Aggressive Dog

Since I'm not a trainer, I would call ahead of time and tell them to lock there damn dog up!!

 
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ORIGINAL: corvus


I think it's entirely possible to deal with him without causing a direct confrontation. All animals respond to the same stimulus of pressure. All animals attack or run when the pressure is too much for them to handle. Unless they're rabid. [] The trick is reading their body language so you can back off before you push them too far.

Actually, no, it's not always possible. If your hired to help someone with this problem it's your job to do so. Yes they will try to run, or attack, or freeze, all these things are something you must deal with, it's why your there. And I do not back off, that makes a aggressive dog more powerful and could cost you dearly.

ORIGINAL: luvmyswissy

So I'll ask this of anyone who cares to answer, then I'll tell you some of (not all) how I handled it. You have someone who has a human and dog aggressive 140 lb French Mastiff. You arrive at their home, how would you approach and work with such a dog?

Since I'm not a trainer, I would call ahead of time and tell them to lock there damn dog up!![8|]

There are many times when I know it's the owner who's creating the aggression at the time, that's when I prefer to have the dog in the back yard, and face him or her alone.

The lady who wrote "Scaredy Dog" had a leash/off leash dog/person aggressive dog, Aggressive to the point of attacking and biting both.

 She was also at the point of thinking nothing could be done beyond putting her to sleep.

But...she got off of her butt and went to work rehabilitating the dog by using the clicker, stimulus control and desensitizing.

Now the dog is reliable with dogs and people and off leash.

It was a long hard road for both her and her dog, but she toughed it out.

ORIGINAL: JM

The lady who wrote "Scaredy Dog" had a leash/off leash dog/person aggressive dog, Aggressive to the point of attacking and biting both.

She was also at the point of thinking nothing could be done beyond putting her to sleep.

But...she got off of her butt and went to work rehabilitating the dog by using the clicker, stimulus control and desensitizing.

Now the dog is reliable with dogs and people and off leash.

It was a long hard road for both her and her dog, but she toughed it out.

Ok, I'll take a look at the story and try to get the facts. The first thing that comes to mind when dealing with a human aggressive dog is, how did she get close enough to give it a treat to begin with. Someone can call a dog human agrressive because it barks, snaps, and even has bitten someone. But that says nothing as to the dogs *real* level of aggression. A red zone case will ignore the treat, and go after the human. But as i said, I'll go back and reread the case. Thanks.

ORIGINAL: Awsomedog

Ok, I wait a few days more then i'll share.

 
Just a reminder.

ORIGINAL: Awsomedog

ORIGINAL: corvus


I think it's entirely possible to deal with him without causing a direct confrontation. All animals respond to the same stimulus of pressure. All animals attack or run when the pressure is too much for them to handle. Unless they're rabid. [] The trick is reading their body language so you can back off before you push them too far.

Actually, no, it's not always possible. If your hired to help someone with this problem it's your job to do so. Yes they will try to run, or attack, or freeze, all these things are something you must deal with, it's why your there. And I do not back off, that makes a aggressive dog more powerful and could cost you dearly.

I would expect to accidentally push too far at least once, mostly because I know I'm not that good at reading signals from aggressive dogs yet. When that happens, I think it's important to protect yourself by backing off quickly out of range, or by whipping up a pillow or something to protect yourself with. What I think is super important, though, is to not end the session there. I think you've got to push again so the dog knows being aggressive with you doesn't work real well. However, I think there's no excuse for deliberately or frequently pushing a dog too far. If I can learn to minimise wild hare explosions to one a month or fewer in a couple of years, then I'd expect a lot better from someone with a lifetime of experience with aggressive dogs.

I would start by asking a lot of questions. You didn't give enough information for anyone to actually say what they would do, Awsomedog.... so to answer your question, I would ask the owners:

1. Describe the aggression in as full detail as possible.
2. Severity of bites? Does this differ between dogfights and incidents with humans?
3. Tell the story of each aggressive episode.
4. Have you taken this dog to the vet and done a full thyroid?
5. What have you done, if anything, to deal with this so far?
6. What do you do when the dog behaves this way?

And then I would go from there, asking many questions, and then I would work with the dog directly. This is how my behaviorist handled me when I had an aggressive dog--I am not a trainer but I have been on the other end of this scenario.

I am curious about what your point is with this thread... are you expecting people to actually tell you what they would do if they were working with such a dog? Or are you creating suspense for your own story?

