Dog Community

Maze aggression update

Posted : 8/31/2008 8:13:34 PM

Every since my accident Maze's attitude towards visiting dogs has changed ALOT of the better. She's no longer growling as they enter, She goes and sits on her blanket waiting to be released to say hi. She doesn't protect the furniture as much as before. Instead of a large amount of growling and snarling, now she does a minor lip curl and no noise.

She used to get in the middle if Alex is playing with one of the dogs, now she just sits by and waits to be invitied. I think hurting myself scared her pretty good. Not the way I wanted to teach her to be nice but hey what ever works! Lol. All I have to do is remember to move the bone to her bed and we'll have no problems.

So there is a light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully next year I'll be able to train her in Agility for fun. I don't want to compete with her but I'm sure it'd help with her confidence.

Also we've had no more problems with people if I'm paying attention and keep the leash loose. The prong collar has helped as well. I can get her attention easier with it then with any other tool I used. Smile I've also been working with her on "Look at Me" and I'm glad to see progress.

oranges81

Posted : 9/2/2008 5:08:22 PM

I took her to the petstore with me today to see how well her progress is coming. She did very well! Thankfully when I go it there aren't many people in with dogs so there was a Golden puppy and a small dog on a leash. Maze showed an interest in the puppy but no tension or change in her stance so we conituned on. Got her dog food and was waiting in line to pay when a little girl came up with a little black dog on a flexi *shudder* I smiled at the little girl and said Maze is in training so she can't say hi. The dog tried to come in front of me to meet Maze but I did a body block and the dog backed off. Maze let out a minor growl while the dog was trying to get at her but a stern NO got her back on track. She stayed in her sit and let me handle it.

Soon enough the little girl spotted the puppy and took off so I could pay and continue on. Overall I feel she did very well. I had been afraid to take her back to the petstore due to how bad she was getting but today was a step in the right direction. She walked nicely on a loosh leash through the entire store. She was nice and relaxed and stuck by my side even while I had my hands full. Even while the little dog was trying so hard to get to her, Maze stayed in her sit by my side and just delivered the warning growl. No tensing, no snarling, just a minor growl. And after the correction, she focused back on me once she realized I had the situation under control.

Once we left the store she got lots of praises and a treat. In two months we went from a snarling black ball of fur that I couldn't take any near the petstore to a well behaved dog who is willing to give a warning instead of attacking first. I am proud of how she behaved today and gives me hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Smile

loretta

Posted : 10/13/2008 2:18:51 PM

I am coming in on this late. How did you manage to change your dog's aggression? I would love to try my dog at Petsmart, but am afraid of how awful she might behave.

spiritdogs

Posted : 10/14/2008 10:05:49 AM

Just curious, but what would make you think that she realized what behavior she was being rewarded for if it came so late...

Once we left the store she got lots of praises and a treat.

If this was my dog, she'd be thinking she got rewarded for walking across the parking lot. Huh? The time to reward is right after the dog completes the desired behavior. So, you probably should reward her for not breaking a sit, or for being quiet and not snarling, but not for just leaving the store;-)

ron2

Posted : 10/15/2008 5:25:08 PM

oranges81
Got her dog food and was waiting in line to pay when a little girl came up with a little black dog on a flexi *shudder*

I feel your pain. Not too long ago, I saw an older woman (probably 60's) with a Great Dane on a flexi. And for other readers thinking "well, maybe she had him trained enough that walking on a flexi is no big deal." Wrong. The dog was surging in the direction of us because he caught a glimpse of Shadow. There comes a point, sometimes, where the actual mechanics of a situation must be addressed. And I think it's a bad idea to walk a 130 pound dog that likes to go where he wants to go on a flexi. Sometimes, the dog has more brains than the human.

oranges81

Posted : 10/23/2008 12:05:25 AM

spiritdogs
Just curious, but what would make you think that she realized what behavior she was being rewarded for if it came so late...
Once we left the store she got lots of praises and a treat.
If this was my dog, she'd be thinking she got rewarded for walking across the parking lot. The time to reward is right after the dog completes the desired behavior. So, you probably should reward her for not breaking a sit, or for being quiet and not snarling, but not for just leaving the store;-)

She got a pat on the head when she didn't break her sit. I just had my hands full so I couldn't give her any treats.

oranges81

Posted : 10/23/2008 12:07:02 AM

loretta
I am coming in on this late. How did you manage to change your dog's aggression? I would love to try my dog at Petsmart, but am afraid of how awful she might behave.

Alot of distance work. I got Maze to the petstore after almost a year of working with her. I started a good distance away from the other dogs and just slowly decreased the distance with lots of food and after teaching Focus.

janetmichel3009

Posted : 10/23/2008 1:22:41 AM

congratulations!!! i really feel your pain! i wish i could do distance work, but i live in an apartment complex where people aparently think leashes are unnecessary. so even potty trips are tough. but we're working on it whichever way we can and jason was very very good yesterday! :)

but yeah, great job!!!

oranges81

Posted : 10/23/2008 1:44:42 AM

Yay Jason!! (*)

Potty trips here are fun for a different reason! It's Bear season around here! YAY! *sarcasm*

janetmichel3009

Posted : 10/23/2008 1:49:21 AM

bear season? *shudder* that does sound like fun... Tongue Tied

oranges81

Posted : 10/23/2008 2:07:45 AM

Oh yeah it's great! A giant black bear in my front yard with my cat trying to stalk it.. *sigh* Thankfully Kameo has started sleeping indoors at night..