Got a situation.....need opinions.

 Put yourself between your dog and the others. This will help physically block your dog and puts you in the leader position.

IMO - I would NEVER put myself between an aggressing dog and another dog. This is just asking for a redirect bite - especially on a dog that you are still getting to know!

this is a new dog, and no one knows exactly what she is going to do. Until you get in a training class, I would avoid other dogs. When I've had fosters that have acted like this - we turn and walk the other direction.

Please, do not put yourself between two dogs!!!

erica1989

IMO - I would NEVER put myself between an aggressing dog and another dog. This is just asking for a redirect bite - especially on a dog that you are still getting to know!

this is a new dog, and no one knows exactly what she is going to do. Until you get in a training class, I would avoid other dogs. When I've had fosters that have acted like this - we turn and walk the other direction.

Please, do not put yourself between two dogs!!!

 

 Agreed! I doubt this NEW dog knows anything about the leader position.

"leadership" or not... I've seen a person pinned to a fence between two fighting dogs. It's a very, very scary situation! I'm not saying that this dog is going to escalate to that - but you never know, and it's certainly not a situation I would encourage!

 I wouldn't do that.........we walk away from the fence. It's jsut she lunges and pulls and tonight my daughter and my husband took ruby for a walk and my daughter was the one walking her...........mind you she is 14 but Ruby pulled her so hard (my daughter was trying to distract her) that it hurt her arm. Right now we can't afford a training class hopefully in time that can happen. My husband did video tape it so I can show that to you if you'd like to see what's going on. My daughter is so very discouraged but Ruby's behavior. Anyways, I'm not going to put myself into a situation that can cause harm.

If you can't afford training - I'd work on some confidence building activities at home. Work on building her trust in you and your family. Like I said earlier - this kind of behavior is NOT uncommon with aussies. Unfortunately - a lot of people don't realize that before they get involved with the breed.

Aussies are thinkers. You need to keep her mind busy and distracted. Every time I give Benny a command - I can SEE him thinking...'now, what's in this for ME?'. It took months before he trusted me enough to just DO it... and even still... I can see his wheels spinning.

Until you get to know her better, I'd honestly not have your daughter walk her. Aussies, while smaller, are very powerful dogs. 14 is NOT that old - there's a lot of undeveloped muscle on a girl of that age. I would avoid other dogs, if possible, as to avoid re-enforcing the bad behaviors. Once you get to know her better, and she begins to trust you, you can start working on desensitizing her to other dogs...

joyfullmom2

 Thank you.........we have noticed that Ruby is food motivated so I know that will help us. We now just need to find a trainer that's not so expensive. Got any suggestions where to look?

 

There's only one place to look if you have an Aussie and that's to a positive trainer who uses either lure/reward or clicker training, and I would lean toward clicker with an Aussie.  They are incredibly brilliant dogs, but don't care much for injustice and prefer to be told when they are correct - they have a work ethic!  The behavior you initially described sounds like reactivity, common in Aussies, but if you do not address it correctly you can make it much worse.  The key rules with a reactive dog are: 1. NO punishment - reactivity is rooted mostly in fear.  2.  If the dog is fearful, don't just stand around if she reacts - rather, just calmly take her quickly away from the situation to a safe distance.  Do not tug on her leash, just turn and leave, signaling her to come with you.  3.  Learn to use classical conditioning to change her emotional response to the stimuli that make her react.  That usually involves some kind of "open bar, closed bar" exercise where the dog is reinforced when the stimulus appears at a distance (so the dog doesn't react to it - we always work "under threshold";), and the feeding stops when the stimulus goes out of view.  That requires that some dogs work at quite a distance from the trigger that makes them react (so, you may have to change your walking routes temporarily).  Even aggressive dogs can be treated in this way, and it's much better than risking the fallout from inaction or correction.  There's a great book by Emma Parsons called Click to Calm that can help you with this type of behavior modification.  Also, if you want to get started in clicker training and have no instructor nearby, you can visit www.clickerlessons.com which is a free site with basic exercises.   Or, pick up a book, such as Peggy Tillman's "Clicking With Your Dog" for the basics.  Later, your daughter might like to try training along with videos on Kikopup's YouTube channel.   If you do go with a professional trainer, you can find one at www.trulydogfriendly.com or Pat Miller's Peaceable Paws web page, or IPDTA.

