Aggresive Dog On Lead

[Trisven13]

We have a foster dog in care at the moment who is a little JRT X Shih Tzu, only 12 months old.

Dudley is perfectly fine in a backyard with other dogs and has a great time, a little bit of male posturing which typical of a young male JRT who still has his dangly bits, but otherwise fine. His foster carer advised this morning that he walks really well on lead but when he sees another dog he wants to kill it. He has also nearly chewed through a lead when tied up at the shop for 5 minutes while they bought a newspaper.

He is only young and very intelligent so I would think that he is very easily trainable but I have someone wanting to meet him today and I want to give responsible practical information on what they can do. I have said that he would need to do further obedience training which they are interested in but what else could they do?

Everyone believes that he has had a bad experience on a lead and he now has a "get you before you get me" mentality and his aggresive behaviour is working for him as it keeps other dogs away but not sure on the best ways to work to get him past this. I'm obviously not looking for an internet diagnosis just a few pointers.

Obviously ensuring the human is top dog is the first thing but other than that.

[Cosmolo]

Make sure he is not on a tight lead, ie. teach him to walk on a loose lead without the presence of other dogs and then reinforce the rule in the presence of other dogs. Dogs that are reactive on lead usually have a degree of frustration, fear or both associated with not being able to 'get away'.

[Tonymc]

Tris, I would the diagnosis of getting in first is right.

You could try this approach.As you mentioned Obedience Training would be a big help.Obedience training with distractions would be really helpful with this Dog.The distractions best used in this case are other Dogs of course.

I am assuming that this Dog lives in close proximity to other Dogs as you state in the above Post.As you said off leash he gets along fine with the others.Off leash the Dog of course does not have the fear and feeling of entrapment.

I would make use of one of the other Dogs that he gets along with off leash.I would utilise his home enviroment to make use of the security he feels there.Have another Person put one of the dogs he is familiar with, on a Collar and Leash.Have the Fearful Dog on a Collar and Leash also.The person with the Fearful Dog needs to start for example practising exercises such as Sit and reward the Dog when he complys.Meantime the Person holding the Friendly Dog is some distance off.The person incharge of the fearful Dog needs to dictate to the Handler of the friendly Dog how far off they stay or when its ok to move slightly closer.Take note of the Fearful Dogs reaction as the other Dog is gradually moved in closer.do not get the other Dog to rush in too soon.Rather than that just move the other Dog in till the fearful Dog slightly reacts and that will tell his fear threshold.When you have that established, leave the friendly dog there at that distance whilst still working through excersises and rewarding the Fearful Dog.What we are trying to do is to link the rewards with the approach of another Dog.

Depending on how entrenched the fear is, the fearul Dog may or may not react at all to a friendly Dog he knows.In the advent of the fearful Dog not reacting at all to the use of a Dog he knows, then use a reliable friendly Dog he does not know.

As the fearful Dog shows by his reaction that he is ok with a Dog at a certain distance, gradually in stages work the other Dog in closer.Keep up the rewards.

Once the Fearful Dog is ok at Home I would then repeat the Process in another enviroment.I would also if possible when doing this exercise use as many different Dogs as I could. Tony

[imy]

I think I'd probably get the dog alone in a yard with a shortish lead (one that touches legs when let go of but doesn't tangle) I'm sure you have a chewed one hanging around somwhere... either that or get a $2 shop one and cut it.

Put the lead on the dog and let go. Then play play play until its pooped.

Even feed it with the lead on.

Eventually it might get to know that the sensation of the lead on isn't such a bad thing. Then, with treats by the handful and a dog with an empty tummy, try some training with a longer lead and you holding it.

The dog has probably had a negative experience on lead which it needs to get over. Looks like a long haul coming up!

I don't know that I'd have other dogs around while its on lead until you know its pretty over the whole lead thing. It obviously feels a bit vulnerable on lead

[imy]

I'm curious to hear what you've chosen to do with this one and how things are going :rolleyes:

[CALB]

Also curious to hear the result of this as it sounds like I have exactly the same problem.

My dog was rescued at 5 months old and is (now) reasonably well behaved at home. He is now 9 months old.

Outside, he never shows any aggression towards people (even on leash), and is great at walking on a loose leash when there aren't any dogs (or cyclists, or joggers) around. The second he spies another dog, he becomes tense and goes into 'attack' mode. He is 22kgs, so I have to stand still to physically control him or he goes bananas and trips me up or practically wrenches my shoulder from its socket.

He is spayed, and we are attending obedience classes. However, the problem is exacerbated there because he is on leash along with 10 other dogs! If I stand a little further away and warn others not to come too close, he is generally okay, but hell breaks loose if his 'personal space' is broken. I have tried distracting and rewarding when his attention is on me when another dog comes near... the problem is that I usually cannot get his attention away from the other dog in order to reward him.