Oh, and I am curious, as I want to respect people's internet handles but am also a bit of a spelling freak. Is the misspelling of awesome intentional, or can I go ahead and call you Awesomedog?

I think I would drop the aggressive label and opt for reactive, if for no other reason than my own safety.

I would then be able to ask myself...what is the dog reacting to?

Am I in his space?
Am I staring?
Am I in a full stance signaling confrontation?

I have to question the dog in the backyard alone thing. This sort of implies that a dog is expected to allow a stranger in his yard without reacting.

ORIGINAL: corvus

ORIGINAL: Awsomedog

ORIGINAL: corvus


I think it's entirely possible to deal with him without causing a direct confrontation. All animals respond to the same stimulus of pressure. All animals attack or run when the pressure is too much for them to handle. Unless they're rabid. [] The trick is reading their body language so you can back off before you push them too far.

Actually, no, it's not always possible. If your hired to help someone with this problem it's your job to do so. Yes they will try to run, or attack, or freeze, all these things are something you must deal with, it's why your there. And I do not back off, that makes a aggressive dog more powerful and could cost you dearly.

I would expect to accidentally push too far at least once, mostly because I know I'm not that good at reading signals from aggressive dogs yet. When that happens, I think it's important to protect yourself by backing off quickly out of range, or by whipping up a pillow or something to protect yourself with. What I think is super important, though, is to not end the session there. I think you've got to push again so the dog knows being aggressive with you doesn't work real well. However, I think there's no excuse for deliberately or frequently pushing a dog too far. If I can learn to minimise wild hare explosions to one a month or fewer in a couple of years, then I'd expect a lot better from someone with a lifetime of experience with aggressive dogs.

ORIGINAL: Awsomedog

So I'll ask this of anyone who cares to answer, then I'll tell you some of (not all) how I handled it. You have someone who has a human and dog aggressive 140 lb French Mastiff. You arrive at their home, how would you approach and work with such a dog?

 
Another reminder.

Lets start with this little nugget of someone taking a little shot "Oh, and I am curious, as I want to respect people's internet handles but am also a bit of a spelling freak. Is the misspelling of awesome intentional, or can I go ahead and call you Awesomedog? (hiding it under "I'm a bit of a spelling freak") because they really don't have much constuctive to say. That's what "spelling freaks do". I really could careless what you think of my spelling, and sinse I know why your really here, I'll ignore anything else by you. Have fun with my spelling errors. You worry about them, I'll take care of the dogs.

As far as my "handle" goes, it is what it is, that ok with you? "Spelling freak" Or should I leave the spelling part off.

Have a nice day.[]

ORIGINAL: fisher6000

Oh, and I am curious, as I want to respect people's internet handles but am also a bit of a spelling freak. Is the misspelling of awesome intentional, or can I go ahead and call you Awesomedog?

Watch out luvmyswissy! You're next! [:-]

I could be in trouble, too, since I don't capitalize my name in my login name, either.
 
I'm just bad all over.[]

ORIGINAL: Awsomedog

Lets start with this little nugget of someone taking a little shot "Oh, and I am curious, as I want to respect people's internet handles but am also a bit of a spelling freak. Is the misspelling of awesome intentional, or can I go ahead and call you Awesomedog? (hiding it under "I'm a bit of a spelling freak") because they really don't have much constuctive to say. That's what "spelling freaks do". I really could careless what you think of my spelling, and sinse I know why your really here, I'll ignore anything else by you. Have fun with my spelling errors. You worry about them, I'll take care of the dogs.

As far as my "handle" goes, it is what it is, that ok with you? "Spelling freak" Or should I leave the spelling part off.

Have a nice day.[]

Actually, I have been wondering if the spelling was intentional, too.  Sure glad I didn't ask.

At any rate, I'm quite surprised that you seem to think it's your job to deal with a dog no matter what, since the owner has contacted you to do so.  It is never appropriate to handle any dog that is beyond one's capability just for that reason.  So, if you were confronted by a dog whose behavior you didn't feel confident dealing with, do you still do it?   Or, are you one of those who think that no dog is beyond your expertise?  If so, can't wait until you finally meet the real Cujo.
I think everyone is waiting with baited breath for your expertise - do tell. [8|]
Also, do you always deal with the dog on his own turf, or are there times when you think that unwise?

Watch out luvmyswissy! You're next!

       
 
Hey leave me out of this, I have been using LUV since I was 16!!  []  Its a time passage not a spelling mistake.[8|]
 
Luv, Dawn[]