Willowlane Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Hi All I have a 1.5yr old Cocker that has started barking and acting aggressive towards dogs when she is out although her behaviour is driven more from fear and anxiety than maliciousness after she was attacked by another dog. Im wanting some help from a trainer to help get her over this as I want to take her to dog shows with me when I take my new puppy out but obviously cant when she is acting this way. Can anyone recommend someone who can help? Im around Parramatta NSW but happy to travel up to 1hr for someone good. Cheers Willowlane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Better Late Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Steve from K9 Pro would be right up your alley :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 second Contacting K9pro clickHERE there is also a thread which might help until you get professional aid - clickHERE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canisbellum Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Another vote for Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabbit Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Ditto - another vote for Steve at K9Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willowlane Posted May 8, 2015 Author Share Posted May 8, 2015 Have emailed Steve and tried calling the last 2 days but no reply. Im away this weekend so will see if I get an email or call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 (edited) Have emailed Steve and tried calling the last 2 days but no reply. Im away this weekend so will see if I get an email or call. Hi WL, I work at K9 Pro but I've been on sick leave the last couple of days as I have lost my voice (so no good answering phones or calling people back!) - if you send me a PM through here I will definitely be able to help you :) (ETA otherwise I will be back in the office on Monday) Edited May 8, 2015 by huski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Hi WL, I work at K9 Pro but I've been on sick leave the last couple of days as I have lost my voice (so no good answering phones or calling people back!) - if you send me a PM through here I will definitely be able to help you :) (ETA otherwise I will be back in the office on Monday) I prescribe cuddles with Blaze as a means to recover quickly. Hope you feel better soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 (edited) I'm just about to start Volatile Dogs classes for dogs that are over-aroused or anxious around other dogs. They start in a couple of weeks if all goes according to plan. Setups are helpful IME. It gives you a controlled environment where you can be sure the dogs won't be pushed beyond what they can cope with. I set up the classes to give people an affordable and structured way to work on coping skills and desensitisation with my supervision and in a venue where we won't get interrupted by other dogs coming through out setups. There is another trainer that was running reactive dogs classes at Farmer Dave's. I'm not sure if she is still doing it there, but she is running them on the North Shore, I believe. ETA Volly Dogs classes will be in the Sutherland Shire. Edited May 9, 2015 by corvus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Go with K9 as recommended, his proven track record and results speak for themselves. It's not worth potentially compounding the issue while someone else plays experiments with your dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stressmagnet Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 (edited) Interesting. Ernie's best friend is a cocker of the same age - 1 year. He's recently taken to growling and snapping at any other dog that happens to play with Ernie. His owner stops him immediately with a No but then cuddles him, saying he's insecure. I think she's rewarding him for the behaviour. And of course sweet Ernie is no help. When the play escalates to where Ollie (the cocker) is snapping and growling at the other dog. Ernie just ends the play and comes and sits by me, bemused. Ollie NEVER growls and snaps at Ernie - no matter how silly the play gets. How should I bring the subject up with my friend? She's a really good mate and I don't want to offend her but if Ollie keeps this up - one day the other dog is going to turn around and give him a good seeing to. Edited May 9, 2015 by Stressmagnet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 (edited) Interesting. Ernie's best friend is a cocker of the same age - 1 year. He's recently taken to growling and snapping at any other dog that happens to play with Ernie. His owner stops him immediately with a No but then cuddles him, saying he's insecure. I think she's rewarding him for the behaviour. And of course sweet Ernie is no help. When the play escalates to where Ollie (the cocker) is snapping and growling at the other dog. Ernie just ends the play and comes and sits by me, bemused. Ollie NEVER growls and snaps at Ernie - no matter how silly the play gets. How should I bring the subject up with my friend? She's a really good mate and I don't want to offend her but if Ollie keeps this up - one day the other dog is going to turn around and give him a good seeing to. Sounds remarkably like a form of resource guarding to me. However I'm not a qualified and experienced behaviourist used to dealing with dog aggression. Most importantly, I've never seen the dog. She needs to see an experienced professional if she's going to continue to put her dog in such situations. I would be stopping it when it started and avoiding those situations until it was sorted (if it can be). Cocker spaniels are tough buggers, not a soft little toy breed. Time his owner stopped explaining his behaviour in soft terms and calls it what it is. "Aggression". When you use that word you run out of excuses for your dog's behaviour. At that point, you can move into dealing with it. Her dog's safety depends on her stepping up and dealing with him. I recall a very eminent dog behaviourist commenting some years ago