Cornish ASBO Terrier seeks advice

Fabforester

Fabforester

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Can you recommend an animal behaviour expert in Cornwall or surrounding area who could be able to help as.
We are close to last chance saloon with our Patterdale x Border, who is now confined to life on a lead as soon as he leaves our home. He is aggressive to all dogs when he is on a lead, and 9 out of 10 when off. He has injured 3 dogs in 5 years. He is utterly amazing with all people and children.
Nothing has changed of late, but we are wondering if 10 years time, we are still going to have him.

Also, he looks much more like a BT than patterdale, but his face has gone completely grey in the past year, is this stress, or just random.
Thanks in advance.
 
Hope you get some good recommendations.
In the interim I would say, as the owner of a dog-aggressive male who has come on in leaps and bounds thanks to a fantastic training class, I would say, do not try to isolate him from all other dogs and do not pass any tension down the lead to him, hard as it will seem.
My dog was sharp to begin with, but me getting nervous, reeling in the lead, keeping him close, sweating, panicing, and EXPECTING him to explode at the other dog, would always ensure that he would. I was basically telling him to, with my body language.

Always try and break the fixation before it happens (not mid grizzle) with a lead pop (if you are using a harness, don't, use a martingale/half choke or full choke/slip lead - don't let him take the hand out of you!) and then when you have attention reward and distract with food, a toy, praise, whatever.

If you are scared, he will feed off that and either become scared or try to defend you. It is an incredibly scary, stressful place for a dog to be, try and give him confidence.

I would also recommend (for about the millionth time!) a book called The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson and seeing about a CLASS as well as a behaviourist - while you need to put in the groundwork, no positive change will happen without passive dogs to 'practise' on.
 
Additionally, whatever exercise he is getting now, if he is 12 months plus, up it.
Run/jog him, bike him, swim him, whatever - and if and when he settles get him into agility or see if he could work as he was intended to - dogs with jobs and something to occupy their minds are a lot less likely to busy themselves attacking other dogs.
 
Dont really have any advice of my own to add, CCs advice above really helped me with my old grumpy Border Terrier.

He was a nightmare to walk if there were other dogs around and I couldnt trust him enough to be off lead ANYWHERE but like yours he was brilliant with people and small children. After alot of advice on here I started to sing to myself when we walked past another dog (Yes... people did think I was insane) to try and calm myself down and relax him.

He still isnt good with other dogs but he is 100 times better than he was a year ago and today he even let my naughty puppy sit on him for a while.

If my boy were younger I think we could have almost cured the dog aggression, good luck OP :)

Forgot to add, we took the old boy to some really exciting places like the beach or shows to completely flood him. He would snarl at the first couple of dogs he saw but then new smells / exciting surrounding got the better of him.
 
Muzzle him.. Then if he is aggressive to others he won't hurt them (or at least.. shouldn't be able to do any real damage)
Sorry, don't know anyone in that direction but best of luck
 
I used to have a dog aggressive mongrel, and currently have terriers so can sympathise with how obstinate and opinionated they are.

To be honest I would go with the distraction tactic like CC suggests. Take a favourite squeeky toy with you and as soon as YOU clock another dog, start squeaky squeaky I am the best thing more interesting than that other thing! Then when his attention is off it ask him to sit and praise. That's what I'd do. There's no point getting into a battle of wills, its not one you'll win with a terrier...!
 
have heard afew people say shona moon of" come to heal dog training " is very good,only using kind methods,she has a website if you have a search online.good luck:)
 
Can't add to the above good advice other than did see 'it's me or the dog' the other night with a bulldog (I think it was in usa) had issues with other dogs when passing whilst on lead and they sorted with treats and clicker. My parents have the same cross Patt x BT girly and I've been told it's the breed although told it's the Patt side! - she's great with people and kids and was friendly with all dogs. Used to come on rides on the green lanes with me until one day suddenly turned and had to appproch and fight with 99% of dogs she met. Is vocal to others if on the lead and occ will try to 'have a go'. Luckily we have our own land so can run and hunt around in the woods. Having said all that I have 2 lurchers and 2 terriers that also have BT in them and they are vocal to others when on the lead although they all (inc parents dog) get on fine together and are all girlies!
 
