Aggressive dog: distractions, reverse psychology, choker chain, professional trainer, wrist coils

laf10 · 08-10-2008, 11:58 AM

My dog does 2 things that really need to be changed. He is scared of new people. When he was younger, our roommate's friends were trying to play with him but it scared him because they were chasing him around and since then, he is scared of new people. He barks and the hair on his back stands up. He's never bitten anyone or tried to bite anyone but it scares people and it's embarrassing. After being around someone for a while, he's fine, but I really want to fix this problem. Any ideas? The other thing is that he can NOT walk on a leash. He pulls really bad, and I've read about training him by stopping when he pulls and waiting until he stops, but he doesn't stop. I don't know what to do about it! He weighs 40 pounds so it really needs to stop! I need help!

Blondie621 · 08-10-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laf10

My dog does 2 things that really need to be changed. He is scared of new people. When he was younger, our roommate's friends were trying to play with him but it scared him because they were chasing him around and since then, he is scared of new people. He barks and the hair on his back stands up. He's never bitten anyone or tried to bite anyone but it scares people and it's embarrassing. After being around someone for a while, he's fine, but I really want to fix this problem. Any ideas? The other thing is that he can NOT walk on a leash. He pulls really bad, and I've read about training him by stopping when he pulls and waiting until he stops, but he doesn't stop. I don't know what to do about it! He weighs 40 pounds so it really needs to stop! I need help!

Here goes!
A dogs attention should never stray from his walk except to wee and poop! You should be in control at all times when he is on leash.
With his choker and leash in proper place, the dog should always be to your left side, close, not ahead.
Leave some slack on the leash from the collar to your left hand and hold it right there, maybe two feet. (enough so he cannot get ahead of your side) The handle part of the leash is held in your right hand. So the leash is crossed in front of you. You can wrap the handle a few times to shorten the leash in your right hand if you want to. I do, so the leash is not hanging down my legs in front. Take your dog to an empty parking lot with no distractions at first. Just keep walking him back and forth.
Ok....start to walk, the minute his attention is off the walk and not looking straight ahead you give a quick hard tug with your left hand at that short part of the leash and at the same time say a stern NO! Keep doing it everytime he goes to pull. You could be doing this every second but keep it up. This will continually have to be done at first depending on the dog and eventually the dog will walk beautifully onleash. I suffered for years walking my big dogs pulling me like crazy....no more! I still have to tug at them all once in a while but their memory is quickly refreshed of the training! Good luck, it works! Remember, keep the dog close to your left side, not ahead!
When he is eventually trained he will never pull and he will walk nice, then you can give him all the lead he wants! When around children and other people use the training method always and keep him close to your left side and also when in public places, especially a petstore.

As far as the scared of people thing, when someone comes over tell them to ignore the dog and let the dog come to them. Maybe you can give them a treat to give the dog after they settle in. Reverse phsycology works! You might want to watch some episodes of the dog whisperer to see if your problem with the dog is adressed. It is just a mental thing with him that he has to get over and eventually will. Give him time, that is all he needs.

Blondie621 · 08-10-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laf10

My dog does 2 things that really need to be changed. He is scared of new people. When he was younger, our roommate's friends were trying to play with him but it scared him because they were chasing him around and since then, he is scared of new people. He barks and the hair on his back stands up. He's never bitten anyone or tried to bite anyone but it scares people and it's embarrassing. After being around someone for a while, he's fine, but I really want to fix this problem. Any ideas? The other thing is that he can NOT walk on a leash. He pulls really bad, and I've read about training him by stopping when he pulls and waiting until he stops, but he doesn't stop. I don't know what to do about it! He weighs 40 pounds so it really needs to stop! I need help!

Here is the proper way to put a choker chain on:

Put the open P right over the dogs head with the P facing you!

Viralmd · 08-10-2008, 12:50 PM

First, about the fear...there's a technique for socializing your dog, but it's rather long. Because there's a potential for agression (although you say he hasn't bitten anyone YET), I would find a professional trainer who ONLY uses positive technique and has experience with potentially aggressive behaviors. Until then do NOT let him get in situations where he's going to be stressed and potentially fearful of people. This response CAN be de-conditioned, but it takes professional training and time.

Regarding the pulling. I would invest a few dollars and get some clickers, some wrist coils to put them on and get a copy of Pat Miller's 'The Power of Positive Dog Training' and read it cover to cover.

The reason I like clicker training is that you can mark the EXACT behavior you want to reinforce. And when you go walking that means pulling. When you say that the dog never stops pulling, I think that you're likely not waiting long enough. Sometimes it takes a full two minutes for the dog to realize that, while in the past, pulling got him where he wanted to go, it won't anymore. The beauty of the clicker is that the NANOSECOND the dog stops pulling and turns to look at you (because, after all, there must be something wrong with you - according to your dog - if his pulling no longer gets him where he wants to go) THAT is when you click and treat. He's got to come back to you to get the treat. And then the leash is loose again. You move forward, it tightens, you stop WITHOUT ACTIVELY YANKING on the leash, and WAIT - BE PATIENT, this can take a LONG TIME for him to not pull! When he stops pulling and looks at you click + treat (or, if you're not using clicker training, PRAISE loudly and treat).

And you don't need even a choke collar for this. In fact it won't help you at all. I prefer a simple leather collar. If you MUST use something with negative reinforcement (which I don't think you do), get a martingale collar. Much more forgiving.

Again, try the book! It's a treasure.

Katie1 · 08-10-2008, 01:08 PM

Another thing every time he pulls turn & walk the other way. Praise him with words like...there you are ...o thought I lost you ..IN REAL HAPPY VOICE. This way he doent even know who is correcting him & he will pay attention to you.

Mona Mee · 08-10-2008, 01:38 PM

We had a dog who did not like people and barked at strangers all the time but he has ever bitten them .We tried with him to accept people and we succeded in a long time . our friends treated him nicely and eated him some deserts . In the street all the dogs like running and doing some actions , that is normal .So talk to him out loud to hear you and give him some instructions .Anyway accept his nature , he will love you dearly.

Blondie621 · 08-10-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laf10

My dog does 2 things that really need to be changed. He is scared of new people. When he was younger, our roommate's friends were trying to play with him but it scared him because they were chasing him around and since then, he is scared of new people. He barks and the hair on his back stands up. He's never bitten anyone or tried to bite anyone but it scares people and it's embarrassing. After being around someone for a while, he's fine, but I really want to fix this problem. Any ideas? The other thing is that he can NOT walk on a leash. He pulls really bad, and I've read about training him by stopping when he pulls and waiting until he stops, but he doesn't stop. I don't know what to do about it! He weighs 40 pounds so it really needs to stop! I need help!

If you do not like the chain choker you can use this one: have only seen it sold at some Petsmarts. To train you do need a choker collar! I use this at all times with my dogs along with their everday collars for safety as they can never slip out of their collars!

Viralmd · 08-10-2008, 01:53 PM

That's what is called a martingale collar.

laf10 · 08-10-2008, 02:41 PM

Thank you so much for all your responses! I will give the leash training a try, and we are hoping to find a dog trainer to help socialize him more, but we live in a small town and there isn't anything close, so I was hoping I could find another solution!

Blondie621 · 08-10-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laf10

Thank you so much for all your responses! I will give the leash training a try, and we are hoping to find a dog trainer to help socialize him more, but we live in a small town and there isn't anything close, so I was hoping I could find another solution!

I would just try the ignore him thing for now when he does that barking. If he gets your attention he will just continue and do it more!