Looking after mum with an aggressive dog. Help please!

Sorry to hear about your mum. It will be a difficult enough time for you both without the added stress of a difficult dog. You have already had some great advice and so I won't add to it, but just wish you luck and I hope your mum's treatment is successful.
 
What's he being fed at the moment?

It sounds like he is very insecure and trying everything he can to let everyone know this. If he was truly aggressive he wouldn't be stopping before attacking and you'd be getting him put to sleep. One thing you can not do is rehome him - it would be very irresponsible. I'd look into another behaviourist, and failing this talk seriously with your mother about getting him put down. He's not happy.

https://positively.com/dog-training/find-a-trainer/find-a-vspdt-trainer/
 
I would crate him whenever necessary - when you are there, when others might be visiting, when your mum needs some peace and quiet?

And I would be having a strong conversation with your mum about having him PTS, he is clearly not a happy dog at all and this would be the best option for him IMO
 
Lévrier;13639555 said:
And I would be having a strong conversation with your mum about having him PTS, he is clearly not a happy dog at all and this would be the best option for him IMO
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I don't think that is something she will be able to discuss if she is ill - it would be another cross for her to bear, thinking she had caused her dog to be PTS. Depends on her relationship with him of course but you do need to tread very carefully on that one in case you upset her even more than her illness does.
 
Have you tried a house line? Just a long lead attached to his collar so you can move him around without having to get too close. Do cut the handle so it can't catch on anything and take it off when he's left alone
 
JillA said:
I don't think that is something she will be able to discuss if she is ill - it would be another cross for her to bear, thinking she had caused her dog to be PTS. Depends on her relationship with him of course but you do need to tread very carefully on that one in case you upset her even more than her illness does.
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I understand what you are saying completely, but this is such an unfair situation for the poor dog to be in as well :(
 
Its unlikely that you'll be able to get sedation to help with this unfortunately as almost all are contraindicated once the dog is at the biting stage as they lower bite inhibition can instead of nips and controlled bites make the dog more at risk of escalating to maul(multiple non inhibited bites)These meds should also only be given to help with behavioural training as well as alone as they will not fix the issue.

This dog sounds insecure and fear aggressive
But to be honest if rebab isn't possible given the situation its damage control.
Im assuming no small children in the house or having access?if kids are involved then recommendations change.

Option one-Outdoor run/secure garden access and don't set him up to fail by coming into contact with visitors is an idea-
However this approach is prone to failure with a house dog as most people slip up in these cases when they have a dog thats used to being in the house -and its hard on the dog,they don't like to be separated from their people and he's already insecure.
Your mum loves this little guy and will be wanting his company so its not likely to be a longterm option..and on the cold miserable says she's likely not going to lock him outside or someone will forget or unexpected visitors arrive. an option but not an ideal one.

2- muzzle training to a basket muzzle as well as taking steps to avoid trigger points would be my recommendation for guests or people the dogs isn't safe with.
I like these as im a massive fan of muzzles but depends on compliance from your mums side and it will take training, it is not ok to just whack one on and let them panic until they give up unless theres no other option. Training and conditioning is the key to the success with this one
The muzzleup program(website)gives a lot of a good advise regards this sort of training.....

Issues with this is just because he cannot bite with a muzzle on does not mean he will be more happy or secure its literally just to stop teeth...

The most important and key thing you and your family need to do is identify what situations are a potential bite situation-
from what you have written approaching the crate/putting on the lead/ visitors entering/ people sitting on the couch and sudden movements in the same room as the loose dog...generally leaning over the dog/cuddles and pets that involve an untrusted person touching tend to be on this list as well..there will likely be more when you think about it.
But each dog is different...what are his set up to fail situations? be harsh and be honest as you access knowing this situations will help you try and prevent them.

Avoiding and recognising the conflict/trigger situations is crucial in helping avoid situations.
Basically look at where the areas of conflict are and try and avoid these situations or try and work out how they can be made safer if your parents are burying their head in the sand regards his behaviour.

