Aggression Issues

[Krikkit]

Is you Boxer acting aggressively, or displaying aggressive behaviours? It does not matter if it is fear based, or because you have allowed your Boxer to take control of your life – SEEK HELP from an appropriately trained professional. Do not rely on advice received over the internet. You will need someone who can help you work through this.

The links provided below are to assist you in finding someone who may be able to help, and also to provide you with some education regarding aggression in dogs and general dog behaviour. They do not constitute advice and are provided for educational purposes only:

Find someone to assist you:

Directory of Certified Applied Animal Behaviourists
http://www.animalbehavior.org/Applie...directory.html

List of Behaviourists & Behavioural Consultants
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/behaviorists.html


What to look for when getting help:

How to Find a Dog Trainer
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/tips.html

Do I need a Dog Trainer or Behaviourist?
http://www.geocities.com/jetflair/behaviorist.html


Articles on Aggression by Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB, ABS Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist

Treating Aggression
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00380.htm

Pharmacology and Behavior: Neurochemistry of Anxiety and Aggression
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00374.htm

Aggression: Triggers, Flashpoints, and Diagnoses
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00379.htm

How to Deal with Anxiety and Distress Responses: Dogs
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00382.htm

Early recognition and prevention of canine aggression
http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/aggression.htm

Other Articles about Dog Behaviour and Aggression

The History and Misconceptions of Dominance Theory, by Melissa Alexander
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti.../dominance.htm

Social Hierarchies by Dr Ian Dunbar
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...ierarchies.htm

The Macho Myth by Dr Ian Dunbar
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/macho.htm

Calming Signals – overview by Terry Ryan
http://diamondsintheruff.com/calmingsignals.html

Why Can’t a Dog be More Like a Dog? by Dr Ian Dunbar
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...01/whycant.htm

Karen Pryor on Aggression
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...aggression.htm

Diffusing Aggressing Behaviours by Debi Davis
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...aggression.htm

Understanding Aggressive Behavior In Dogs
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/agg_dog.htm

[gibsmom]

hmmm I can't help but wonder if this is in regards to my post about leash aggression. Perhaps I overstated it by calling it aggression, he isn't acting aggressive really...just barking, and I certainly haven't allowed him to take over my life. I understand that I shouldn't rely solely on adive from a message board, I was just hoping for some ideas. Sorry if my post seemed ignorant, I just wanted some input.

[Krikkit]

gibsmom, it's in no way related to your post at all It's more about aggression towards humans and something I put together last week but only got around to posting it now. I didn't even see your post until after this went through.

Leash aggression is not uncommon, especially if a dog has had an 'experience', but it does need careful management and if you can get help, all the better. A search here on the forums will bring up lots of info. In the meantime, take a look at these articles (there are probably better around, these are just ones I happend to have bookmarked).

Desensitizing Dogs to Other Dogs
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...ensitizing.htm

Handling On Leash Aggression
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/onldagg.html

He Just Wants to Say Hi
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/sayhi.html

Aggression - a case history
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/casehis.html

Leash Aggression
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIP...ggression.html

[Boxer_21]

Thank you for those links Sharon!!


gibsmom,

I don't really think that this was posted directly for any one person. Questions about aggression and behavioral problems come up frequently so I think that this was posted as general info for all of us who need help.

- Mandy

[gibsmom]

Whew! I am glad, I am new here and I don't want to start out by making people mad. I am glad to hear that and I really appreciate the links. Have a great day!

Thanks!
Jen

[gibsmom]

Thanks so much for the links Krikkit! I just read them and got some great ideas. I really appreciate it.

[AntJan]

Krikkit -
Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all those links. Nikki has been recently showing some leash aggression towards long-haired dogs. For the past month when we've taken her to Petsmart, she'll growl & pull towards them. I vaguely remember a long-haired dog snapping at her a while back, so this may be why she's doing this. Anyways, thanks again... so many links, and I can't wait to read them all! Thank you!

janet

[gasach]

If you have aggression problems I would recommend looking at this link. www.dog-partnership.co.uk .

One of my dogs was EXTREMELY dog aggressive when I rescued him from a bad home 3 years ago, he wasn't too good with people either.

I tried behaviourists ,and a number of dog trainers who professed to being experts with problem dogs. None of them had any idea how to help Jack. After 35 years of Boxer ownership I was convinced these people knew nothing about dog aggression.

I was eventually advised to contact Angela Stockdale who specialises in aggression , adopting the approach that other dogs are the best teachers of dogs.

Jack is now perfect , thanks to Angelas' teaching ideas and lots of correct input from myself.

So yes I agree, seek help but with your eyes open. There are a lot of charlatans out there.

[Tricia77]

Hi
I am new to the boards - but see my problem is not uncommon.
We have 3 boxers - 1 girl -5yrs, and boys 4 and 6. Both boys are adoptees, Tessa been with us since she was 12 weeks.
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!
We took her to an above listed "trainer/behaviorist" who suggested a farm, no visits, and shock training - completely unacceptable to us.
Needless to say - we play musical dogs daily - thank god the boys get aong!
Tricia

[Krikkit]

Tricia, yes, that way of manageing aggression is totally unacceptable! Not all trainers / behaviourists are like that. Unfortunatley anyone can call themselves anything

In the links on the posts above there are some to articles on how to find a behaviourist - this one is okay
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/tips.html

Also, on this link http://www.animalbehavior.org/Applie...directory.html there are contact details for some behaviourists, many of whom have world wide respect for their knowledge, research and management of dog aggression issues. If the above link does not work, go to http://www.animalbehavior.org and follow the link on the left to the Behaviorist Directory.

Has Tessa had a full health check done?

Sharon