Terrible agressive Behavior

[wils0743]

We live in the country and our dog, Zeek (5 yrs old), is an outside pet. When we are outside, we let him out of his kennel to tag along with us and we let him out to play very often. He has always been a wanderer, and sometimes takes off after deer and other animals. He is disciplined for this. He barks at anything when he is in his kennel. The other day, he was wandering around not far from us when he found a sleeping raccoon in a hollow log. He attacked it very visciously, biting and shaking it violently. He would not let go for anything. When he finally did, the animal was severly injured died. When my father attempted to go near Zeek, he was yelling, Zeek snarled. He has been doing this lately. This agressive behavior is worsening and he listens less and less, although he knows when he does wrong (This could be just in the tone of our voice though.) Zeek is a yellow lab, he is suposed to be a bird dog, not a viscious killer as we recently saw. Other than this incident, he has been a great dog, maybe a bit energetic, but never violent or quite so territorial. We don't know what to do.

[DanL]

So you are saying that when he runs away, you discipline him when he comes back? When you do that he doesn't realize he's being disciplined for running away. He associates it with coming back.

It sounds like your dog needs pretty much basic training if he runs off and won't listen. He's probably frustrated from being in the kennel all the time as well. Dogs are social animals and like/need companionship.

[opokki]

He barks at anything when he is in his kennel.

This could be the result of boredom. How much exercise does he get daily? Increasing his daily exercise in addition to giving him some tough chews (if he enjoys chewing) might help with this.

Zeek is a yellow lab, he is suposed to be a bird dog, not a viscious killer as we recently saw. Other than this incident, he has been a great dog, maybe a bit energetic, but never violent or quite so territorial. We don't know what to do.

Can he see wild animals from inside his kennel? If so this may be causing great frustration for him, frustration that builds up daily and is aggressively released on the nearest passing animal (animals that he sees regularly but can not get to).

[Doberluv]

Well, no offense, but it sounds like you have a lot to learn about dogs. Stick around and I think you can get some help here.

First of all, attacking a racoon is not being vicious or aggressive. A dog is a hunter. This is perfectly normal for a dog to go after prey. It is unreasonable to expect him to not behave like an animal, specifically, a predator, which he is. If he's not hunting, but being territorial...same idea. Dogs protect their territory, their family (pack) and their resources. Good, positive obedience training can be of help to one degree or another.

When you say the word, discipline, what do you mean? Punishment? When you attack or threaten your dog, it is his instinct to defend himself. If you are punishing him harshly, to a dog, that is an attack.

If you don't want him to go after animals, you'll have to train him properly, which you can find out here and online in other places. Still, you can't take the nature out of a dog. You may be able to modify some of this to a degree with a very, very good recall. My Doberman has been called off of chasing deer, squirrels and other dogs. When he was chasing a bear, he blew me off....didn't obey.

Being in a kennel away from the family when you're indoors also prevents the very close bond that it takes to improve the relationship and thus, the training success. Being locked in a kennel and watching the world go by is bound to make a dog frustrated and naturally is going to cause behavior problems, such as excessive barking.

There are ways to train dogs very effectively which exclude harsh punishment or any punishment at all. Dogs should not ever be treated harshly. This causes aggression and other psychological problems.

I agree with the others about getting lots of exercise and obedience training. In addition, making him feel part of the family indoors should make a huge difference in how he views you as his leader and guide. You need to be connected as part of his family with every day activities that go on inside as well as outside. He comes from pack animals and he thrives and in fact, requires having that social bond, not just here and there, but most all the time.

P.S. My late Chocolate Lab, use to hunt and kill wild rabbits. I didn't think much of it at all besides feeling sorry for the rabbits. I certainly didn't see it as being aggressive or vicious on her part. It is just a dog's nature to hunt. How else would they survive in the wild? Dogs are still dogs.

[Fran27]

What he did to that raccoon is normal. I think the reason he started growling at you is because he knew you were upset and didn't want to get hit or yelled at, because everytime he goes after a wild animal, he gets disciplined. It's a totally normal reaction. If you want him to stop growling at you, start using non agressive methods.

[Debi]

also think it's normal...and you better be up to date on rabies vaccine. was he snarling/acting aggressive because your dad was coming at him yelling....sure he was, he probably just saw it as your dad taking his prey. he isn't going to be more civilized if he's 'an outside' dog. yelling at him isn't going to get you anywhere, so as mentioned...start more training. I'd also caution you as to letting him roam in the woods. don't know about where you live, but in my woods......it's usually hunting season for something and alot of dogs are killed. sometimes accidentally, sometimes because they are a nuisance to the hunters. like it or not, I KNOW hunters that shoot dogs in their way. can I control that....no, but I make sure my dogs are NOT out there in danger.