He plays happily with any dog I bring into the yard (even my friend's chihuahua). We also have another older male dog, and I tried walking them together so maybe he'd feel more secure, but it made no difference. I am trying to appear relaxed when we approach another dog so that he doesn't get the idea that there's anything to worry about, but I'm obviously tensing up and communicating a different message. I'm trying so hard, but don't know what to do.

[Cosmolo]

CALB, have you spoken to the obedience club you are attending about the issues your experiencing?

[CALB]

CALB, have you spoken to the obedience club you are attending about the issues your experiencing?

Yes, i have - the first one told me that I should just avoid all dogs. Kinda hard when you're out on a walk, and not really a solution.

After pressing the issue he gave me a book called "Toolbox - tips for managing your problem dog" which just goes through the general stuff about being alpha in the pack, etc etc. Nothing I didn;t already know from my other dog.

The other trainer suggested I stand back from the group at school, so he feels more secure, which is working (sometimes) at training, but not when I'm out on a walk.

Another one suggested spraying him in the mouth with mint breath sprayas a deterrent and strong distraction at the point when he went to lunge at the other dog. But I don't want him to associate my hand coming towards him as a negative experience.

He's such a beautiful little pup in all other respects, I just wish I could figure this behaviour out and get some strategies for combatting it.

[Cosmolo]

CALB- have you considered getting a private trainer/ behaviourist with experience with such issues to assist you? It doesn't sound like the instructors at your club have the experience to effectively combat such a problem.

[CALB]

CALB- have you considered getting a private trainer/ behaviourist with experience with such issues to assist you? It doesn't sound like the instructors at your club have the experience to effectively combat such a problem.

Private consultation had crossed my mind, but at first I was hoping the obedience classes would help. However, perhaps you are right, I think it would lessen the stress on both of us. Do you know of anyone reputable in the Canberra area?

[Erny]

Can you get over to see Steve at K9 Force?

[CALB]

Can you get over to see Steve at K9 Force?

Interesting website. Certainly has some good testimonials. I suppose it might be a possibility, though not immediately. Will talk to my other half. Might be worth taking my other dog along too.

[CALB]

Can you get over to see Steve at K9 Force?

Interesting website. Certainly has some good testimonials. I suppose it might be a possibility, though not immediately. Will talk to my other half. Might be worth taking my other dog along too.

I started both my dogs on the 'triangle of temptation' yesterday. Both are very food driven. My older dog didn't take his eyes off me, and it didn't take puppy long at all.

We also had a very positive experience this morning on our walk, as an offleash (friendly looking) lab came bounding up to us (from the front, not behind). I saw him coming, but this time I took a calming breath and allowed the leash to stay loose, thinking that perhaps he wouldn't feel so trapped, and puppy actually had a game! Not even so much as a growl. Needless to say I lavished praise on him. Since he didn't react negatively, I like to think this is a good tactic - what do you think?

I don't know what will happen next time, or if this will work when we're passing another dog on lead, but I will try to stay relaxed, and if things don't improve, I will try one on one help.

[Luke GSP]

I believe that the reason for your dogs agression when on a lead is probably one of two things either the dog believes that it is still the Alpha and needs to protect the pack ie you, or it is scared due to previous bad experience with other dogs whilst on a leash. If you have the time and a cooperative partner I would ask a friend to walk towards you with another dog from a considerable distance whilst you walk towars them. Try and get your dogs attention by continually talking to it in an upbeat and happy tone. As soon as your dog becomes aggressive turn away sharply from the oncoming dog and walk away saying nothing and giving your dog no attention /interaction at all. Once your dog has stopped being agressive turn around again and begin to approach the other dog agin. Obviously the aim is that the gap between the two dogs will become smaller and smaller until eventually your dog gets past the other without freaking out. You must make sure that the other dog is a calm submissive dog that will not react to your dogs aggression and you must make sure that you are in totally the right frame of mind. If your are tense waiting for the aggression to come your dog will sense this as a weakness and assume the alpha role and try to protect the pack. IMHO

[Erny]

Personally I think it's best to have behaviour modification methods shown and explained BEFORE you try them. This way it can be pointed out to you when the VERY EARLY signs of aggression begin .... or more particularly, help you identify when your dog is beginning to think about acting aggressively. THEN is the time to act, not later, but maybe even sometimes earlier.

Aggression is complex and there is no "one-size" fits all method of approach to changing the behaviour. What might have worked for one (or even more) dogs may not be suitable for yours ..... or for you (the dog/owner combo needs to be taken into account too).

Aggression is not like teaching a dog a skill (eg "sit") goofing that up a little isn't likely to be detrimental (save for the fact that training might take longer). Goof up on aggression and the results can prove disasterous and in some cases irreparable. Hence 'tips' over the net on how to deal with it is not IMO recommended.

Perhaps an approach as suggested by LD might be in part what a behaviourist/trainer may recommend. But maybe, once the behaviourist/trainer has had opportunity to observe and assess, he/she might not deem it a suitable approach.

This is the chance you take. And again, IMO, I don't leaving anything to chance when it comes to aggression ..... or for that matter, fear issues.

