in more remote areas and want to let her run and explore a bit, or want to play fetch with her in a park instead of the yard, that kind of thing, but I always have a way to control her because you never know. It's annoying until you get the hang of it, but now I don't even think about it anymore and it doesn't seem to bother her a bit.
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Jun 19, 2014 18:47
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I'm curious about why you think all the other "stupid owners" are at fault when your dog is the one that consistently gets into fights and kills puppies when you take it outside. Good luck in resolving this issue though.
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Jun 19, 2014 19:31
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Uh because quote:he isn't very good with other dogs so he has always been leashed but in those instances the other dogs weren't. Legally this means the other owners were at fault, not his dog. It's also dumb as gently caress to let your dog run up to another dog on leash. Hope that helps.
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Jun 19, 2014 19:36
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Captain Foxy posted:Uh because Ok yeah sure, but if you read the post in both instances his dog, which he knows is aggressive and apparently loves to fight, wasn't on a leash. In fact, in his second example, his unleashed dog attacks a dog that is chained up. WastedJoker posted:My issue is that 6 months ago, a neighbours young Patterdale Terrier (who had been introduced to my dog a fair number of times without issue - a deliberate attempt to get them to be friendly to a neighbours mutt) wandered into our garden. The neighbour was a fair bit behind on the path but the pup clearly knew where he was headed and went forward without him. I was just getting my dog ready for a walk and he was doing his usual jerk move of spinning in circles while I tried to fasten his collar on quote:Then yesterday I'm walking him through some fields which have broken down and abandoned allotments on one side - my usual and preferred spot because there's never anyone around there and no dogs - another symptom of my lack of trust in him, I guess, because I'm now very conscious of where I let him off the leash. I only let him off the leash when I can see far and wide for any potential dog walkers etc. and the fields here are big enough and flat enough that I can always see people a long way off. Jamwad Hilder fucked around with this message at 19:47 on Jun 19, 2014 |
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Jun 19, 2014 19:43
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| # ? May 28, 2024 09:58 |
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The cases where the OP's dog was leashed and off leash dogs came up were not explained in detail. Those specific cases it is the loose dog's fault. However... those two situations explained in the OP? Both of the cases your dog was off leash. I know you mean well and are learning... but owning a dog aggressive dog means you *need* to have your dog on some sort of leash in public (or long line as abutiu already said). Even if you are just outside your house. Even if there are no other dogs in sight. Even if you believe you got everything covered, do not let the dog off leash. Sucks, but that's just how it is. Understand this and you already got a step in the right direction. Also note that because a dog is dog aggressive does not make them a bad dog. One of my dogs is an aggressive little bitch and will fight any dog that she comes across if given the chance. A loose dog that came up to her almost lost its eye because she said lol gently caress off. Otherwise? She is a sweet girl and a very good dog. So I know where you are coming from. You got this. 
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Jun 19, 2014 20:15
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