Dog aggression issues - Help Me Please!

[TheWholePack]

Last year my father asked me to take his 7 year old Blue Heeler into my home when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. (I have 5 other dogs, all well adjusted and happily living in the country with me.) He was neutered upon arrival. I have noticed escalating aggression and insecurity issues that are now out of control. Tonight he attacked my 10 year old mixed breed that was sound asleep on the floor of the livingroom!

What I have observed is the following:
He growls when I feed the dogs, when he comes into the house, when he passes my other dogs. He doesn't let them near me without getting angry.

He won't let me out of his sight. I haven't taken a shower without him laying right outside of the shower for the last year. If I go to the kitchen for water, he follows.

He does the "drive-by" snapping to the rest of the dogs.

He never plays or interacts socially with the rest of the pack.

He's obsessed with his frisbee and ball. He sleeps with them, carrys them around, and can even bark with them in his mouth.

He can't be outside without me. He'll go out, go to the bathroom not far away from the house (I live on a ranch - there's piles of space to wander) and then he insistently barks and pushes on the door with his nose to come in.

When he's mad and I send him to his bed he shows me his teeth. I've never backed down but tell him to "leave it" in a firm voice (no yelling or hitting) until he's calm. Once he is calm I reward him by saying good boy. This hasn't worked at all.

He's very intelligent but he's trying to be a pack leader and I don't know what to do with him. I took him for a week to Dallas (12 hour drive and a fortune in training) that did nothing. The guy used a shock collar and told me to back tie him until he did what he was told. I tried the collar for a day or two but it just made him angrier. I hated the idea of the collar, but this guy came highly recommended. Next week I'm driving him up to San Antonio for a day with BarkBusters. I hope I get something out of that.

I'm not ignorant in the ways of dogs or pack mentalities. I read about dog training and dog psychology often and have had dogs all my life. This is something that I've just never come across and I really hope you can give me some help or tips.

When Lucky is calm he's a great dog. Unfortunately he has these outbursts that are ruining my home life and making my other dogs nervous. Please help!

[Romy]

Oh dear..

First off, I would chuck the electric collar and cancel your appointment to bark busters. With an angry, reactive dog domineering physical punishment makes their behavior much worse, which you have already discovered.

He sounds very insecure with the other dogs, and from your description of how he is so possessive of his toys and you. I wouldn't say he is trying to "be alpha" so much as, he is trying to control his resources in a way that makes him feel safe. His resources being, you, his food, his toys.

Does he have a crate or other safe place that is his and only his? A dog like him sounds like he would benefit a lot from having his own place, where only he gets fed and he can keep his toys safe, and he can retreat to when he needs a time out.

It sounds like he has some serious problems and I'm glad you're willing to get some professional help for him as these aren't things that can be solved over the internet. You will need a very good trainer with a lot of experience working agressive/insecure dogs, and who works them using positive methods. You can bet that trainers who resort to using punishment to "train" an agressive dog don't have much experience with them, as those methods make the problem worse.

There are some really knowlegable people on here and some who are professional trainers who can recommend someone in your area qualified to work with problems like this. I'm sure they'll chime in pretty soon.

Lastly, how is his health? If he has some kind of underlying health problem that is causing him to be in pain, he won't understand what is causing the pain and will associate it with other things around him (like your other dog sleeping on the floor). This could cause him to be aggressive/defensive around the things that he thinks are hurting him.

[OutlineACDs]

Get his thyroid checked. Do the full michigan panel.

Teach him a reliable "Go to place" command. Get a rug and reward him for being on it. When you dole out treats to the other dogs, only give him his when hes on his rug. For instance give another dog a treat and ask him if he wants one. When he perks up, throw his treat onto his rug and continue to toss him treats while giving the other dogs some. This way he isn't bullying the others to get to you/treats/toys etc.

[Charliesmommy]

ACDs are very intelligent, energetic working dogs. They will become easily bored, which will lead to behavioral problems. Personally, I would never have one unless it was either a working dog or I was involved in agility or something to keep him very occupied. I am too lazy for such things. :)

My guess is that this dog needs regimented exercise, both physical and mental, and plenty of it!

[Herschel]

He sounds very insecure with the other dogs, and from your description of how he is so possessive of his toys and you. I wouldn't say he is trying to "be alpha" so much as, he is trying to control his resources in a way that makes him feel safe. His resources being, you, his food, his toys.

Does he have a crate or other safe place that is his and only his? A dog like him sounds like he would benefit a lot from having his own place, where only he gets fed and he can keep his toys safe, and he can retreat to when he needs a time out.

Lastly, how is his health? If he has some kind of underlying health problem that is causing him to be in pain, he won't understand what is causing the pain and will associate it with other things around him (like your other dog sleeping on the floor). This could cause him to be aggressive/defensive around the things that he thinks are hurting him.

Agree 100%.

[TheWholePack]

Thank you all for your replies......

Lucky has had very thorough check ups from my vet. It took me several years to find one that I was satisfied with and I know he's in great shape.

The shock collar has been on a shelf for many months......I had never needed one before with my other 5 dogs and the pile of money I spent on that "training" was a waste. I know that was a mistake.

Lucky has two beds of his own. One under my desk where he feels safe and he knows the command "bed" and goes there (although there is some low growls in protest at times). The other is on the floor in the bedroom where he spends the night.

I have a very large pet taxi that I used last night after the attack. It is now next to my desk and will be his spot inside the house to retreat to. I am interested in your opinions on crate training. Please feel free to comment.