Edited May 4, 2007 by Erny

[Staranais]

I would ask a friend to walk towards you with another dog from a considerable distance whilst you walk towars them. Try and get your dogs attention by continually talking to it in an upbeat and happy tone. As soon as your dog becomes aggressive turn away sharply from the oncoming dog and walk away saying nothing and giving your dog no attention /interaction at all.

If your dog feels scared or threatened by the other dog, then I imagine it would feel relieved when it was taken away from the other dog. Feeling relief is rewarding.

If as soon as your dog acts aggressively you turn and take it away from the other dog, thereby rewarding your dog, couldn't this encourage your dog to display aggression whenever it felt threatened?

[khan28]

Ive got a similar problem with my male GSD. Behind the gate he will dam near tear it down to get to another dog walking past or if out on a leash he goes nuts if he sees another dog, lunging, teeth bared absolutely frightening and he is 49kg walking with my 32kg girll GSD who just thinks omigd here we go again. yet I have found a dog in my back yard and he has paid no attention to it, he has had a little dog on my front lawn and Khan got out and just ignored it. I feel it is just some sort of domination thing and is all bluster but I cant take the risk if I was to let him off the lead in the reserve. He carried on one day when he saw from a distance this little old lady pulling one of those shopping trolleys! He was locked in a backyard for 5years with two other dogs and never taken anywhere, is he de socialised?? And what can you do. Sorry to hop on the back of this post but I wouldnt mind some advice if anyone can help, he is now just turned 7yrs.

[khan28]

Oh! I didnt have him then, I didnt lock him away, I take him for walks everyday and out in the car with the windows safely up in case a dog walks by while we are stopped.

[Luke GSP]

I would ask a friend to walk towards you with another dog from a considerable distance whilst you walk towars them. Try and get your dogs attention by continually talking to it in an upbeat and happy tone. As soon as your dog becomes aggressive turn away sharply from the oncoming dog and walk away saying nothing and giving your dog no attention /interaction at all.

If your dog feels scared or threatened by the other dog, then I imagine it would feel relieved when it was taken away from the other dog. Feeling relief is rewarding.

If as soon as your dog acts aggressively you turn and take it away from the other dog, thereby rewarding your dog, couldn't this encourage your dog to display aggression whenever it felt threatened?

To me it depends on who the dog is trying to defend? Itself becasuse it is scared or, the owner/pack because the owner is tense (concerned about what thier dog is going to do)

I would say thet it depends on what the dog does when it sees the other dog. There is not much point in a dog wanting to bite/ attack another dog for no reason. I would assume that the agression is due to one of a couple of things, Dominance/pack protection (from either side) or fear from passed experience (previously attacked).

If the reason is dominance then it is not your dogs job to assert dominance over other animals that they come across IMHO. I believe that It is the ALPHA dogs role.

If the reason is to protect the pack and repel a percieved intruder/enemy? then again it is the ALPHA dogs role IMO.

To me if it is trying to get to the other dog for whatever reason it is confused about its role within the pack. by turning briskly away you are 1,removeing the threat, 2, the dog will realise that by being agressive it is getting nowhere just walking around in circles, and 3,you are also showing leadership of the pack ie: YOU have decided to walk away. YOU have taken stock of the situation and You have decided how the pack will deal with it.

By doing this you have removed all responsibility from your dogs shoulders, all it has to do is enjoy its walk with it's pack leader safe in the knowledge that it's leader will deal with any issues that arise and take the appropriate action. Thats waht I believe anyway. I am not claiming to be right. As I have said before I am not a dog whisperer or listener or Dr doolittle, I just believe that that most issues are caused by us humanising our dogs and not understanding that they want /need very clear stucture to thier surroundings and pack make up.

[charmbug]

I have had a little success lately with my furry little muttly demon Fossil. She always tugs to be way in front and goes absolutely berserk when she sees an approaching dog, especially a larger dog. She gets so worked up that she doesn't even seem to notice the dog anymore and is just doing these weird feral backflips like a yoyo on the lead while snarling. This has been such an embarrassment to me especially because I have tried walking in different directions, but she will still explode if the dog is across the road etc. I have tried repremands and comfort.

Anyways, after watching the tv show of the Dog Whisperer I figured I would just try one of his techniques (and if that works maybe I will follow Dr Phil for marriage advice), same as rest about alpha dog etc, except that he suggested making the dog walk behind rather than in front. So far this has been working really well for us, she frequently tries to weasle her way in front when she sees another dog coming, but does not go beserk when I keep her back. I just keep reminding her with a tcht! noise and pointing at her, and if she is showing signs of excitement a little poke along with the noise (apparently to imitate the pack leader nipping). Along with a loose lead and acting very confident in front of her, she no longer sees it as her job or her problem to defend.

I don't know if I would be as confident with a bigger dog, but have only been doing this a week and she can now (sometimes) even say hello to other dogs without drama.

Good luck though, I know it is embarrassing when it is the little ones that causes all the trouble.