Aggression Issues

[tre777]

Sable has just turned 3 & we just got her a few months ago off someone who I feel was not treating her right! (Now she is treated like a queen). When Sable is off of a leash she is just fine, but when she is on her leash she begins to get defensive like she is protecting us & herself when somebody walks by. I have read that maybe it's because that is when she is at her weakest because she can't run away or move too well due to the leash. I really liked the site that I was directed to & enjoyed reading how we as owners might play a part in it too. (I know I do the following):

"Understandably, the owner begins to anticipate any situation which might trigger this behavior. Spotting an approaching dog or person before the dog does, the owner tightens up on the leash so he can control the dog better, stiffens his own body posture and holds his breath. The dog notices the change in the leash tension, the owner's body posture and breathing, and begins looking to see what has the owner so worried, and once he spots it, begins his aggressive behavior."

[laura owner]

does anybody know how i can find an animal behaviourist in Athens, Greece? all the website contacts are U.S. and Australia. I could really do with some help...although my dog (11 months) is much better than she was months ago (been practising NILIF and generally ignoring her plus applied 'the dog listener' psychology) she seems every now and then to have uncontrollable outbursts where she is jumping and biting aggressively...it's quite strange behaviour almost as if she is having a fit of some type because no matter what i do nothing stops it... it happens every now and again and is quite disturbing, i really want to speak to somebody about it. thanks!

[douma]

Originally Posted by laura owner

does anybody know how i can find an animal behaviourist in Athens, Greece? all the website contacts are U.S. and Australia. I could really do with some help...although my dog (11 months) is much better than she was months ago (been practising NILIF and generally ignoring her plus applied 'the dog listener' psychology) she seems every now and then to have uncontrollable outbursts where she is jumping and biting aggressively...it's quite strange behaviour almost as if she is having a fit of some type because no matter what i do nothing stops it... it happens every now and again and is quite disturbing, i really want to speak to somebody about it. thanks!

This is a site of a good trainer in Athens.Yiannis Arahovitis is a member of American Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and works only with positive reinforcement.
Here you could find the info
http://www.stardogs.gr/
http://www.dogtraining.gr/
Hope the sites would help you

[KellysMom]

I have a problem with Kelly becomming aggressive. I think I'll post it as a new thread.

[cflint]

[QUOTE=Tricia77]Hi

Tessa used to LOVE everyone, but since fencing our yard and less visitors she became more and more dog agressive - 1st just visitors, then the older boy (they are completely seperated now) and even with the other they can only play outside togeter - she attacks him in the house. These two have lived, slept and ate together for 3 yrs!
I too am dealing with agression issues with my two females. The young one seems to be the worst when she is in the fenced yard, which is chain link and the other dog is out. A trainer explained to me that she is claiming the fenced area as her territory and is therefore protecting it. Don't know if this is what is happening for you but worth considering.

[Bo's Parents]

I have a 9 week old male who is exhibiting very agressive behavior to some dogs (adults and it appears to be mostly females) and he also has snapped at my 8 and 5 year old boys on more than one occassion.

I have also started working on the heel, come, sit and sit stay commands with him. Is it possible that I am working him too hard too soon and this is leading to his aggression?

[boxer]

Actually, it sounds far more like your 9 week old is being a typically rambunctious boxer puppy. That is how most of them play, usually accompanied by lots of growling and barking. And well mannered adults will let them do it - they're babies Better standards of behaviour don't even start to get enforced for a month or two yet. So I really wouldn't worry that your 9 week old baby is in any way aggressive or even unusual.

Definitely keep up the training. That is a good thing for a puppy. But keep training sessions short and fun (5-10 minutes is plenty), and don't expect too much from one so young.

If he is biting and barking at people, that is his attempts at play. He does need to be taught different, more appropriate behaviour - but that takes time. The best way is to turn away and ignore him, or to redirect his attention to a toy or game of his own. If you do a search of the forums, there are hundreds of threads on puppy biting issues with some great advice that you could put to good use.

[Princeton]

I have two furbaby boys an 8 1/2 yo boxer - Prince and a 7 1/2 yo staffy x cattle dog - Zeus. They were both as gentle as anything until about 18 months ago when we had to have Prince the boxer desexed because of the risk of cancer (he's had 4 operations - all successful!) He has been the most moody boy since but it is only towards his furbrother, still the most loving thing towards everyone else. Prince will sit barking and nipping at Zeus who is on his own sofa bed until he moves just so he can go to sleep there! I am at my wits ends with what to do. I have to say it is not a continuous thing and there has been no real harm done - just his attitude is in need of another adjustment.

[courtney323]

Hi Princeton -

Can you please post your Introduction? This is required of all new members (and should have actually been your first post)

www.boxerworld.com/rules

[DXMorris]

Hey Gang,

Since we've gotten our new guy (Petey), the other guy (Louis) occasionally snaps and growls at Petey, my wife (Melinda), and I under (so far) certain conditions and has also been a little aloof (although he's sound asleep with his head in my lap right now). The snaps have been gentle and seem to be intended as a warning with no intent to inflict harm. The conditions are when both Petey and Louis are in the back seat of the car at the same time or when Melinda or I get too close into his personal space. He was also recently in his first fight ever, at the doggie park, since Petey came to live with us (no injuries).

Some background info and some random neural firings:

* Louis, male, 9 months old, fixed, been with us for 6 months since we got him from a breeder.
* Petey, male, 18 months old, fixed, been with us for 3 weeks since we got him from rescue.
* Louis has been to basic obiedience training, doggie parks since he was 4 months old, and a few times, doggie day care.
* No incidents at all pre-Petey. Perfect puppy.
* Petey's a perfect gentleman. Was fostered in doggie daycare for a few weeks before we got him. No observed or reported incidents. Fit right into the family.
* Petey and Louis play for hours and seem to be best buds except for when they're in the back seat together. We've watched them very closely at (almost) all times initially and less so after the first two weeks.
* Louis sometimes mounts Petey who does nothing or walks away.
* Petey is about 4 inches and 20 lbs bigger than Louis.
* Louis seems to be the "bratty kid brother" who is constantly trying to get Petey to wrestle. Petey ignores him, takes the bait, or walks away but is always nice.
* Both were recently given a clean bill of health from a good vet.
* We've slacked off with Louis' training but not on giving him attention.
* We've paid more attention to Petey recently to ease his transition into our family but have still given Louis plenty.
* The snaps have been at Melinda and I and everyone has gotten the growls. Snaps usually very closely follow the growl.
* Louis occasionally mounts and is mounted at the dog park. When he has been mounted, it has been without incident (not sure about pre/post Petey). In all cases, it's quickly broken up.
* When they wrestle, Petey is very much the bigger, stronger, faster of the two although Louis is no slouch.
* Pre-Petey, Louis was very much spolied in every way imiagineable (aren't they all?) but dicipline maintained.
* Louis still goes to his crate when told (with a little coaxing), responds to "leave it's", is tethered during meals, and so on. All at about the pre-Petey rate.

My best guesses as to what's going on:

* General "new family member" issues (anxiety, needs space, ...) resulting in a lower threshold of annoyance.
* Louis is unsure of his place in the heirarchy because of us slacking off on training and the arrival of the Petey. Testing the waters of dominance.

What we've done:

* A loud "NO!", angry glare, and walk away.

What (else) we should do:

* More training.
* ????

Other stuff:

* We'll possibly be moving soon and won't be able to spend too much time on this for the next few months unless it turns out to be a symptom of something serious or becomes more pervasive or intense.

Apologies for the deluge of bullet points. Many, many thanks in advance.


Cheers,

Dave