Need help with Extremely Aggressive Dog!

Jen, welcome to the forum. I think it would be helpful if you told us more about your dog.
Breed, age, intact ? Has he always been dog aggressive? Is it all dogs? How exactly does he aggress?
Hopefully those with experience and knowledge in training a behaviour will be along shortly.

I know this is a late post to this thread but, I was researching the Illusion dog collar and this forum poped up so I decided to read and saw this thread...that is how I got here. Anyhow, as I was reading this particular thread I saw some training techniques that were mentioned I am not familiar with...NILIF, OC? I have a very dog aggressive dog (he is very people friendly and loves children, we call him michael jackson) and the way I handle it is by always being the responsible owner. I cross the street when I am passing someone, I never take my dog to off leash parks, etc. I feel like a failure. I have done everything in my power to help my dog. I had him nutered, I have a prong collar, a muzzle, a clicker (and he is well clicker trained ), thousands of books, thousands of dollars spent on doggie camps and no avail. Some time I feel that my only alternative is euthinizing him because he is extremly aggressive. I stay very cautious but it is very stressful not only for myself but my dog as well.
If any one has and other training suggestions they are greatly welcomed. I love my dog and will exauhst any and everything if I can correct

 
It's not just equipment, it's how you use it.
 
NILIF = Nothing In Life Is Free. They sit and wait before getting to eat. They sit before being allowed outside. They sit before getting leashed. They work by offering good behavior for every reward.
 
OC = operant conditioning. Animals do what works and stop doing whatever doesn't work, barring any medical circumstances, such as thyroid problems, physical ailment, etc. More specifically, we promote positive OC. The dog works and receives a reward, which strengthens the likelihood that the dog will exhibit that behavior again. Clicker training is an example of + OC. You can use the clicker for more than just training sit or down. Notice when your dog is calm in public. Click and treat that calm state of mind. Learn to read calming signals. For some dogs, there is a range of reactivity. Far enough away, they don't react. Click and treat that. Work you way in, decreasing the range, by clicking and treating for calm behavior at closer distances. Make your way the most rewarding. My dog is primarily Siberian Husky in temperment, bred to be out in front, pulling hard and fast. And I can have him heel with no collar pops. I don't walk him in a collar but in a harness. I did it with + OC. These are just a few ideas.
 

Try reading Click to Calm, a wonderful protocol to get an aggressive dog under control.
 

Thanks for the replies. Kaiser is 3, nutered and is an AmStaff. He was not always aggressive. I used to take him up to dog parks and he got along with all dogs. He has been attacked twice by other dogs, fisrt was a great dane, ane the second was another male pitbull. After he was attacked even if he saw another dog that could have been 100 feet away he lost it and would spin on his leash and growl and bark, but I perservered and didnt avoid other dogs because I read that it just reinforced the behavior. So now we can pass other dogs without him really noticing. Although sometimes he does get a little aggressive, but not often. He gets along with my moms lab and my dads two dogs. And the weirdest thing is I just moved to a new house and the people next door have a dog but he doesnt mind that dog. They sit together by the fence, but I think that has to do with the other dog being there first.

He is clicker trained but I guess I never thought of clicking for calm behavior (duh). But he is NILIF trained he waits until he is calm to get anything because as soon as I say walk hes at the door, but I make him wait until I'm ready. Sometimes when we walk I make him wait for other people to cross the street. In all he is a well behaved dog I couldnt ask for more, it's just his extreme aggression that I am trying to control. It's like he totally zones sometimes.

But thank you for responding and the ideas. They are greatly appreciated, as I said before most people's first response is to just put him down. []

So now we can pass other dogs without him really noticing. Although sometimes he does get a little aggressive, but not often. He gets along with my moms lab and my dads two dogs. And the weirdest thing is I just moved to a new house and the people next door have a dog but he doesnt mind that dog. They sit together by the fence, but I think that has to do with the other dog being there first.

 
It sounds like you are making progress and that takes time.  What exactly are you expecting from your dog?  IMO if you're wanting to take him to dog parks and have him interact with every dog he meets, you're expecting too much.  If you're just trying to get him to ignore anydog in the area while he's out on leash, I think you need to figure out what kind of dog sets him off - unneutered males? Danes? Large dogs?  Hairy dogs, etc. 
 
The Click to Calm book sounds exactly like what you're looking for.

He's a three year old Amstaff, and acting totally normally for a dog of that breed and age.

Amstaffs and APBT's are frequently dog aggressive.  You can't train this aggression out of them.  You can train them to have appropriate leash manners, and it sounds like you are doing a great job working on that.

Please, please do not feel badly because you have an Amstaff that is dog aggressive!  It comes with the breed.

ORIGINAL: Dog_ma

It comes with the breed.