A longline attached to a harness would be another recommendation- if he cant be trusted with the lead being attached to a collar, then see if you can train to a harness and harness up at the start of the day and leave a line on it(light but long enough to be able to hold him beyond lunging reach, so on days when you need to safely remove him from situation you have an option) It obviously cannot stay on all the time but its always helpful to have some control to move him out of room/situations where he's worked up and you need to keep him at arms length.
Slip leads are also good if its difficult to attach a lead to a collar clip- handy tip is try and stand on one side and attach as they go through a gap/pass-so as he goes through a door or if he can tolerate people near the crate and knows the in and out command. when you need to leave ask him to go In and reward him for it,then ask for out and gently attach the slip lead as he moves out through the door and in order to stop him losing it when he realises he's been lassoed reward again or ask for a command that he knows sit etc to change mindset.
This one takes practice and it needs to be a semi positive situation.

Mindset(ie fearful/worked up/excited/complient)can also help but it depends on the situation.
some dogs can be asked to do trick- sit/go to bed when the doorbell rings etc to change from a fearful/guarding mindset to wanting to be compliant for food/toy etc...but this only works if you get them before they are worked up and if the owners are able to give before the trigger has caused them to swing into fear/deep excitement.

So you train the dog to go straight to the crate or outside with the rewards of the best thing in the world to the dog(food fav toys a massive fuss whatever motivated then) when the bell rings or someone knocks on the door.
it does takes ages to train and theres a lot of repetitive training required- they need to stop reacting to the bell/knock to start with so the mindset changes so they can listen and be told a command then work up from there, but its doable.

Mindset changed when bell rings from fear and guarding to compliant for treats and wanting praise by going into crate so the bell is a trigger for food and good things instead of a reason to get worked up...i hope that makes sense.

I would be seriously looking for a behaviourist to come to the house as its where the issues are occuring but given its the people that need training as much as the dogs....so it depends on if the main trainers of the dog are able to do so...or want to.

Castration btw is unlikely to help if his actions are fear based.
A change in food might help....and harsh though this may sound a hungry dog is usually a more compliant one.

If he bites the wrong person,and thats the way his behaviour is likely to escalate to without intervention,this dog is going to end up euthanised or you will be unable to get help to your house ( and while that wouldnt be the worse thing in the world for all involved it will upset your mum so a situation to be avoided)
He doesn't sound like a candidate for rehoming...and as an entire male could end up in some terrible situations.

sorry for the essay and spelling mistakes.

I hope your mums treatment goes well and that the news next week is good btw.
Horrible situation for ye all.
 
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Sorry you are in this situation - it is difficult enough without the dog/aggression situation.
I agree with many things suggested already, and my first thoughts were that this is going to need to be a management of the situation thing, as re-training takes time. Lots of time.
If the kennel and outside run idea is possible, I think it would be best for everyone, including the dog as the stress will be reduced enormously.
If you decide to use a behaviourist, would it be a good idea to concentrate on the muzzle training, as that is a great tool when the dog accepts it?
Agree very much with having a houseline clipped onto the collar. They do a puppy version in pets at home which is very thin, maybe too thin, but ut is virtually impossible for it to get stuck on things. Or you could make your own - B&Q do various by the metre things from rope, corded or flat dog lead type of things. I think some sort of lead attached at all times is essential.
My son has had cancer 4 times and during any home visits the dogs were always put in the back garden or the crate, because they would have been a distraction for the community care nurse, and not because of any aggression issues. We were lucky that we only needed her to visit once a week to change the dressing on my son's PIC line, but until you get a definite plan from the hospital it's best to assume the visits may be more frequent and as you say it's everyone- ie friends too, that the dog is likely to bite, I think the kennel and run set up would make life so much easier, and maybe the retraining could wait till things become easier . Good luck with it all, OP, and hope your mum recovers as quickly as possible.
 
He must be crated or in a kennel and run when ever people are going to be there .
Terrible situation for you and difficult to deal with when your mums very attached and he probably knows something odd is going on .
Have a hug it's a horrible thing .
 
Thank you for all the advice everybody, i'm extremely grateful and lots to think about and work on! I'll update on how it all goes. Thanks again, I feel more prepared which is the best possibility at the moment.
 
redapple said:
…….. . Honestly, if I had my way I'd rehome him. …….. .
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…. and this is is exactly how dogs go backwards and forwards to rescue centres with others simply passing on the problem. I understand that the dog is now out of control, and that equally, it isn't your fault. Coupled to that is your mother's ill health and her refusal to part with the dog, and I understand that too. If the dog was your property, I'd recommend that he's sent off to heaven but that also isn't an option. You have my genuine sympathy. I only wish that I could think of something positive to say but I can't, sadly.

