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Don't know how to deal with him anymore...Escaped from the dog park.....what can I do?

Posted : 10/19/2009 3:10:50 PM

My dog is an escape artist, I've known that for a long time. But he has never tried anything this stupid ever in the 2 years I've had him.

I mean he has broke out of every crate we've ever had for him, until we got him this new crate. He has never even tried to break out of a fence, and he is always supervised.

Today I found out 2 big issues with him. First of all he can't be trusted off leash anymore and second of all I learned that he is dog aggressive. And I don't know what to do.

Today he broke out of the dog park. We normally go when its empty because as a puppy he was attacked by a larger dog and there are so many people who don't supervise there dogs and just put there dogs in the fence and just leave.

Today we went when it was empty and my poodle was running around playing when a woman came in on the other side to give her Pit Bull some water. My dog went nuts barking and growling and it appeared he was testing the fence. Now he has not ever acted this way toward another dog. (He will growl and bark at a dog that is far off or unfamilar but up close and personal he never acts like that because he can see the dog isn't going to hurt him. We worked long and hard to get him to trust and now he can play with new dogs he just met or so we thought until today) We always thought it was a fear response and he was over it, we did so much training to get him to the point he has been for so long. The trainer and us never considered it dog aggression just fear reactivity. But I'm starting to think he is dog aggressive now too.

Well once the Pit was gone he was fine, but he found a opening in the fence between the two parts of the park (big dog and small dog), something even a Chihuahua would have had issues squeezing through so I went to pick him up to leave because I knew he was getting ideas, and he took off and squeezed through. And ran toward the open gate on the other side of the empty park.

My husband caught him and we went straight home, neither of us had been so upset in our lives and we just don't know what to do anymore with him.

He is an escape artist. And even though I was following him around at 6 months pregnant I just wasn't fast enough to catch him. (Then again I've never been fast enough)

And we know its not us, because why has every other dog we have had been totally obedient and no issues, including our other dog we currently have. We've put all our dogs through training, we spend one on one time every day with each of them and we work with them every day.

Infact our other dog in all this just sat patiently and waiting for me to leash her up
But what can we do with him. He could have gotten hurt.

I know I may sound like a terrible owner but I'm not. I've never had a dog with half the issues this dog has and I don't know how to deal anymore with this, other than never take him anywhere except out for his walk and to the vet and to the groomer.

Again I hate to say its him, but I know its not us. I used to wonder but I know its not. His trainer even says its not us. If it was us, we wouldn't have such a well behaved Terrier mix. And our previous dogs that have passed wouldn't have been so well behaved.

What do we do now?

Abbeyroad86

Posted : 10/19/2009 3:17:21 PM

I just wanted to add:

Again

We have a behaviorist and he even said it isn't us. He has never worked with such a difficult dog he said. And he feels there isn't much more he can do for him.

And our poodle gets 3, 45 minute walks a day.

We are concerned that his dog aggression might not just be dog aggression as he is starting to be more and more uncomfortable around people (I had to get onto him the other day when a woman was talking to him and he started growling at her, and then yesterday he growled at a child) and we have a baby on the way. We need to fix this fast ( We thought we were but its getting worse) but she will be here in 3 months.

The behaviorist wants us to get him checked out by a vet, he thinks it might be health related and as many health issues as he has he may be right.

I had a dog when I was a child that exibited similar behavior and he had a neurological problem. And got very very sick. So I think the behaviorist is afraid he might be ill.

denise m

Posted : 10/19/2009 3:38:57 PM

Abbeyroad86
The behaviorist wants us to get him checked out by a vet, he thinks it might be health related and as many health issues as he has he may be right.

I think a vet check is a good idea. If your dog is unwell that could explain a lot.

I'm so sorry you are having these issues. I had a dog who I also had to stop taking to the dog park, so I know how upsetting and disappointing that is.

I hope you find some solution.

RubyandStewiesmom

Posted : 11/3/2009 8:37:43 PM

Awww, I am sorry to hear that you are having aggression and escaping problems. I had a very very bright Border Collie (Zip) who competed in agility with me...and unfortunately it taught her to jump. I worked with a local animal behaviorist, as well as a trainer....and to no avail they did not work. What I ended up doing was something that I never thought I would do...but worked very well. I bought a training collar. Now, I am a firm believer that the electric shock ones are REALLY mean...so I bought one that does a tone or vibrate, or tone and vibrate both. Every time Zip could get near ANY fence, I would vibrate or tone her. And eventually she learned that fences....even open easy to get through fences are not to be run through. It took about 3 weeks of a lot of walking near fences and such...and after those 3 weeks we did pretty good with leaving fences alone. I would tone the collar as a warning that she was getting to close when she got about 3 feet away from one...and then tone/vibrate it when she kept going if she did. The vibrate is pretty annoying to a dog...doesn't hurt...but annoys. I would only use it as a last resort if for any reason other methods don't work...and I personally don't like the electric ones and won't ever use one.

