Kingdom of Pets

Posted by Mon
Aug 13, 2009

Hello,
I am new to the forum so this is my very first post.
Approximately a year ago I rescued a Staffy X Ridgeback 2 year old female dog from a local shelter.
I believe she may have been attacked by another dog(s) when a puppy, as she is highly strung and goes 'ballistic' when a dog walks along our street, or barks somewhere close.
This is very much aggravated when we try to walk her, as she becomes very uncontrollable then. We use a Halti, contacted two different animal trainers and had them over several times, but to no real result (both Trainers coming from reputable dog training organizations).
Saffy (my dog) behaves better when the trainers are around, and she's highly intelligent and learns all tricks you want to teach her. Even when walking the trainers have -somehow- been able to control her and teach us, but when she's alone with us the situation is very different.
I'm trying to reinforce myself as the 'Alpha dog', and teach my adult children to do it too. But I'm not willing to take her walking at the moment as she had an episode of great violence agains a smaller dog recently, and I am scared she may land herself (and me!) in big trouble one day.
We love her and she's very affectionate with us, and as I said, I am really trying, but I wonder if someone can give me some advice perhaps?
Thnks,
Mon

Posted by kjd
Aug 14, 2009

While you are getting her used to other dogs, it doesn't hurt to muzzle her. That way, you can be confident she won't hurt any other dog. Then you can concentrate on her actions, not on any possible, tragic, results.

kjd

Posted by Mon
Aug 17, 2009

[QUOTE=kjd;3976]While you are getting her used to other dogs, it doesn't hurt to muzzle her. That way, you can be confident she won't hurt any other dog. Then you can concentrate on her actions, not on any possible, tragic, results.

kjd[/QUOTE]

Saffy -my dog, please see my post- is also very 'pig headed', when it comes to obedience; eg I have her 'sit and drop' before giving her her food, but sometimes she just doesn't do it.
In those instances I force her to lie down, then give her dinner, but I don't know if maybe I should withold her food longer?
I am very confused.
Mon

Posted by kjd
Aug 18, 2009

Mon,

I don't know what you mean exactly by "force her to lie down." I have a 6 yr old shepherd I got shortly after her 6th birthday. The only "training" she had from her breeder was to know her name. I have her sit and stay while I fix her meal, then wait while I eat, then sit and stay again while I put her food down. If she breaks, I make her go back and sit and stay. Is that what you mean by "force"? I don't think my dog is being pig-headed about obedience; I think she lacks impulse control, over-eager, and not quite sure what I want. Sometimes it takes a few repetitions before she gets her dinner, but she finally waits until I return and release her. She finds it easier to wait in another room where she cannot see me put the food down.

In teaching commands, you have to be positive your dog knows the command and what it means before you use negative reinforcement. Since the trainers are able to control your dog, you might want them to observe you from a distance and see if they can tell you how you are acting differently from them.

I once had a dog in Advanced Basic who always pulled me when heeling. The instructor became very perturbed and took her leash to show me the proper correction (this was years ago). This was the first time anyone else had touched her leash. She heeled perfectly! I'd obviously taught her two things: what "heel" meant and that she didn't have to do it for me. Several years later, I hurt my back. At that point, she never pulled again. She could tell the difference between when I really didn't want her to pull (it hurt) and when I just would like her not to. It is possible Saffy is reading you this way.

Good luck,
kjd

Extreme aggression to other dogs