Some Serious Aggression Issues?

Hi,
I'm having some real problems with Floob. If I think about it too hard I could just sit and cry so I'll just outline some things in the hope that anyone has any tips/advice/help to offer... as you always do

Ok, some may remember me posting about Floob getting badly attacked by a rotty when he was 7 months, Well this had an effect on him and I worked so hard in sociallizing him again and making sure he was in possitive surroundings all the time.

During the attack though I was screaming, the other woman was shouting and men were shouting. Before this Floob hardly barked. Since that happened he's barked at EVERY woman shouting, laughing, anything. I use the 'shush' command and he calms down quite quickly.

Now, about 6 months ago he started growling and barking at other dogs. It started with black ones, then small brown ones... but I realised it wasn't the dog as such, it was when they were on leashes and were pulling. If they were panting, pulling or just acting eager to get to him he warned them off. I've worked hard getting him to pay attention to me so walking past dogs now has become alot better, but not great.

This is where it gets mad. He's now started to growl and bark at people. He loves people, always has done so I have no idea what's triggered this. Anyone who reaches out to stroke him he growls at. As I'd socialised him well and this was always ok for him I let it happen, always with me saying first "say hello then". Not anymore. Just yesterday I was standing talking to someone on the street and Floob was laying at my feet. He knew this person so was fine with them approaching us. Someone else walked by on the other side of the road and in a really jolly voice shouted "morning"... he immediatly jumped up and barked at her quite fiercly. I was distraught. I just don't know what else to do to.

I always use possitive talk to him. I say 'good boy' to re enforce possitive behaviour and he responds. I do alot of heel work to keep his attention on me. He's never been shouted at let alone physically punished in any way. He reacts to my moves like a flash of lightening. If I stood up fast now he'd be at the door or window barking before I could look over. It's like he's super edgy and I don't know why :cry:

I want him to be happy. I want to go with confidence to all the places we goto but I'm getting more and more worried that I'll end up having to muzzel him and keep him on his leash. This is unbearable

He comes everywhere with me. To the shops, the pub (bar), everywhere I walk to, events, the lot. I can't bare the thought of having to leave him at home.

 

I have heard that dogs have a lttle aggression when they meet other dogs on harnesses bc of their posture, so maybe it is something like that with dogs?
but maybe the fight caused some sort of neurological damage? Maybe you could take him in and get him checked?

 

Nik, sorry to hear of Floobs agression issues!
But don't worry sweety. It can be fixed!

Remember back when he was attacked? He susstained a serious trauma! Maybe not physically but mentally he took a shock.

What you need to do is slowly re socialize him. I know... I know... you've already done this, but it is a necessity.

Have a friend or two help you out!
Have a friend wait for you at your house (outside) maybe at the end of your driveway or corner of your block. Take Floob for a walk and have them come up to you. When he behaves, praise the dickens outta him!
Then take him straight back home.

Have a diffrent friend do the same. And add new people that he's never known before as well..
For every good behavior, priase him. If he acts agressively, give him a firm "NO!" take him back home and leave him for a short while alone, and then take him back out to meet some one new.

Once he gets over his people agression, add in a small dog... and work your way up.

Starting another puppy class or obediance class where other dogs will be present could help as well...

 

You might find Patricia McConnells booklets "Fiesty Fido" and the "Cautious Canine" helpful. You can probably desensitize him to shouting/loud voices too if you can get a few volunteers to help you.

How old is Floob?

 

Hi guys,
Thanks for your helpful replies.

Sams - I'd thought about starting another class so with you saying it might be worth it I'll look into another one that's around here. I'd forgot about another traumatic experiance he's had. A stick, he had to have surgery to remove it and when I took him back for a check up he went at the vet. Maybe the people thing stems from that day, he thinks people who reach out at his face are going to hurt him??

I'm deffenitly going to do the 'people waiting outside' thing. I don't actually know anyone around here well enough to help me out but I'll pluck up courage and ask at least 2 who I speak to. When I move onto starngers I'll probably just have to ask people in the street to help me out. When they act like they want to say hello I'll quickly breif them first... hopefully they'll be willing.

Thanks so much!

Lil - As I said up there, he's right off with the vet at the moment so I'll try a few tips myself first and if things don't improve I'll take him to get checked out. Thanks!

Nern - Floob's 2 at the end of next month. Thanks for the book titles. I've had a look on ebay and Amazon and neither have it so I'll have a look around some bookshop sites for a bit now. I didn't make the shouting bit clear. It's when they're outside, walking past or having an argument in the street. We never usually shout at home, so he doesn't hear it. (no kids you see lol) Thanks again.