[Debi]

here's another little something to think about. most people have a notion that a dog living in the country is safe to let just 'roam free'....but I've also heard about dogs wandering onto someone's property one too many times, and since they didn't have the heart to shoot it, they put it in their car and drove it somewhere else. cruel....you bet it is....now, think of that being YOUR dog, lost and hungry far from home someday. these are things most of us would never consider doing, but still hard facts you should be aware of.

[EliNHunter]

What do you expect from your dog if it's not an active part of the family and is locked up in a cage outside? Especially a LAB! First thing I'd do is bolt if I were him, too. And first thing I'd do is snarl when getting yelled at for coming home and for his portraying his natrual instincts. The poor thing is confused and sad and bored and not part of your family. Sounds like you just have him for hunting birds and not to love on. Maybe you could rent a lab when bird hunting instead of subjecting him to such an awful lifestyle...

[Gilshuman]

No offence intended here but I agree with everyone else. Your dog is isolated, he doesnt listen because he has no leader, no pack. If you want his respect and for him to respond he needs time and training.

An outside life chained to a kennel (or in a penn) is a crappy lonely life and unatural for a dog. Dogs are pack animals he needs a place in your family, with lots of interaction. If you have him purely as a guard dog, he is doing his job barking at everything and anything. If you were his alpha he would of left the racoon alone with a firm command.

Training, obedience, time with the family, even crated inside is better than left outside unable to see what is going on inside the home. He is an outsider and acts as one. In my opinion only working dogs, with a job to do such as herding cope well with an outside life. Purely because their minds and bodies are active working in the day, they need less stimulation than a pet dog. Even so an inside life is a happier one and creates a better bond working or pet.

If you make the time and space for your dog IN your life, he will reward you tenfold. Right now you are both missing out and something incredibly special.

[Doberluv]

Well, the problem may be that Wils is a child and it's not up to him/her whether the dog is kept inside. Hopefully, all in the family will be willing to take as much interest as Wils is taking (by coming on this forum) and learning how to best train and interact with their dog so that he will become a pleasure to have around instead of having these behavior problems. Even with good training, I must reiterate, the instinct to hunt animals and/or protect his territory from them cannot entirely be trained out of him, especially now that he has been successful so many times. It may be able to be improved upon somewhat, but even very well trained dogs still have a prey drive.

[Debi]

Well, the problem may be that Wils is a child and it's not up to him/her whether the dog is kept inside. Hopefully, all in the family will be willing to take as much interest as Wils is taking (by coming on this forum) and learning how to best train and interact with their dog so that he will become a pleasure to have around instead of having these behavior problems. Even with good training, I must reiterate, the instinct to hunt animals and/or protect his territory from them cannot entirely be trained out of him, especially now that he has been successful so many times. It may be able to be improved upon somewhat, but even very well trained dogs still have a prey drive.


I agree, and I was just hoping that Wils could pass the danger information along to his parents. just tooooo many people really do think it's so nice for a dog to run free in the country, and I've seen so many poor dogs lost...or dumped on my doorstep that I am very frank about it. AND, Wils....it IS sooo wonderful that you came here!! I'm impressed that you care. :) :) I certainly didn't mean to sound harsh to you.

[casablanca1]

We live in the country and our dog, Zeek (5 yrs old), is an outside pet. When we are outside, we let him out of his kennel to tag along with us and we let him out to play very often. He has always been a wanderer, and sometimes takes off after deer and other animals. He is disciplined for this. He barks at anything when he is in his kennel. The other day, he was wandering around not far from us when he found a sleeping raccoon in a hollow log. He attacked it very visciously, biting and shaking it violently. He would not let go for anything. When he finally did, the animal was severly injured died. When my father attempted to go near Zeek, he was yelling, Zeek snarled. He has been doing this lately. This agressive behavior is worsening and he listens less and less, although he knows when he does wrong (This could be just in the tone of our voice though.) Zeek is a yellow lab, he is suposed to be a bird dog, not a viscious killer as we recently saw. Other than this incident, he has been a great dog, maybe a bit energetic, but never violent or quite so territorial. We don't know what to do.

I think that Zeek is a fairly predatory dog. I sympathize with your feelings about his killing another animal - I would not be happy if my dog did that either. But some dogs will kill other animals, and this is not an impossible situation. In the future, you will need to be careful with Zeek around smaller animals, particularly domestic animals, as he may kill cats, smaller dogs, poultry, etc.

Most dogs protect something - their food, their sleep, their owners - and Zeek snarling at your dad was undesirable but this is not an impossible situation either. It does sound as though Zeek would benefit from obedience lessons. Look into joining a class or finding a good book to try on your own. He'd probably also benefit from living inside with the family, but definitely the training. Is he trained as a bird dog?