No one to recommend i'm afraid but I would definately muzzle him in the meantime, then on or off lead he can do no real damage.

As daunting as it is, continue to mix with as many different dogs as possible (with owners agreement) and lots of praise when he ignores or greets politely.

Good luck! :)
 
Thank you all. We hv struggled with a muzzle as the fabric ones he cant pant in, and the plastic 'proper' ones he literally aims his face at the floor and drags it around until something is cut, or he has found a branch or something to lever off the muzzle, even when very snuggly fit. However, we do use it on him frequently in the hope that he will become used to it.

What I find so bizarre is that random dogs he meets (even if they charge up to him) he is utterly fine with, yet others its like something snaps inside, and he is out to destroy. All your tips hv been really taken onboard and we certainly will percevere. I appreciate he is never going to be trusted with other dogs or 'safe' but I need to know I am doing everything I can for him (and the poor other doggies he meets).
 
As I said in the PM, certain dogs can give off certain vibes and triggers that are imperceptible to us, even colours, face shape, ear carriage and tail carriage can make a difference, or the smell they give off.

I would never trust mine 100% either but have to judge each situation on it's merit and just be very aware of my own dog's behaviour and his body language, you learn to read it! And say, 'yes, that's fine, let the dog say hi', or 'please step away, my dog is sharp'.

Also re muzzles, they work for some dogs, for others they don't and increase the feelings of frustration and being restricted, which in turn can make the problem worse. But again it is down to the individual dog.
 
Terriers are terriers, they are what they are, we have kept terriers for over 15 yrs now and have offspring all home bred for 6 generations - all the same, irritating, jealous, but absolutley fantastic, natural retrievers , swim like fish, totally obediant, but we never walk them where other dogs are, they bicker amongst themselves, but the leader of the 'pack' is my partner and his word is law, they respect him and adore him, but he installs rules form them being puppies, I always say to potential terrier owners, treat them like dresden dolls but rule them with a rod of iron when they are babies , as whats funny at 12 weeks isnt funny at 12 mnths, its all about ground rules and boundaries.

Good luck with your dog.
 
tweedette said:
Terriers are terriers, they are what they are, we have kept terriers for over 15 yrs now and have offspring all home bred for 6 generations - all the same, irritating, jealous, but absolutley fantastic, natural retrievers , swim like fish, totally obediant, but we never walk them where other dogs are, they bicker amongst themselves, but the leader of the 'pack' is my partner and his word is law, they respect him and adore him, but he installs rules form them being puppies, I always say to potential terrier owners, treat them like dresden dolls but rule them with a rod of iron when they are babies , as whats funny at 12 weeks isnt funny at 12 mnths, its all about ground rules and boundaries.

Good luck with your dog.
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What a great reply. Your synopsis is Oliver to a tee. He is the most obedient dog I have ever had, and loyal like you wouldnt believe. Having however put both a doberman and a rottweiler into doggie hospital, he does believe that he is the boss, of all. As a pup and upto about 10months he was perfect, with all dogs, in all situations. He hasnt had a bad experience, has never been attacked or experienced a single event that would turn him, it has just emerged with his dominant character. You are right tweedette, we can not walk them with other dogs now, unless he is muzzled which we dont like to do, and he will go to any lengths to get it off, he has ripped open his gums and cheek in trying to remove it.
I just feel desperately sad for our other terrier, who is the most dog friendly terrier you could meet. He longs to see other dogs, but all our walking and fieldwork is all completely isolated. I cant keep Oliver on a lead, he needs so much exercise and could run all day if we asked him.
 
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