Posted: 1/5/2013 6:43:15 AM EDT
| Is there anyway to overcome it? My pit/boxer mix, Annie, is very aggressive towards dogs that she does not know and sometimes to our other dogs. We currently have 5 dogs total since I picked up another stray and am still trying to find a home for him. Annie is very aggressive toward him, over food, toys, him getting to close, etc and no matter what I do I can't get her to stop. She was attacked about 3 years ago by the pit I used to have. After that incident, I ended up having my beloved pit put down because I didn't want to risk another attack, especially with a small child in the house, but Annie has been animal aggressive since the attack. I just don't know what to do anymore. |
|
I went full circle with my dog who started becoming a bit aggressive when he turned 18 months old.
We tried love and kisses (treats) from a book written by a California space cadet. Then we moved on to a citronella collar that sprayed him in the face when the remote button was pushed. Then on to a shock collar and pinning him to the ground by the throat. When all else failed, I retroed back to the 60's and 70's and got a book by William Koehler that said to take a piece of garden hose and with the dog on a leash, at the first sign of aggression, crack him over the snout. Then pull him to the other dog and if he does it again, crack him the second time and so on until HE makes the choice to stop the shit. Two shots pretty much cured him. The hits have to come instantly when the aggression starts so the dog relates his behavior to the pain but the end result is that HE, the dog makes the choice to stop. Now all I have to do is show him the hose and he snaps out of it. The rest of the time, he gets as much love and attention as any other dog in the world. |
|
But can you trust your dog alone with other dogs?
I have a dog aggressive Akita. This is a typical breed trait. She is a highly trained, competition obedience dog. I can take her pretty much anywhere and she will behave while working. Even at obedience competitions with hundred of dogs around. Even when she's doing the 5 minute, out-of-sight, down-stay exercise in the obedience ring. But if I give her free access to another dog, or another, out of control, dog comes running right up to her then it's World War III. It's been my experience that very dog aggressive dogs can be trained to work around other dogs, but can never be trusted with them alone again, with the possible exception of another pack member. |
|
Quoted:
But can you trust your dog alone with other dogs? I have a dog aggressive Akita. This is a typical breed trait. She is a highly trained, competition obedience dog. I can take her pretty much anywhere and she will behave while working. Even at obedience competitions with hundred of dogs around. Even when she's doing the 5 minute, out-of-sight, down-stay exercise in the obedience ring. But if I give her free access to another dog, or another, out of control, dog comes running right up to her then it's World War III. It's been my experience that very dog aggressive dogs can be trained to work around other dogs, but can never be trusted with them alone again, with the possible exception of another pack member. When no one is home, Annie is confined to the living room with our chihuahua. For some reason those 2 get along great. My anatolian and blue heeler stay in a huge crate together and the new dog has his own crate. Since the new dog came along, they have all been showing some signs of aggression, but I think they are establishing the pack order and making sure the new dog knows his place. I can't take Annie with me in public anymore because she tries to attack every dog she sees and no one can bring their dog to my house for the same reason. |
| Pits can be dog aggressive, it is the breed and that is why it's normally recommended that pit owners only have one dog. Now dog aggressive is very different from people aggressive and can effect any breed not just pits. I already owned a lab before I saved our young pit/boxer pup and the lab is more dog aggressive then my very shy pit bull. Bringing a new dog into the pack can be troublesome and very difficult to overcome without professional help if she is showing signs of aggression. If this cannot be done you NEED to find a home with someone who does not currently own pets, things will get difficult but this dog can be saved don't give up on her. |
| Also, I would like to commend you on picking up strays and helping these animals find loving homes. I don't have the determination to do so, even though I feel strongly about saving animals and preventing animal abuse. The government already forcible takes money out of my pay check every week to give to capable people for food, housing, electric bills, and free cell phones, so whenever I do donate it is always to various pet clinics and the ASPCA as these animals are truly dependent on us. |
|
Quoted:
