Hank is becoming aggressive?

• 07-10-2007 6:49 AM

  LuvMyMastiffs Joined on 08-10-2006 Posts 37 Points 0

  Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact Hello everyone, questions, questions, questions. My 1 1/2 year old English Mastiff is being aggressive. He loves us, his immediate family, but when it comes to anyone else, he sniffs and then lunges while growling and barking. It scares me to death! I have had him since he was a puppy and thought that I had socialized him, but maybe not? He was neutered 2 weeks ago. ANY help will be greatly appreciated!

  Post Points: 0

• 07-10-2007 8:36 AM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  mrv Joined on 09-10-2007 west central OH Posts 2,658 Points 745

  RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact Get in contact with your breeder or other breed specific mentor.  Enroll your dog in obedience classes, interview the providers and make sure they have experience and strategies for a large dog.  A behaviorist may be worth considering depending on location and resources.  A head collar may offer more control of  large dog when walking and working in the class in the beginning. Make sure you are doing daily control based training in situations where the dog will be able to perform correctly.  That means finding situations outside of home as well as at home where you can control the level of distraction (at home this can be food on the floor, tennis balls bouncing or other activity depending on his desires).  When working away from home, make sure the places selected have the option for moving away from distractions until the dog is able to focus on you. When you have the locations selected etc.  then start working on basic obedience commands and practice of stays, loose lead walking, tricks, position changes (sit, stand, down, backup)

  Post Points: 0

• 07-10-2007 11:41 AM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  Dog_ma Joined on 06-25-2007 San Diego County, California Posts 1,317 Points 795	RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact Male dogs are most aggressive between 1 1/2 and 3 years old.  I think of them as 18-21 year old human males.  Yuck!  Obedience training will help.  Get him listening to you, and then whether or not lunge isn't his decision.  "Are you a dog trainer?" "No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night."
  	Post Points: 0

• 07-10-2007 6:11 PM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,609 Points 330

  RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact I believe the issue is as much pack status as socialization  He needs to be confident in your leadership.  Once a lot of the testosterone is out his system (a couple of months) that may help a little.    Put the dog on an immediate NILIF program (links below).  Everyone must cooperate.   He "lunges while growling and barking" only while on leash?  If so, he is termed "leash aggressive", rather than generally aggressive.   Suggested reading ("@" indicates a booklet):   Brown, Ali Scaredy Dog! Understanding and Rehabilitating Your Reactive Dog, 5/2004           http://tinyurl.com/437q3 Scaredy Dog! Seminar DVD, 2005, DVD           http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTB855    Garrett, Susan Ruff Love: A Relationship Building Program for You and Your Dog, 2002            http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTA228    McConnell, Patricia @How to Be the Leader of the Pack …, 1/1996            http://tinyurl.com/6qj2c @The Cautious Canine: Helping Your Dog Overcome Its Fears, 6/1998            http://tinyurl.com/6jvub @Feisty Fido: Help For the Leash Aggressive Dog, 6/2003            http://tinyurl.com/5vhqz The Other End of the Leash, 4/2003            http://tinyurl.com/48vxj   Parsons, Emma Click to Calm - Healing the Aggressive Dog, 12/2004            http://tinyurl.com/248pnm    Rugaas, Turid On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals, 2nd ed, 12/2005            http://tinyurl.com/2tk7dt Calming Signals: What Your Dog Tells You, DVD             http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB788 2005 48 Min.            http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=A251 2006 48 Min.    Ryan, Terry @Take the Lead: Leadership Education for Anyone With a Dog, 2000             http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB337    Links on NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free program): http://www.ozarkdogs.com/nilif.htm http://www.ozarkdogs.com/boot_camp.htm http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm http://www.petresources.net/dogs/train/nilif.html http://www.greyhoundlist.org/nothing_is_free.htm http://www.nomorehomelesspets.org/behavior/dog/nilif.htm http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/nothingfree.htm http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/articles/dogs/002-01.htm

  Filed under: NILIF, books - leash aggression Post Points: 0

• 07-10-2007 6:18 PM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,609 Points 330	RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact See this post for a good list of initial training books: http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/47/101806.html#POST349863    Clicker training is great! http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=310452    Additional clicker sites: http://www.clickerlessons.com http://www.clickertrainusa.com
  	Post Points: 0

• 07-21-2007 9:33 AM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  boditosa Joined on 05-20-2006 Posts 7 Points 0

  RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact I have 2 mastiffs one from 8 weeks the other rescued. both 2.  sarah is leash agressive and will lunge and mouth. we correct this by making her heal. off the leash she is good plays . I personally use the ceaser milan aproach, be the pack leader, be calm assertive, but modified with a super soaker water gun.  i sugest you read his book ceasers way it deals with issues you are having good luck

  Post Points: 0

• 07-21-2007 12:55 PM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 9,940 Points 715

  RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact Amen to all the above, except the last post. [8|] Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 19 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

  Post Points: 0

• 07-21-2007 7:26 PM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  Chuffy Joined on 12-17-2006 UK Posts 5,165 Points 10

  RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact ORIGINAL: boditosa I have 2 mastiffs one from 8 weeks the other rescued. both 2.  sarah is leash agressive and will lunge and mouth. we correct this by making her heal. off the leash she is good plays . I personally use the ceaser milan aproach, be the pack leader, be calm assertive, but modified with a super soaker water gun.  i sugest you read his book ceasers way it deals with issues you are having good luck   To the OP and anyone else with the same problem:  DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!  mrv's approach is much more dog friendly and more likely to result in a reliable dog that is confident in you and responds well.   boditosa: I am curious - how do you use the super soaker?  If using such a technique the "correction" should not be associated with the handler.  This does 2 things; it prevents the dog from beginning to mistrust his handler and it also ensures that the dog is still reliable even if he cant see you or if you are not present.  I fail to see how you can be surreptitious with a super soaker gun.  (And that is the least  thing that concerns me about this advice.) "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo) "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2007 1:53 AM

  In reply to LuvMyMastiffs

  snownose Joined on 09-29-2006 Michigan to Southeast Posts 5,178 Points 405

  RE: Hank is becoming aggressive? Reply Contact Oh dear......I use some of CM's approaches.......not a squirt gun, though[8D]   I own 3 German Shepherds, 1 Husky/Mal. mix, 1 Husky/Chow mix., and recent rescue, a Husky.....so, boys and girls.......the newest rescue was neutered and now, has been introduced to indoor living with 2 cats, and a rabbit.   Within a few weeks he is crate trained, used to the cats.....and certainly fits in with the other male dogs............as I said, some of CM's ways of training have proven successful........I got pics to back everything up[]   The rescue wasn't beaten up, or rolled or any of the funky stuff that CM has been accused of.......[]

  Post Points: 0