Help...Agressive Dog...

[Blackhawk]

Now I took on my family's Vizla after they weren't looking after her properly. She was fed on a diet she was intolerant to, and never walked, socialised, etc. The result is a 6 year old dog who is soft as anything when with people she 'knows' (She just needs to meet them once to be ok, but they have to be sitting down and let her come to them in her own time) but is utterly terrified of everything.

She is very afraid of men, but has always loved OH and will slobber him with kisses given the chance.

When I'm not there though she has started to get aggressive with him. OH walked past her bed today and she lunged at him because her food was down. She NEVER does this when I'm there. Even if her food is down I can touch her, cuddle her, etc and she'll never bother. If OH is with me then he can do this too. On his own and she gets very aggressive.

OH has now said he doesn't want her in the house anymore unless this is sorted.

I've obviously told him to have as little interaction with her as possible when I'm not there, but has anyone got any ideas?

 

[severnmiles]

I don't want to sound like there is no light at the end of the tunnel but our GSD was in the same boat, we rescued her, she'd been shut in a garage with no light, unsocialised and had 5 homes in 7 days

She's always retained her agressiveness towards strangers (and doesn't just threaten, she'll bite), very protective of her territory. She's the soppiest thing with us, we can take bones away, fuss her when she's eating or chewing a bone and she's just one great big fuss pot. 8 years on she's still the same and we've just accepted that. I'm afraid mental scars seem to be deep.

Good luck though!

 

[Blackhawk]

How awful for your poor dog.

I've found too that there may be no solution.

When she first arrived she would urinate uncontrollably when there was a man in the house, or a stranger. She could also only eat in a darkened room when there was no one at all in the house. Not even me. She would also bark, a lot. Shake, shiver and whine all the time with over excitment when OH and I came home.

We've got to the point now where the urinating has stopped, as has most of her barking, and she will eat when I'm around or left on her own but it's ok if we're in the house. She will also greet strangers now as long as they are seated and in her house, but she will still bark at them. This was pretty much done by ignoring her when she was having an 'episode' and praising her when she was quiet.

She still will not socialise with other dogs (she fine on walks, she'll just stay to heel and walk away from them.) But she can't have people approach her.

She's getting worse with my OH though. When she does anything he totally ignores her as shouting makes her even worse. She lunged at him today and grabbed hold of his jeans which really scared him

When I came home though she was all over him, licking him and asking for cuddles.

 

[echodomino]

Try to find out what triggers the behaviour towards your OH and see if you can remove it - ie don't leave her food down, try to feed her set meals when you can both be there.

I'm not sure what to suggest, have you tried letting your OH feed her, hug her before you do etc so she sees him more as top dog than you because she seems to already respect you.

It may be SM says and that she never changes. I don't have any experience with the Smooth Vizsla but have the Wirehairs, assuming they're the same they're a very sensative breed and require some patience.

Is she always allowed free run of the house? Perhaps you could get her used to having her own space such as a crate, you could possibly use that to help her get on with your OH, especially if he's the one letting her out. I don't mean use it like a prison though!

Hope that's of some help, I'm not really sure what to suggest - other than talking to a behaviourist?

 

[Blackhawk]

Thanks for your reply. We've tried her with her own space, like a crate but it makes her so much worse. At the minute she has her bed in a corner of the kitchen away from the bustle. It's quite a large kitchen.

OH does feed her, and I think food is the issue. She will happily take food from him but as soon as it is down it becomes 'hers' and he can't go near her or it. I don't know how she rationalises it though, as I am allowed near her whenever I want. She's also very aggressive with her bed and won't let him, the puppy or anyone else near it, just me.

Unfortunately if I don't leave her food down she won't eat. In needs to be in her time, when she's ready. I have no doubt that she would rather starve than eat when someone, other than me is around.

You're right though, they are very sensitive.

 

[pocomoto]

I think you will find that as she finds her feet she is finding you lacking as a pack leader and is feeling the need to take over this role for you. You need to act quickly and apply strict pack psychology in a situation like this or the behaviour will worsen and then you will not be able to do anything.

At this stage you need to be seen to retake control. I would get on the internet and order Cesar Milan's books (The dog whisperer Sky 3 & digital), it will help you to implement some behavioural changes in you which will help the dog settle back in as a subordinate to you and she will no longer feel the need to be leader or defend you.

I have rehomed a dog recently who was very agressive in certain situations thanks to an abusive and then a soppy owner. Using Cesars principles he is now a happy member of the pack and can be given affection and told what to do and is now very happy to have others make decisions for him.

She might benefit from sessions at dog training but be careful who you choose, I have known many cop out so called trainers who will ban a dog from training at the first sign instead of helping the owner and the dog, it's the easy option for them, have a very good one locally who will put a problem dog in with the top class where everyone knows what they are doing, she can then concentrate on the problem dog and owner. Ask pertinent questions after you have read Cesar!

 

[jelibean]

My old trainer used to do dog whispering, sounds silly but might be worth a try if you have a reputable one in your area.