Another aggressive dog!

[angela_b]

My GSD x bitch has been gradually getting more and more aggressive with strange dogs - this all started about a year ago when she was attacked by two Staffies and now she gets in her bit of aggression before she can be attacked! She acts aggressively, with a lot of snarling and roughness, and the other day when a neighbour took her out she bit another dog for the first time. Obviously I am now very worried about whre this is going and the danger she might pose to other dogs - and it makes walks miserable when we can't just take her out anywhere with us. She is not spayed - does anyone think this might help? Any advice? I have of course tried getting her attention as soon as I see a problem looming, and rewarding her hugely on the rare occasions she is good, but none of it really works and I am so scared she might get to the point where she hurts another dog. Any thoughts? I have considered an electric collar (please don't hate me, I used it before to stop her chasing horses and it worked like a charm) but not sure if this would stop her aggression?

Thank you!!!

 

[MurphysMinder]

I would suggest you try and find a local obedience class. Contact them first and explain your problem and they should be able to help you. She needs to learn to socialise with other dogs without showing aggression. In the meantime I would always walk her in a muzzle so you can be a bit more relaxed. Although I know electric collars can work in some instances of stock chasing I am not a big fan of them, I think you really have to know what you are doing, and in the case of showing aggression to other dogs I think you could make the problem worse if your timing is only slightly wrong.

 

[angela_b]

I have tried the local classes but none of them will take a dog that is aggressive - it's not fair on the others that are also there to learn, which is fair enough. I do use a muzzle but would love to find a long-term solution, I agree that I don't want to make problems worse by using the electric collar.

 

[sloulou]

Think you might need to get the advice of a behaviourist, who can see teh problem and work with you on solving it.

have sent you a pm

 

[CAYLA]

I personally would not use an electric collar in this instance...not that im against them..just not for this type of behavioural correction.
U really do need to get your dog socialised in as controlled environment to get her confidence back...agression can be a complexed behavioural problem and u will definatley need to seek professional help.....issues with agresson can be hightened by the owners own fear and lack of confidence in the situation.
We deal with an take in a large number of dogs for re-homing that are agressive towards other dogs...and the key factor is the be confident as a handler in order to help the dog with the issue in hand....and socialisation and interaction with other dogs will help her to learn how to interact once more on a positive basis.

Its like Cesar Milans psychology center....LMAO

This is the type of interaction we encourage with all of the dogs we re-home.....once the settling in period is over...we slowly introduce them to a smaller number of dogs...i.e our own.....then gradually into larger groups......we supervise at all times...normally just standing and supervising is enough to keep the dogs in their place.....the moment you show any weakness or fear..the dogs will sense that.....its hard to describe unless u are actually there/have experience.....but im sure there will be someone who can help u...these problems can be over come.
Some of these dogs in the picture had severe agression problems wth other dogs...partly because the worse they becam the more these where isolated from other dogs.

 

[angela_b]

Thanks all for your advice - I do have a behavioural trainer booked to come out on Sunday to work with us though I do have doubts that anything in this world will distract her or make he listen to me once she has spotted another dog in the distance! I'm well aware that I haven't managed to put the problem right and so must be handling it wrong - I am not scared in that situation but still I don't really know how to stop her doing it - I try to distract her with tasty things and toys but it only works up to a point. If she's on the lead I can control it but I don't want to have to ke

ep her on the lead forever. Hopefully this lady will help us!

 

[WelshRareBit]

How did she manage to bite if she wears a muzzle?

Sorry if Im asking a stupid question here...

Fingers crossed the trainer helps, but I had a dog agressive dog and in the main he always stayed on a lead where other dogs might be. Best of Luck

 

[angela_b]

A neighbour took her out without the muzzle - I hadn't mentioned it to her as she was only staying overnight and not planning on going for a walk, but she decided to take her out in the morning. Apparently it was difficult to handle as she rounded a corner and was immediately face-to-face with another dog, and my neighbour didn't have time to pull her back on the lead. Normally I would have her on a short lead at this point, just in case.

 

[danhappy]

Hiya, probably seen from my thread I have the same problem, the last two behaviourists have told me that if I walk amber she has to be muzzled if I have pre-knowledge that she has tried or succeded in biting another dog (she got close but didnt bite)

 

[angela_b]

thanks for the info - I didn't know this was the legal situation but will take a lot of care over it until she is better (if!!). Did your behaviouralist help and what was the advice?

 

[angela_b]

Hi Dante - have just read your post and it sounds rather familiar. I wouldn't say mine is trying to play though, she is definitely aggressive though once she knows another dog (usually it only takes one meeting) she'll play and behave nicely. Interesting about whether spaying might help, I have doubts but will contact the vet and see if they say the same as yours.