Along with the above negatives, I'm now going to add to them; I wouldn't consider any form of medication and I'd be surprised if any vet would countenance any form of permanent drug, if that's what you considered, a muzzle or a cage would most probably, after the first attempt, set up further triggers for his unwanted behaviour and you'd meet serious resistance with the dog being forced to use his teeth.

As unfashionable as the mention of a pack-hierarchy now seems to be, it seems as though your mum's dog is now at the head of the pack, he pleases himself what he does and you've a problem on your hands. Correcting unwanted behaviour can be done, of course, but the problem is that once back in their home environment then most dogs simply revert back to their former behaviour levels.

I'd suggest that the best that you can do is 'manage' the situation which as you're aware, is going to be tricky.

Alec.
 
Just wanted to add my best wishes to you and your Mum and to sympathise with the situation. Although not exactly the same scenario, my late mother rehomed a little rescue x breed after she lost her elderly lab. He was a pleasant little chap but quite anxious. By pandering to him and allowing him to get away with murder she ended up with a much sharper little dog who became quite touchy and snappy. He definitely used to guard her. As she lived alone, kept him on a lead and didnt allow him to come into contact with anyone without being supervised it never caused too much of an issue for us, although he did try to bite me the day we had to let the paramedics into the house :( After Mums death a friend of my brothers offered him a home, knowing his issues, and with a different approach and management he changed completely. So, although it isnt really going to help you short term, I would say there is hope for him if managed differently, and as you have said, you know there are issues with this. If he has to stay whilst you are caring for your mum then safety and common sense must prevail. It does sound as if a lot of his problems are caused by anxiety, I remember being told many years ago that a nervous dog is potentially more volatile than a brave one! Personally I think the outdoor living space and enclosure for him whilst carers are in the house and allow him time with your mum when it is safe to do so would be the easiest approach for now. I would think that any retraining should take place either if and when he has to be rehomed or (and Im sorry if this is not going to be the case) your mum is up to it. Best of luck to you in a horrid situation though x
 
Sorry, I haven't been able to reply to much the last few days, just had quite a bit on.

BradsMum; Mum took him on as i think a 3-year-old, though maybe younger. I think it was probably just thought of as a bit late. I'm not totally sure though. It's never really been brought up, maybe i'm thinking too similar to a horse but I'd have thought it wouldn't make too much difference at this point. I can have a research though and see!

Alec; I understand how irresponsible it would be to pass on a dog with these kinds of problems and it is more wishful thinking than a possibility! I do think that if it did ever have to be done he would likely be a very different dog obviously with management. Before I moved house i've had him at ours for holiday breaks and he never gave me a second of trouble after a few initial ground rules. But again he isn't going to be rehomed or PTS.

I realise a few people have also suggested PTS - As this would upset my mum especially at the moment it's not viable. Although I (and pretty much everybody else but hey ho...) don't like the dog she does and despite living with a a small fury monster is somehow rather attached! Also at the end of the day he isn't my dog so I really can't make those decisions regardless of how I personally feel.

MyBoyChe; They sound like similar dogs except ours isn't managed anywhere near as well! I'm sorry about your mum.


There have been some good suggestions for coping strategies and I'm really grateful so thank you everyone. I'm hoping that they will make him live-able with if not deal with the underlying problems.
 
redapple said:
……..

…. . Although I (and pretty much everybody else but hey ho...) don't like the dog she does and despite living with a a small fury monster is somehow rather attached! Also at the end of the day he isn't my dog so I really can't make those decisions regardless of how I personally feel.

……...
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Of course you can't 'take-over' and just as the lunatic dog is a pita, you're respecting your mother's wishes.

It does seem strange and it's possible that I've misunderstood the dog and the situation, but the bulk of the animal's aggression is on display when either he's with your mum and/or when he's in the home. From what I understand, at other times, he's almost virtuous.

It's also true that very often, providing that a dog is ignored, they seem to end up failing to see the point to their conduct if it doesn't get a reaction.

Alec.
 
If he is scared of people being shut up in a crate in a small space with people going past won't help. Maybe shut him in another room or in an outdoor kennel run so he doesn't feel so scared that he has to react aggressively. You can get attachments for collars so that you don't touch the collar to put the lead on.
 
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