By the way, with Aussies, it's NOT a good idea,  before you learn the reactive dog techniques, to simply continue to walk the dog if she is repeating the reactive behavior you are seeing.  (Practice makes perfect, after all, and Aussies get extremely good at what they practice!)  Instead, work off the steam with fetch games.  A tired Aussie is a good Aussie, but they will need MENTAL exercise as well as physical.  You literally cannot tire these dogs out without it!  A walk will tire you out, but leave them wanting more, as they are problem solvers and need to have a JOB so that they can use this ability.  Jobs for Aussies: obedience, rally, disc dog, agility, tricks and games (you can now get a title in that - see the Do More With Your Dog website), scent work, etc.

 Thank you............we are very encouraged. It was a rough night last night with our daughter being so discouraged but she is is doing much better today and was encouraged with your post. She has looked up the books and we are picking them up tomorrow. She is watching the videos and is working with Ruby on some training. Ruby is a smart girl..........aren't they all...........:)

 I don't have an Ausssie like Anne and Erica, but I do have a Corgi. Like Erica with Benny you can literally see the wheel in motion ie them thinking. She doesn't need that physical exercise, but boy the mental stimulation is a must. Otherwise she'd drive you batty!

Good luck! Most herding breeds are extremely smart and will do anything for us. I'd say thats a major + for your training.

Just wanted to say if the other dogs she's run into thus far have been barking, growling, pulling towards her or running the fence it may be why she's acting this way and she'd be okay with calmer, obedient dogs. T-Bone, my German Shepherd, dislikes a dog who gives him grief and will raise hackles and sometimes bark back. With polite dogs or even moderately well behaved dogs, he's a love bug and is playful. Just wanted to add that as someone else said something along those lines, I own one of those types, lol.

spiritdogs

y the way, with Aussies, it's NOT a good idea,  before you learn the reactive dog techniques, to simply continue to walk the dog if she is repeating the reactive behavior you are seeing.  (Practice makes perfect, after all, and Aussies get extremely good at what they practice!)  Instead, work off the steam with fetch games.  A tired Aussie is a good Aussie, but they will need MENTAL exercise as well as physical. 

I just wanted to re-stress this part!!!!

Benny is 7, and can run for HOURS like a puppy... and NOT tire out. Give him a good mental workout - and he will nap all afternoon.

I had to do clicker training for school.... Benny did not take to it - but it's DEFINITELY something to look in to! My cat... on the other hand... loved it. *insert eye-rolling smiley face here!*

erica1989

IMO - I would NEVER put myself between an aggressing dog and another dog. This is just asking for a redirect bite - especially on a dog that you are still getting to know!

this is a new dog, and no one knows exactly what she is going to do. Until you get in a training class, I would avoid other dogs. When I've had fosters that have acted like this - we turn and walk the other direction.

Please, do not put yourself between two dogs!!!

 

I thought there was a fence.

tiffy

erica1989

IMO - I would NEVER put myself between an aggressing dog and another dog. This is just asking for a redirect bite - especially on a dog that you are still getting to know!

this is a new dog, and no one knows exactly what she is going to do. Until you get in a training class, I would avoid other dogs. When I've had fosters that have acted like this - we turn and walk the other direction.

Please, do not put yourself between two dogs!!!

 

 Agreed! I doubt this NEW dog knows anything about the leader position.

 

 

All dogs know about the leader position. They are pack animals. It's in their DNA.

Titan

All dogs know about the leader position. They are pack animals. It's in their DNA.

It's in every social animals DNA, yes, including people. It is also something that is brought about by trust. If you do not have the trust of someone you cannot lead them. If you attempt to lead WITHOUT trust you are commonly known as a bully. This dog is learning to trust and there are many ways to establish this that are positive and lead to a dog that wants to work FOR you to keep you happy...not because it is worried about how you might react.

 

rwbeagles

Titan

All dogs know about the leader position. They are pack animals. It's in their DNA.

It's in every social animals DNA, yes, including people. It is also something that is brought about by trust. If you do not have the trust of someone you cannot lead them. If you attempt to lead WITHOUT trust you are commonly known as a bully. This dog is learning to trust and there are many ways to establish this that are positive and lead to a dog that wants to work FOR you to keep you happy...not because it is worried about how you might react.

 

 

You are exactly right. Dogs only respond to calm assertive leadership. A dog will never "worry" about you being calm.