topic Re: Help dog getting aggressive in Pet Lovers

Help dog getting aggressive

ninjawife — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:33:06 GMT

My adult DD adopted a mixed breed dog at the end of March. Her name is Tilly. Prior to being adopted she was in foster care and prior to that she was a stray. We don't know how long she was a stray or in foster care but her foster mom said she was the sweetest dog she ever fostered. Tilly was very sweet until recently. In the past few weeks Tilly has been jumping on and nipping at my DD when they are out on their walks. Today on their morning walk she ripped DD's sleeve off. DD has bruises all over her right arm. She also has been growling at DD occassionally. DD made an appointment at the vet to make sure Tilly isn't ill but that appointment is not until July 6th (she has been calling each day to see if there is a cancellation) and she is trying to schedule an appointment with a trainer. DD is really upset and DH is going down to stay with her until Sunday to see if he can help.

Any advise?

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Kachina624 — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:45:53 GMT

@ninjawife It sounds like DD is letting Tilly walk all over her. She needs to institute a boot camp atmosphere and let Tilly know she is in charge. Any aggression should immediate be met with a sharp "NO", She should make her work for everything she gets, sit for treats, sit for her meal bowls, only go outside when the okay is given. If she misbehaves during play, it should immediately be discontinued. No growling should be tolerated ever.

Does the aggression seem to be overly enthusiastic play or is it vicious?

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

KingstonMom — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:50:13 GMT

@ninjawife

You need to seek out a 'behaviourist', as well as a trainer.

As someone who has always had rescues and is heavily involved in one of our local rescue groups, it's sometimes hard to figure out how the pet's past life has affected them.

My current rescue had some horrible things done to him, (burned all the way down his back), but he was able to overcome his past with the help of a trainer and a behaviourist.

Now Kingston is the best dog anyone could ask for!

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Stevie Nix — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:55:52 GMT

You might have DD try some calming aids in the interrim. Available in pet stores and on line, like Chewy or Bestvets.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

We rescue cats — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:28:01 GMT

Is Tilly crate trained?

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

ninjawife — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:04:27 GMT

@We rescue cats wrote:
Is Tilly crate trained?

yes

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Kachina624 — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:15:54 GMT

@KingstonMom wrote:
@ninjawife

You need to seek out a 'behaviourist', as well as a trainer.

As someone who has always had rescues and is heavily involved in one of our local rescue groups, it's sometimes hard to figure out how the pet's past life has affected them.

My current rescue had some horrible things done to him, (burned all the way down his back), but he was able to overcome his past with the help of a trainer and a behaviourist.

Now Kingston is the best dog anyone could ask for!

@KingstonMom Good to see Kingston again. I've missed seeing him as your avatar.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

mimomof4 — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:24:34 GMT

Put the dog into obedience training.

Prior to getting with a trainer there is plenty of videos on You Tube to use as a starting point.

We had a dog that started to ****** and show aggression to our kids. We had the dog before kids. We had an obedience trainer come to the home to work on the aggressive behavior. It was a life saver.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Pook — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:51:10 GMT

@ninjawife Could it be that she has not loose leash trained her and she is wanting to tug and pull and go where she wants? As others have said she needs to go to a trainer to have both her and Tilly trained! She also needs a proper leash and not just a leash attached to the collar. There are several different kinds that will not permit such behavior and she will be able to keep dog under control. It also seems that she needs to train the sit command and use that when dog starts to get out of control.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

ValuSkr — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 18:05:34 GMT

I would return her to wherever she came from. Rehabbing problem dogs isn't for me though I recognize some folks would welcome the challenge.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Westie pup Fiona Lily — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 18:13:34 GMT

You've received some good advice. I'd also like to add that a time-out during certain periods of aggression can be extremely helpful.

I have three Westies and occasionally there can be a confrontion that could result in injury. SO I break up the situation and immediately place the instigating dog into her crate.

Time-out only has to last about 5 minutes and then I bring her out and go through training steps with her. The idea of sitting for treats, taking chews away from her shortly after they're given to her, and making her wait until I go first through the door when we go for walks.

There is a checklist for the Good CItizenship program that I use to train my dogs. There are also classes available thrugh this program that are extremely helpful.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

KingstonMom — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:04:23 GMT

@Kachina624

I know! I've got to figure out how to do that again! Any hints?

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

ninjawife — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:21:38 GMT

DH got to DD apartment in time to take Tilly for her lunchtime walk with DD. Tilly did try to jump on DD a couple times but DH was able to pull her away and told her sharply "No". I really think that Tilly does not respect DD as her master and desparately needs training. Fortunately DD found a trainer that can provide one on one training starting next week. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Lilysmom1 — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:39:54 GMT

@ninjawife Good luck!

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Foxxee — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:43:11 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@ninjawife It sounds like DD is letting Tilly walk all over her. She needs to institute a boot camp atmosphere and let Tilly know she is in charge. Any aggression should immediate be met with a sharp "NO", She should make her work for everything she gets, sit for treats, sit for her meal bowls, only go outside when the okay is given. If she misbehaves during play, it should immediately be discontinued. No growling should be tolerated ever.

Does the aggression seem to be overly enthusiastic play or is it vicious?

@Kachina624

Yes, I agree with your cause and solution.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Kachina624 — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:01:17 GMT

@KingstonMom wrote:
@Kachina624

I know! I've got to figure out how to do that again! Any hints?

@KingstonMom lol, No, it's been years since I did it but I'll be glad to see his face again.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Major Shopper — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:38:21 GMT

@ninjawife Maybe your DD could contact the Foster Mom for advice or insight?

There may be some "triggers" at your DD's house that didn't exist at the Foster Mom's home.

Other pets? Kids?

Just a thought.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

three4me — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 23:25:20 GMT

Just retruning her to where she came from should never be an option. Do NOT get a animal if you cannot follow through on a lifetime commitment. They all sound like some behavioral training is in order.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

We rescue cats — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:11:44 GMT

Being a cat person all I know about dog training could fit in a thimble but I often sat at the cat table while the dog training went on beside us. Sadly we never know what baggage a rescue brings with them but one of the best trainers always said when a dog acts out send him to his safe place until he is calm again, speak softly to him and allow him to calmly rest, the crate should be the safe place.

Re: Help dog getting aggressive

Linmo — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:12:33 GMT

@ninjawife Younger rescue dogs are often well behaved when they are at a shelter or foster home and during the first couple of months in a new home. After the honeymoon period, they test the boundaries to see what they can get away with. A trainer will be able to help your daughter but it can take time to modify certain behaviors.

She should consider having Tilly wear a muzzle if she is jumping at her during their walks. I have a reactive rescue dog who did that and now he wears a muzzle when we walk. He still jumps up at me once in a while when he gets excited about something but the muzzle prevents him from biting at me or the leash.