 

How old is Floob now?
I agree with what Nern says about the desensitization, and with Sams suggestion of getting into a group class. Desensitization is the key here. Ever wondered how police/security dogs can walk through a football crowd completely calm, army dogs that dont flinch with loud bangs going off next to them, they go through intense desensitization training.
You need to get a little tough with him, you said youve always used positive reinforcemnet which is great but he's realized that he can 'get away' with barking at people, intimidating them or dogs and is too defensive, its sad because of what happened when the other dog attacked him, all the shouting going on around him, I cant imagine how traumatic that must have been for him but it can be corrected, it'll take some time.
I know you said he heels well, does he sit and stay also? If so, I would start him off taking him to places where there are not so many people, if he is in the habit of automatically barking at people near your house then I would take him somewhere neutral, (less reason for him to be defensive), maybe a quiet park when there are no kids around (daylight hours though not when its dark), have him heel, sit, stay....kind of doing a little training session with him, (what kind of collar do you use?....have you used a choke chain on him? have you used a Halti?). Once he is confortable with minimal people/dogs around then advance to a place where there is a little more activity, gradually increasing this. The thing is though if he does start barking at anyone you are going to have to give him some kind of correction, sometimes verbal is enough (a stern 'NO', lower your voice a little and make it sound as though you mean it)....then as soon as hes had the correction walk away with him, even if hes pulling and still barking just keep going (in the opposite direction of who hes barking at), once hes stopped barking then motivate him to come back into his heel position and then give him praise If after youve given him some praise he starts to bark or growl, a quick stern 'NO' and repeat the process, you need to be confident and consistant with your actions. I use attention withdrawal a lot, sometimes I dont say anything I just walk off with the dog, keep going at a steady pace. You need to be patient though, there is no real quick fix, its a gradual process. As for when your home and he starts barking at the door or window have you tried using a water/spray bottle? (unless he likes water bottles, some dogs do).
I think at this point that some of his defensiveness may be a reaction to your anxiety, he'll pick up on that real easy....its like a vicious cycle, you know he's behaved like this so now you expect it which makes you anxious which makes him defensive....I know you dont want to use a muzzle but if it will make you relax more...knowing he cant possible snap at anyone then you might start off with one at least for the training/desensitizing....if you do, use a basket one not the closed mouth type. Sometimes a muzzle in itself can make a difference, the dog knows it cant bite and it may have a calming effect....not always the case but works that way with some dogs.

 

If you can't find the books anywhere else you can get them directly from Patricia's website here:
http://www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com/books-retail.php

I was curious about his age because behavior changes are often noticed between 1 1/2 - 3yrs of age (depeding on the individual dog). These changes come with maturity. So, it could be related to his previous bad experience or it could just be his age or maybe its a combo of both.

I understood what you meant on the shouting occuring outside with neighbors. What I meant was - if you could employ a few volunteers to speak loudly from a distance while you are out with Floob you could practice desensitizing him to the shouting voices by having them gradually (over a few days or weeks) speak louder and louder from a distance that does not cause Floob to react while you work on changing his response. Loud voices or shouting should become a cue for good things to come. I would use treats for this. The idea is to change his emotional state from scared/defensive to positive upon hearing loud voices.

 

Thanks for your replies.

I'll have a look around that site Nern and deffinitly order those 2 books, if they deliver here, but most places deliver world wide nowadays so it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks DeLa, I laughed at your 'oops' pm :lol: As I read your post I turned around to where Floob and my boyfriend are laying on the floor, Dave (boyfriend) rubbing Floobs belly, and said "right, I've been too easy on you, time to toughen up"... Dave held Floob closer and said "don't worry, Daddy's here, I'll save you" :mrgreen:

I am quite strict with him anyway, he acts like I'm no fun, but I'll deffinitly give all of your suggestions a go.

 

Keep us updated with how things are going.

 

Maisey posted just recently about all the progress she has made with Witt using one of those books. Here is the thread: http://www.auspet.com/forum/about10775.html&highlight=

Feisty Fido is at the US amazon.com here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...002-4342618-3343261?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

And Cautious Canine is here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...002-4342618-3343261?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

I know they will ship overseas.

 

Thanks Jamiya. I've just looked those up and I can get both books, plus delivery for $25 so I'll order them next week when there's some pennies in the bank.

I've toughened up a bit on him and he seems to be a bit more confident. Every person who's approached us I've asked them not to reach out to him and he's been fine. No growling or barking at one person for almost a week now

We met my uncle whilst out one day and Floob went running up to him (as he knows him he had the 'ok'). He doesn't know him that well though so I was weary. He was fine until uncle went to stroke his head, then he backed away. His tail was wagging and he was 'herding' him (he just goes round and round people's legs who he knows until they stroke him) letting him stroke his back and pat his side, but not his head from the front.
From this I decided it might not be as bad as I first thought. I'm going to get him used to being aproached then start asking people he barely knows to work up to letting him stroke him from the front. He lets everyone he knows approach him however they want to it's clearly a 'stranger' thing.

We'll get there with all your help
Thanks!