Dog Community

How did I teach Dog Aggression?

Posted : 7/18/2006 9:29:05 PM

And how do I unteach it? For some reason Crusher has become dog aggressive. I don't know what happened. For about a year he played everyday with other dogs. He was great with any dog he met. Then he started to bark at one dog in particular that we saw on the walk everyday. Just one dog, that never paid any attention to him and I thought that he was just offended. But then it escalated to any dog he met while on a leash. Now we don't even have to meet the dog. He just has to see it.

How did I teach him this behaviour? And how can I correct it? What is the proper response when he starts to bark and lunge? For now I have just been turning him around and bringing him back inside, but I am worried that he is just connecting it with the other dog across the backyard and not with the fact that he is barking and carrying on. Any suggestions on how to correct this behaviour would be very much appreciated.

Also this isn't just directed at big dogs. He doesnt even like little dogs and the new neighborhood that we have moved into has a ton of little dogs that are walked at all hours by elderly people. So needless to say I've been a little leary of taking him for a walk for the last 2 days since we moved in. We've been sneaking out at 6 in the morning but later than that and I'm too chicken. Help!!!

Xebby

Posted : 7/18/2006 9:32:54 PM

The best advice I've gotten from this forum is to read the book "click to calm" Loved it, even if your don't use the advise in there it at least helps you understand a lot about agression.

huskymom

Posted : 7/18/2006 9:35:15 PM

Author? And any idea if I can get it in Canada?

sierra2002

Posted : 7/18/2006 10:23:58 PM

I found it on amazon.ca for $18.40, CDN
At that price, I might just order it too...

I typed "click to calm" in the search and it was the only result.

Xebby

Posted : 7/18/2006 10:26:21 PM

Emma Parsons is the authour.

There are many other great books but I just can't think of them off the top of my head, maybe someone else here knows.

luvmyswissy

Posted : 7/18/2006 10:44:56 PM

Here is a good site on Classical Conditioning, I don't have any expiernce with dog on dog aggression but I beleive in positive training. Check this site out and give it a try.

[linkhttp://www.click-l.com/Gems/SolvingDogProblems/fog0000000017.html]http://www.click-l.com/Gems/SolvingDogProblems/fog0000000017.html[/link]

spiritdogs

Posted : 7/19/2006 6:51:37 AM

He probably was barking and lunging at first out of frustration. You probably escalated this by holding your breath, tugging on the leash, etc. If he is in a prong collar, probably that worsened it.
The best two books on the subject:
"Scaredy Dog - How to Understand and Rehabilitate Your Reactive Dog" by Ali Brown ([linkhttp://www.dogwise.com]www.dogwise.com[/link])
"Feisty Fido" by Patricia McConnell ([linkhttp://www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com]www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com[/link] or on [linkhttp://www.dogwise.com]www.dogwise.com[/link])
Most leash "aggressive" dogs (the correct term, in this case, is "reactive") are actually fine off leash. Of course, if your dog is a Husky, he could have a strong predatory drive that can make him dangerous to small mammals, and smaller dogs.
If you have trouble with this, some training centers now offer "Feisty Fido" or "Growlies" classes. BTW, "Click to Calm" is also excellent - I highly recommend it.

huskymom

Posted : 7/19/2006 8:26:42 AM

Thanks for the book recommedations. I will look into them.

Anne, that makes sense. He is fine with other dogs off leash for the most part, however he does not seem to like it if they are tied or on leash either. Even if he is off. His prey drive is next to nil. He found a dead bird embryo in our back yard once this summer and tried to bring it back to life. He would lick it gently then rest his chin on it. All the while looking at me and whining. He play bows to cats. He watched a squirrel run along a telephone wire once but I think he was more confused than anything. Onyx has killed a couple of birds but he doesnt even bother with them, except to get her to leave them alone and play with him instead. He has played with a Scottie Dog and a Pom at his play group since he was little.

BTW Crusher is not on a prong. Just a flat collar. But I probably did brace myself when that dog went by. It was a big male black lab cross that would jog by with his owner riding a bike. And Crusher always tried to get his attention, or maybe tried to go jogging with him. In any event being a sled dog, he has tremendous pulling power.

In any event, any tips on what I should do until I can get those books? Or should I just avoid any of those situations as much as possible?

huskymom

Posted : 7/19/2006 8:33:28 AM

Dawn, somehow I missed your link. But I looked at it and it makes sense too. I think I will try it in the meantime.[

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