I live in Monterrey, Mexico, a few hours south of the Texas border. Trainers down here are quacks......sorry for the harsh opinion, but I wouldn't let any of them near my dogs. They use punishment and shock collars and have very little experience or training. I have an appointment next Tuesday in San Antonio with BarkBusters. They told me that there is no punishment nor rewards in their training system. I have spoken with the couple that will be giving me training advise and a lot of it is very similar to what I've seen here on the forum. (I was up until 3 am reading and today 3 books that were recommended here are arriving via amazon...)

Today I have taken his toys away and will only get them out once we are outside, he's had a chance to calm down, and I decide when we play. I keep him active as much as possible with walks and the unending frisbee play. I have also started having him sit before opening the door to take him out and he's responding well.

I probably would have never brought another dog into my house at this point. However, it was my father's last wish and I want to do what's best for Lucky. He's so very inteligent and a great dog one on one. He's just socially inept. I know it's going to be a long process in order to get him comfortable but I'm willing to make every effort. It's worth it to me and the rest of my dogs.

I understand that I won't get a quick fix over the internet, but I'm on my own down here, so education and firm patience is all I can count on to solve this. I am so happy to have found this forum and I greatly appreciate any information, tips, or advice that you give me!

[Dekka]

Bark busters do use punishment-a training program has to use one or the other or it won't work.... (I don't use punishment/aversives with my dogs, but I esp wouldn't use it with a dog like yours) They might not call it punishment...but a rose by any other name...

Dekka sounds a lot like your dog only we have worked through those issues. She now competes around other dogs, and shares the house nicely with 4 others. Its not really dominance, its a lack of communication, and anxiety. I joke that dekka thinks there is a secret exit from the bathroom, and if she doesnt come in with me, I might take it and skip town :) I would implement the NILIF protocol for a while, let him be near you (which is what he seems to want more than anything) If he is resource guarding you from the other dogs (Dekka did that) a good book is MINE by Jean Donaldson.

[Herschel]

I have an appointment next Tuesday in San Antonio with BarkBusters. They told me that there is no punishment nor rewards in their training system.

:lol-sign: Run! Run as far as you can. A dog won't learn without one or the other...

I agree with Dekka. NILIF and bonding will help.

[Charliesmommy]

They told me that there is no punishment nor rewards in their training system.


Uuuuhhhh.......then how do they do it? :confused:

[TheWholePack]

Well, the Bark Busters people told me that they would be teaching me to take the dominant role using body language and tone of voice......

Can any of you give me an opinion of Bark Busters?

I just found a great explanation of NILIF and I'm glad to say that some of it I have been doing. However, I need to be more consistent and apply it more broadly.

I have always thought that Lucky was insecure. I have read that dogs live in the moment, but could it be that he is developing these behaviors due to the fact that he lost my father and moved several thousand miles to live in another house?

Here with me he has a lot of space, gets more exercise, eats much better quality food, and yet still seems unsure of everything. He's never been around other dogs, and is socially inept, this has been a big problem.

I also thought he was insecure due to his flatulence. (110 degree heat and a dog farting under my desk......I'm sure you can imagine!) The vet said it was metabolism, nothing more. (This was after a rather thorough check-up).

Are insecurity and aggression linked? If so, where does one begin?

[otch1]

Hi there. So sorry to hear about your dad! This is a difficult age to re-home a lot of dogs. Especially if he was the only dog in you fathers home and is then introduced to a home with not one, but 5 other dogs!! There is obviously a lot of anxiety being displayed, which will also present itself in the form of aggression. Obsession with you, objects, refusal to interact with the other dogs, separation anxiety. While seeking out a trainer experienced in behavioral modification, recommend you proof this dogs environment to prevent any future dog attacks. For now, there should be no toys, bed, items he considers his and will become possessive over. Everything is yours! He needs to be safely crated to sleep at night. Be careful about establishing his crate space for him, then allowing any of the other dogs to access to it. With a total of 6 dogs in your home, this may not be the best environment for him and I'm sure your dad would understand that it's all about what's best for the dog, if keeping him with you is not ideal and becomes too stressful for everyone involved. In the meantime, Lucky is very fortunate he has someone as committed to his well being, as you are. You've been given some good references to reading material and I hope you find a good trainer in your area.

[Dekka]

Insecurity and aggression are intimately linked. A true alpha dog, does not behave in that manner, there is no need.

Save your money, and your dog, and skip Bark Busters...trust me there is punishment involved.

As to the body language thing...dogs are dogs, and they are smart enough to know that, we, are NOT dogs. The whole idea of being 'alpha' by posturing is very silly. Unless you are going to get down on all fours and try to do dog (which would be pretty hard without a muzzle, movable ears and such) its a waste of time.

Dogs do what works, this behaviour is working for this dog. You need to make some othe behaviour work better, and make this behaviour stop paying.

Culture Clash, also by Jean Donaldson, is a great book, as is anything by Dr Ian Dunbar.

[otch1]

Just read your last post. As you described, he's been put in the opposite environment he came from. A change in his daily routine, exercise, feed, never having been socialized with other dogs to now adjusting to 5 he has to share the resources and the human with. Very stressful. Keep him and your other dogs safe for now, and make gradual changes while you decide if yours is the best home for a dog like this. Good luck.

[otch1]

Ditto Ian Dunbar, Dekka, for addressing behavioral issues like this!

[Zoom]

BarkBusters are a bunch of quacks as well. Save your money. They like to give you logoed squirt bottles and bags with chains inside to throw at the dog when he does something wrong, as well as neat little logoed collars. Every dog I have met that has been through their "program" has come out worse behaved than before, only now it's been reinforced for bad behavior. But they'll be a walking advertisement!

Everything I would recommend has been said, I just had to give my two cents on BB.