Hi Beverley,
I would be really grateful for any advice on my Yorkie x JRT's behaviour. She's coming up for 6 years old in December and her problem is she's dog aggressive.
I've been trying to contact a behaviourist for the past couple of weeks but I'm not sure whether there's a problem receiving my emails as there's been no reply so far.
Missy was originally the dominant pup in her litter, she bullied her siblings and was basically the bolshy one, however I fell in love with her and thought no more of her being a dominant pup etc. We attended Puppy Parties at our local Vet's and then went on to Training classes where she did well. However now I look back, the early signs of her aggressive nature were showing through already. She had to have many "time outs" as she got to rough with the other puppies and used to corner them, not letting them move. The trainer at the time just said it was puppy development and that being a Terrier she was naturally more "pushy" then the other pups.
It didn't help that all the dogs we were meeting out and about on our walks were quite rough with Missy, she really only had two doggy "friends" that were gentle with her. The rest would pin her down, chase her, snap at her etc. Just before she was a year old she was snapped at by another JRT and it all escalated into a fight, I had abuse off the owner and cross words were exchanged between both of us. Missy has never been the same since. Things have just got gradually worse. I know if she was let off lead around another small dog she'd kill it, needless to say I do not allow her off lead unless there are no dogs around.
Funnily enough, she accepted my Lab x pup into the home when he was a pup and she's been fantastic with him, but he is extremely laid back and would never challenge her.
She has drawn blood on another dog before and walking her is a nightmare! She pulls, barks and tries to grabs dogs if they come to close to her and only the other day caught an old Labrador by the cheek which understandably distressed the dog. She's a complete Jekyll and Hyde and outside a dog that people avoid, which is a shame as I did everything possible to socialize her.
My question is, can she be changed? A lot of people (behaviourists I've written to on on-line forums) have said that if she has a dominant character she might just be that way inclined. But surely she's not inclined to kill every dog she meets? By reading her body language I wouldn't say she's fearful but I'm no expert. Can anyone please advise me on anything they think may be helpful.
Thanks
Louise Nichol
Over to you!
Firstly I would be using a muzzle when she is out so she cannot bite, You cannot control the environment and a situaton out of your control may get her in alot of trouble.
ReplyDeleteSecondly I would look at her behaviour on lead when there are no distractions. Does she pull or does she walk nicely naturally (I mean untrained?)
If yes to either you need to loose lead train to start.
It doesn’t sound like your dog learned appropriate communication and play skills as a puppy. Bullying and being in control is a very pleasurable activity and can be come addictive, dogs will seek this out as a form of self reward. Puppies should be matched evenly during play sessions and also sound adult dogs must be involved to assess the puppy’s reaction to adult dog communication.
Also some terriers have poor impulse control and this must be taught too. This is done by mild positive arousal through play and toys and food and then applying control (settle or leave) and increasing the arousal levels.
Then her exposure to other dogs needs to be at a distance she does not react paired with positive reinforcement and then slowly decrease the distance.
Start with quiet dogs, then more active dogs. I would recommend this be done under the supervision of a behaviourist who can supply trained dogs and be constantly assessing behaviour, body language and reactions so the correct learning takes place.
She must learn to be controlled and relaxed in the presence of other dogs before you even consider any social contact.
This expose must be through desensitisation. You must not use any correction as this will cause stress, negative mood, tension. All these things are likely to trigger aggression.
If she is not calm, happy and relaxed then you will be unable to have safe interactions with other dogs.
Once she is settled you can start to have short controlled meet and greets with other dogs. I would certainly advise you do this under the supervision of a competent behaviourist and the use of a muzzle.
Try the APBC or COAPE and good luck
Echo the muzzle for her safety and other dogs.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do not think that your dog is having issues from lack of socialisation. Totally un-socialised dogs can be fine around other dogs.
From what you have said I think it is more likely that she is fear aggressive having been attacked. As an already dominant dog, you now have to cope with the worst form of aggression - the dominant aggressive, coming across as fear aggressive.
You need to find a good behaviourist who can deal with this effectively. Whereabouts are you?
Have you tried putting your foot on the lead so that she cannot lunge forward. Just stand still until the dog is passed. Foot on lead, dog behind. Block her vision using your legs.
Happy to discuss further if you want to.
Hello Jane and Lucy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the really informative replies so far. Like i said, i'm trying to get hold of a behaviourist at the moment as her behaviour is way out of my control now.
Since she began acting this way, i've tried to find the cause to her behaviour and read her body language and i always thought it was fear based too. However, she doesn't exhibit signs of fear when dogs approach etc. She will go into attack mode as soon as she claps eyes on another dog.
Funnily enough she will not attack or even attempt to snap/growl at Golden Retreivers! I think this has alot to do with when she was younger and her friend was a Goldie who was very gentle with her.
I do have a muzzle but don't use it very much on her as i always feel that i have her under control on the lead. I realise that i somehow have to get her attention before she see's another dog but this is harder said then done. She's not interested in treats etc outside as she just likes getting on with the walk.
I'm in Cambridgeshire.
Thanks
Louise
What treats have you tried? Actual dog treats are not tasty enough. The taste and value of the food must be motivating enough to distract.
ReplyDeleteBuy some cheap stewing steak, fry it and chop it into small finger nail sized pieces.
Other highly motivating foods are cheese, liver cake, chicken. Dogs love meat!!
Make sure your dog is hungry.
Drop the food onto the floor for her as dogs who are stressed and reactive can snatch.
Eye contact from her mean food drops out of your hand.
Do this a home and where there are no distractions first so learning and understanding can take place before you put it under the test of when there is another dog.
Only ever use your special treats for eye contact.
Try contacting Barbara Sykes and ask her for one of her people in Cambs. Shes one of the best I have come across method wise with aggression.
ReplyDeleteinfo@bordercollies.co.uk
I've been talking to a behaviourist who has an appoitment for me on the 4th December. So here's hoping things will get better in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice.
Louise
I have done this with a Terrier I took on that tried to kill every dog she saw including mine when she first came. It takes a lot of time and patience, most of the patience is used up with idiot owners who think it is funny.
ReplyDeleteNo muzzle, a dog that wants to attack other dogs is already very stressed, putting a muzzle on will make them worse.
This is how I stopped Gracie, now she greets dogs in a lovely manner so it can be done.
I didn't take Gracie close enough to another dog to react, if she did, I was too close. I kept her at a distance where she could see the other dog but felt safe enough not to react. I would take her right into fields, up peoples drives etc, and if I couldn't I would walk the other way until I could. Gradually this safety space as I called it, got smaller and smaller.
I also taught her to "Watch me", I found this very useful because I could get her to focus on me instead of the dog.
Another trick is to have different, very high value treats and as whe is looking at the other dog from a safe distance, an odd reward drops from the sky in front of her. This will also help change her idea on other dogs.
Other owners were a nightmare until I made up something Gracie had, because they hadn't heard of it they thought it was infectious or contagous so kept their dogs away, it was the best thing I ever did.:))
Keep your dog from reacting, if she does you are too close so go back several stages to let her adapt again and she will come right with other dogs but expect it to take months, maybe even years, before she can be trusted. Some dogs never can.