that if people put as much effort and time into dealing with unwanted dog aggression as they did into diagnosing and explaining why it occurs, we'd have a lot less problem dogs in the world. Edited May 9, 2015 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I go for training at pet resorts, dural. Affordable and very much tailored to you and your dog. Take care to get the right one, it's 425 Galston rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Interesting. Ernie's best friend is a cocker of the same age - 1 year. He's recently taken to growling and snapping at any other dog that happens to play with Ernie. His owner stops him immediately with a No but then cuddles him, saying he's insecure. I think she's rewarding him for the behaviour. Maybe he is insecure, and maybe she's rewarding the behaviour, or maybe she's not. Even if the behaviour is becoming more frequent, it's not necessarily because the owner is reinforcing it. This is why trainers and behaviourists should do functional analyses for problem behaviours. IMO a good functional analysis involves some experimentation if possible. I'm a pretty good guesser, but why guess when you can test? You can develop very specific and effective training plans if you know the function of a behaviour, and you don't need emotionally-laden words. Just objective observations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Interesting. Ernie's best friend is a cocker of the same age - 1 year. He's recently taken to growling and snapping at any other dog that happens to play with Ernie. His owner stops him immediately with a No but then cuddles him, saying he's insecure. I think she's rewarding him for the behaviour. Maybe he is insecure, and maybe she's rewarding the behaviour, or maybe she's not. Even if the behaviour is becoming more frequent, it's not necessarily because the owner is reinforcing it. This is why trainers and behaviourists should do functional analyses for problem behaviours. IMO a good functional analysis involves some experimentation if possible. I'm a pretty good guesser, but why guess when you can test? You can develop very specific and effective training plans if you know the function of a behaviour, and you don't need emotionally-laden words. Just objective observations. Yep, with humans you would never undertake a behavioural intervention without functional analysis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stressmagnet Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 (edited) Interesting. Ernie's best friend is a cocker of the same age - 1 year. He's recently taken to growling and snapping at any other dog that happens to play with Ernie. His owner stops him immediately with a No but then cuddles him, saying he's insecure. I think she's rewarding him for the behaviour. Maybe he is insecure, and maybe she's rewarding the behaviour, or maybe she's not. Even if the behaviour is becoming more frequent, it's not necessarily because the owner is reinforcing it. This is why trainers and behaviourists should do functional analyses for problem behaviours. IMO a good functional analysis involves some experimentation if possible. I'm a pretty good guesser, but why guess when you can test? You can develop very specific and effective training plans if you know the function of a behaviour, and you don't need emotionally-laden words. Just objective observations. Yep, with humans you would never undertake a behavioural intervention without functional analysis. Which is why folks, I post so often and ask for help. My only claim is to have owned some very bolshie dogs in the past and have had to call in experts. While I would never dream of telling her how to manage her dog - I'll be interested to see how it plays out. Her Ollie is a really lovely boy but her only other experience EVER with dogs is her Cavalier, who is the softest sweetest boy ever. Ollie is a little firecracker and has attitude and personality plus. How he ends up will be up to her and him and I guess to some extent Ernie and I. As Ernie refuses to engage, Ollie may learn that such behaviour stops the fun. But aren't cockers such big dogs in little packages?? Edited May 11, 2015 by Stressmagnet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Interesting. Ernie's best friend is a cocker of the same age - 1 year. He's recently taken to growling and snapping at any other dog that happens to play with Ernie. His owner stops him immediately with a No but then cuddles him, saying he's insecure. I think she's rewarding him for the behaviour. Maybe he is insecure, and maybe she's rewarding the behaviour, or maybe she's not. Even if the behaviour is becoming more frequent, it's not necessarily because the owner is reinforcing it. This is why trainers and behaviourists should do functional analyses for problem behaviours. IMO a good functional analysis involves some experimentation if possible. I'm a pretty good guesser, but why guess when you can test? You can develop very specific and effective training plans if you know the function of a behaviour, and you don't need emotionally-laden words. Just objective observations. And really good dog handling skills, great people communication skills and good insurance. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 But aren't cockers such big dogs in little packages?? "Wolves in sheeps clothing" were the words used by one dog trainer I respect. They need boundaries, training and a firm but fair hand or they can be little monsters. They are NOT lap dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stressmagnet Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 But aren't cockers such big dogs in little packages?? "Wolves in sheeps clothing" were the words used by one dog trainer I respect. They need boundaries, training and a firm but fair hand or they can be little monsters. They are NOT lap dogs. Well, my friend is in for a sharp shock as she treats him as if he was another Cav. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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