Let me know if you want to use my collar...I don't use it anymore since Zip passed away at the ripe old age of 14 a couple years ago...and luckily my pits now seem to not be interested in escaping. Just email me and I can send it to you. It really worked for me.

Jewlieee

Posted : 11/3/2009 10:03:33 PM

Sounds like a vet check is in order. I had an escape artist and it is very frustrating. If you have a baby coming soon and the dogs behavior is getting worse then he may just have to be rehomed (if that's possible). You have to think of your babys safety above all else imo. Get the vet to check him out first though.

spiritdogs

Posted : 11/3/2009 10:22:17 PM

I had to get onto him the other day when a woman was talking to him and he started growling at her, and then yesterday he growled at a child) and we have a baby on the way.

Not sure I get what you mean by "had to get on to him" but if it means you punished him for growling, that's not a good idea. Fearful dogs that cannot warn with a growl may go right to a bite, and that's the last thing you need. I also don't understand why you would even take a dog aggressive or fearful dog to a dog park. Do you have an area at home you could fence securely? If not, could he be content with his walks and a game of fetch in the house? A good behaviorist probably would already have told you to have the dog fully vet checked if he/she thought the dog was ill, *and* would probably have referred you for medication as a last resort before giving up. Talk to your vet about medication - maybe the dog can be helped by psychopharmacology if behavior modification hasn't worked. It may be your last chance because I can't see how you would "fix this quick" with what you have been doing thus far. Behavior modification takes time, and I haven't heard you describe any logical protocol that you are pursuing at this time. Maybe if you let us know what the behaviorist has told you to do we could comment on that.

willowchow

Posted : 11/4/2009 12:30:32 AM

Abbeyroad86
He has never worked with such a difficult dog he said. And he feels there isn't much more he can do for him.

Is there another behaviorist who you can see for a 2nd opinion? Is this a board certified veterinary behaviorist? I just cannot imagine this is the hardest case a behaviorist has seen? Maybe when you take him for the vet check-up your vet can suggest someone else. I mean he really needs to be correctly evaluated so you can first know what you are truly dealing with rather than just guessing. Then you can go from there.

Liesje

Posted : 11/4/2009 9:51:16 AM

To me it sounds like the dog needs more careful management or it's always going to be one step forward, two steps back. I have an escape artist and a dog who is not interested in the company of other dogs (not sure I'd say "dog aggressive", he will not run over to attack another dog but he will react if a strange dog gets in his face). Escape artist dog is *always* on a leash, tie-out, or securely fenced. This means even checking my fence at home routinely for any holes (I check to make sure they aren't digging out or that the areas where the fencing material overlaps hasn't come unfastened). If the dog is not comfortable with other dogs and there are some holes in the fence at the park, the dog park is the last place I'd take him. If he is OK with your other dog, I'd keep him home for now. You'll need to find ways to be in better control of the environment, so that instead of correcting a reaction toward another dog, you are preventing it. He may just not be a "dog park" dog, which is fine. I'm not totally sold on dog parks anyway, even for my dog who loves to go. Usually DH takes him and stay home.

Honestly what you are describing doesn't sound all that "difficult" to me. Many dogs love to escape and run free when they have the chance, and many dogs don't like the dog park or don't want to be buddy-buddy with every strange dog that walks by.

Chuffy

Posted : 11/4/2009 1:19:09 PM

I agree with Lies 100%.... the problems sound common and considering what the behaviourist said.... I'd be looking for another one, to be honest.

miranadobe

Posted : 11/12/2009 12:44:39 PM

Chuffy

I agree with Lies 100%.... the problems sound common and considering what the behaviourist said.... I'd be looking for another one, to be honest.

Ditto! Anybody can line their pockets with well-meaning dog owners' money, unfortunately. Go to the IACP's website to find somebody legit. http://canineprofessionals.com/Public/FindAProfessional.aspx Enter your zip code, the range you're willing to travel, and choose Behavior Counseling from the Service drop-down.

tiffy

Posted : 11/12/2009 10:49:24 PM

Some dogs are not dog park material, especially if their fearful or DA. We, ex- BF and I, used to have an escape artist, you always have to be one step ahead and manage all situations.