I went full circle with my dog who started becoming a bit aggressive when he turned 18 months old. We tried love and kisses (treats) from a book written by a California space cadet. Then we moved on to a citronella collar that sprayed him in the face when the remote button was pushed. Then on to a shock collar and pinning him to the ground by the throat. When all else failed, I retroed back to the 60's and 70's and got a book by William Koehler that said to take a piece of garden hose and with the dog on a leash, at the first sign of aggression, crack him over the snout. Then pull him to the other dog and if he does it again, crack him the second time and so on until HE makes the choice to stop the shit. Two shots pretty much cured him. The hits have to come instantly when the aggression starts so the dog relates his behavior to the pain but the end result is that HE, the dog makes the choice to stop. Now all I have to do is show him the hose and he snaps out of it. The rest of the time, he gets as much love and attention as any other dog in the world. I don't really agree with what you did to cure your dog. Hitting them over the snout, which is one of their more sensitive areas, is of course going to work not to mention you whacked them with something as harmful as a garden hose. I fail to see the discipline in making a dog "calm down" every time you show it the hose whenever they become aggressive. You struck fear in a dog. Sure that was the "60's/70's" way of doing things but there are better ways of doing things than hitting your dog today. Yes I understand dogs bite one another on the muzzle as a sign of dominance and obtaining order in a pack. The only reason I'd recommend hitting an animal is if it was attacking someone or another animal with the intention to do real harm or even kill it. I don't know how your dog used to be aggression wise but it's just hard to swallow down the fact that someone had to hit their dog to make it stop being aggressive. |
|
Dog aggression can be very difficult and often impossible to cure, and the cause is often unknown.
I have taught my dog it can not be aggressive while it is working. The training was successful, done under the direct supervision of a professional trainer, and was pure compulsion. Personally, if I were you and intended to keep the dog, I would seek out professional help. Breaking the dog of aggression at all times, i.e. when the dog is not working, such as alone with other dogs, may not be possible. When walking the dog and our path Xes another dog, I put the dog in obedience (having the dog heal or down), and then correct the dog (typically with a pinch collar) if she breaks. You need the dog to understand it was punished for not listening to you. Good behavior is naturally rewarded. |
|
Quoted:
Dog aggression can be very difficult and often impossible to cure, and the cause is often unknown. I have taught my dog it can not be aggressive while it is working. The training was successful, done under the direct supervision of a professional trainer, and was pure compulsion. Personally, if I were you and intended to keep the dog, I would seek out professional help. Breaking the dog of aggression at all times, i.e. when the dog is not working, such as alone with other dogs, may not be possible. When walking the dog and our path Xes another dog, I put the dog in obedience (having the dog heal or down), and then correct the dog (typically with a pinch collar) if she breaks. You need the dog to understand it was punished for not listening to you. Good behavior is naturally rewarded. This is almost a direct quote of my post above, albeit presented in a different fashion. Cesar Milan has presented many examples of this level of accomplishment. Almost all of his shows that deal with dog on dog aggression show the owners with a calm dog in obedience mode, but rarely are any of these dogs shown freely interacting with others. Not everyone feels this way, but when I got my dog I made a lifetime commitment. I'm a disappointed that I can't have another right now due to dog aggression issues, but it is what it is. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Dog aggression can be very difficult and often impossible to cure, and the cause is often unknown. I have taught my dog it can not be aggressive while it is working. The training was successful, done under the direct supervision of a professional trainer, and was pure compulsion. Personally, if I were you and intended to keep the dog, I would seek out professional help. Breaking the dog of aggression at all times, i.e. when the dog is not working, such as alone with other dogs, may not be possible. When walking the dog and our path Xes another dog, I put the dog in obedience (having the dog heal or down), and then correct the dog (typically with a pinch collar) if she breaks. You need the dog to understand it was punished for not listening to you. Good behavior is naturally rewarded. This is almost a direct quote of my post above, albeit presented in a different fashion. Cesar Milan has presented many examples of this level of accomplishment. Almost all of his shows that deal with dog on dog aggression show the owners with a calm dog in obedience mode, but rarely are any of these dogs shown freely interacting with others. Not everyone feels this way, but when I got my dog I made a lifetime commitment. I'm a disappointed that I can't have another right now due to dog aggression issues, but it is what it is. Great minds often think alike. |