Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We rescued a mixed breed dog at roughly one year of age a couple of years ago. She is strong willed and pushy by nature but alternatively fearful of new people and situations. We've had other dogs over the years that we've raised from pups and we've never ever had an aggression problem.
This dog is very territorial about the house and car. She barks furiously, claws the floor and charges when people approach. If someone new (workers, service people) comes into the house we have to kennel her. Even the guy that we hire regularly has to watch her as she stalks him and nips him in the butt if given a chance. Yet my brother and wife she accepts with no problem.
She is very dog aggressive. I can see it building but can't interrupt it except by picking her up physically, removing her and kenneling her. At relatives' homes we have to kennel her and in some cases we have to cover the kennel with a blanket because the sight of certain dogs gets her goat. Her dominance issues have always been there to some degree but it's gotten worse over the past few years.
All of our other dogs, even the "alphas" all larger than this dog never met a stranger both human or animal. My worst problem now is our with our 13 year old dog. The rescue has always bossed our old dog and humped her head (literally) which our old dog bore with patience because she's really beta, even omega. Old dog defers to the bossy newcomer but in the past few years rescue takes after old dog and attacks her which has increased in frequency of late. Our old dog won't defend herself and her poor old ears are a scabbed mess. Poor old dog just slinks around the house head down so now I kennel the rescue from morning to night except for feeding and walks, not a way to live.
It hasn't helped that my husband went to AK to sell our house and rescue dog has sensed the disturbance in the "force" even so the rescue acts badly as described even when my husband is home.
I bought a cage muzzle but this dog is smart and determined and can get it off. I'm at wits end.
I know the standard advice is lots of exercise but she has a leg issue (her right rear leg had to be rebuilt due to congenital deformities that blew her ACL) that keeps her at mild activity and we can't afford a trainer/behaviorist right now. We are doing the deference protocol where she sits for everything and goes out after we exit etc. but it seems that she redirects her frustration to old dog.
We've just never had this kind of problem with a dog before and have no idea what to do. The last time I asked for help on this forum a year or so ago for this same dog there were a few really unhelpful and unkind responses. I would appreciate not repeating that experience.
Do you show fear or allow the dog to be aggressive? This dog is only doing this because you allow it. Dog packs are either followers or leaders if you don't lead they will. Also make sure you run the dog or walk them to burn out energy that helps. You need to work with that dog strict training and discipline is what is needed watch how a marine recruit trained they have to get permission to do everything. That's how you handle this dog you need to her under control. You should be the Alpha dog not another dog.
We are doing the deference protocol, i.e. "sit to get" as I said in my post and as I also said, her right rear ACL is gone and her leg was essentially rebuilt, bones cut and repositioned due to a congenital deformity so she is allowed only mild activity.
Yes I understand that somehow there is a systemic problem here but we continue to be the first out the door, be in charge of resources, eat when allowed, sit to get anything, etc. but her anti-social behavior has sadly only escalated in the last year to other animals and strangers, not toward us.
You haven't mentioned it but have you had her checked for medical issues such as a seizure disorder? My friend's cat had it, she never had a seizure that he witnessed so we don't know if she ever had one but she was one aggressive kitty. She was declawed, no judgment please! and one day while we were entering his apartment she spotted a dog on the sidewalk and flew out the open door to attack the dog. What?! Now this was a regular house cat. She'd defy people, strangers and his wife if she was sitting on something and a human wanted to sit on it and in one apartment no one could use the bathroom sink. When he changed vets and started her on dilantin she calmed considerably, she didn't become warm and fuzzy but she stopped attacking people. Sometimes an underlying medical condition can exacerbate behavior, or create psychotic symptoms and aggression. Meds might be the answer for your family, I hope you find something it sounds like you and your husband care deeply for both dogs and everyone's suffering.
There are tons of books and youtube clips about dealing with such dogs. It appears to be a very common thing. Its hard to asses a dog over the internet, but being fearful seems to be the issue. I don't think she is "dominant" in other people's houses. She probably gets into defense mode which triggers all the barking. Nipping is not full attack and that may be her way to convince the guests to leave since she isn't comfortable with their presence. It all sounds like fear and lack of confidence and these aren't easy (or quick) fixes.
In any case, If nothing else helps, I would consult a dog behaviorist.
It's weird. Annie is both fearful of new things but aggressive even in other people's houses. At Mom's she stalks her Border Collie and there have been fights that we've had to break up. At my sister's she has to have the cover over her kennel because my sister's Westie drives her to her very worst aggressive behaviors. Oddly enough they probably could have fun together if Annie wasn't such a turd. At my brother's she's stalked and started fights with his hunting spaniel who is super mellow, occasionally plays with their high energy Jack Russell mix but has been such a poor sport about play and toys that this longer happens. The Russell avoids her like our big older dog does.
In the car she shrieks at dogs that she sees out the window. We have that hiss in a can corrector which works to shut down the barking but the root cause remains.
She is cooperative and perhaps even timid at the vet's office and at the groomers and we warn them about mixing her with other dogs. She seems to launch her attacks on old dog when I come home from being out, at dinner time, anytime she's been scolded she trickles it down to correcting Pepper the old dog. Lately it's any frustration or disturbance in the chi.
I've probably watched about 100 of those 100s of videos and read as many web pages. It boils down to two approaches, both of which we've used. We have had strangers give her cookies to associate new people with pleasurable experiences which she takes gladly from them and then she goes Grrrr at the stranger. We have tried to supervise play with other dogs that she doesn't dislike which is getting to be a nonexistent list but she gets ticked off over wanting a toy or losing the game and she turns to attack mode. We've used and are still using the deference protocol/leader of the pack method and she's really sweet and loving with us and the people that she accepts but again it takes a lot of time to get her to acceptance.
She's super smart and I'm pretty sure she knows what we want and need from her but when she gets frustrated or angry she acts out on weaker creatures.
We haven't thought about medication and we probably should talk about her behavioral issues with the vet but I'd rather try other things first before medicating. We have run through the gamut admittedly.
There are a lot of troubling behaviors described here. Couple of things....
1 - Fear and aggression are not mutually exclusive.
2 - Aggression is a self-rewarding behavior, so every time she acts aggressively, the behavior is a little bit more engrained.
3 - Sounds like things are getting worse with regard to the dog aggression, so no more playdates. Dogs don't need to be around other dogs to be happy or fulfilled, and as it is right now, it sounds like it's a matter of time until your dog injures (or worse) another dog, or, heaven forbid, a visitor.
You need professional help here; in addition to being dangerous and stressful, this is a significant liability issue. Call a veterinary behaviorist and your vet, too. It's impossible to evaluate a dog's behavior over the internet.
Always rule out medical causation first. We already know she is likely in pain due to her leg issues. Dogs in pain sometimes act a little nasty and defensive. It is unfortunate you feel you can not afford a behaviorist at this time, that probably means you can not afford a complete workup at the vet's office. Those are the two things your dog needs right now. I can help you find the best certified professionals in your area if you change your mind and become willing to pay for a lesson.
My advice is to throw out the silly "alpha" nonsense and take a completely opposite approach. Management to keep everyone safe, confidence building through gentle desensitization and counter-conditioning, and changing your mindset to accepting that you have an insecure, scared dog - not a "dominant", "aggressive" dog.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