 
Please explain

Jen, contrary to what people tell you, it isn't always "how you raise them".  A dog with APBT or AmStaff may be dog aggressive no matter what you do, and it is often genetic, especially with the males.  That is not supposed to transmit to being aggressive to humans.  If your dog is only dog aggressive, there's little you can do, except to manage him (a la mudpuppy's suggestion to do the "Click to Calm" protocol).  You may get excellent results, but with these breeds, you must always err on the side of caution, lest your dog become a statistic that will lead to his demise and BSL for others.  If he shows aggression to humans, have his thyroid levels checked, reduce the protein content of the food he gets, and have a complete vet check to screen for other causes before you proceed.  I've seen dogs with Lyme get ugly, and dogs with arthritis get ugly.  My guess is that you have what I think you have - a normal AmStaff that exhibits dog aggression.
I commend you on wanting to do the best for your dog, and suggest that you continue to train him to default to looking at you when other dogs pass by.  Try to asses the type aggression you are dealing with:
[linkhttp://www.k9aggression.com]www.k9aggression.com[/link]
Once you figure that out, there are protocols to help you deal.  Google on "Karen Overall" and "Nicholas Dodman".  Their work may offer you some information.  Also,
Jean Donaldson's book "Fight!" might help.  Brenda Aloff has a pricey, but really in depth book called "Aggression in Dogs" that I think is excellent.  You can find those, and more, resources on dogwise.com and tawzer dog videos.  Good luck and hang around - welcome to the forum.

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

A dog with APBT or AmStaff may be dog aggressive no matter what you do
 

 
2nd subject:
[linkhttp://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/blog/Season2ep01.php]http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/blog/Season2ep01.php[/link]

I'm not ever expecting to be able to take my dog to the dog park again because I know that is something that will NEVER happen again. I just want to be able to manage his behaviors. I dont think that always being ready to pounce is healthy. I think that so far I have come a long way but these things do take time and there are still behaviors that I would like to correct. I jusst ordered the Click to Calm book and bought a Sporn Halter becaue I was worried he could slip out of an Easy Walk. You all are so helpful I am so appreciative for your advice. 

ORIGINAL: espencer

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

A dog with APBT or AmStaff may be dog aggressive no matter what you do

2nd subject:
[linkhttp://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/blog/Season2ep01.php]http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/blog/Season2ep01.php[/link]

That is nice and all, but it has nothing to do with dog aggression in APBT's and Amstaffs.  Just as a greyound has been selectively bred for a high prey drive and cannot be trusted off leash, APBT's and Amstaffs have been selectively bred for dog aggression and "gameness."   This is not aggression as it occurs towards humans.  Socialization helps, but you simply cannot train dog aggression out of every pit type dog. 

Socialization helps, but you simply cannot train dog aggression out of every pit type dog.

But you can typically manage it and lessen it such that the dog can be more or less trustworthy on-leash walking in the vicinity of other dogs, no? (I have no experience with the breed, I don't want to presume.)

As Jen said,

I just want to be able to manage his behaviors.

It seems, APBT or no, that this should be possible with a lot of time and patience. I think "Click to Calm" is a great start! You might also start thinking about how you react when you see another dog while walking yours - though it's no doubt unintentional, you might be transmitting your own anxiety to your dog and accidentally exacerbating the situation.

ORIGINAL: Cita

Socialization helps, but you simply cannot train dog aggression out of every pit type dog.

But you can typically manage it and lessen it such that the dog can be more or less trustworthy on-leash walking in the vicinity of other dogs, no? (I have no experience with the breed, I don't want to presume.)

Oh yes.  [sm=wink2.gif]

I wanted to share this;

Earlier this afternoon I bought a new halter for Kaiser because even with a prong collar he still pulled (I probably wasnt using it correctly?) Anyhow, after doing the research that was suggested to me I armed myself and Kai with our new halter and knowledge and set out for our daily walk. By the by I love this new halter he did not pull at all! So we rounded a corner and came across a man with a little fluffy black pomeranian so being the responsible bully owner I am I crossed the street and shortened Kai's leash. When the little fluff ball saw Kaiser it went balistic; spinning, lunging, and barking. I stopped Kaiser and stood infront of him to get his focus on me and not the dog. I commanded him to sit (which he did dutifuly) and said, "Kaiser" firmly with a snap so he knew to look at me. He did so after two commands which wasnt bad, and when I knew he was focused on me we proceeded to walk. All the while this little dog is going crazy, as we came closer Kaiser tensed up and made himself big BUT, he did not lunge, bark, growl, or even whine. Not a peep! I was so happy for him. The man with the little dog game ME a compliment on how well behaved my dog was. [] I was in shock. I politely smiled and said thanks and we continued on our way. When we were passsed the man I praised him for doing a good job and I think he was even proud of himself because he was all excited. I only wish I had a treat to positively reinforce the behavior.

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who replied. It really means a lot to me to know that I can do this! I can help my dog to be better behaved and have good leash manners. *muah* too all who have helped! Any more advice is still welcome as I will always be looking for new ways to improve and teach my dog good manners. It all starts with the owner. lol as we were leaving the house I said to Kaiser, "Boo it's all up to us no one can change this but me and you." lol @ me talking to my dog but he listens well. []