Dog training question! Help Dog people!!

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

My dog is a mix - mostly lab and border collie, but some other stuff thrown in for good measure. I suspect that she has a good dose of pit bull in her.

We live on ten acres and she has free run of it. She is good about coming when called, does fifteen tricks, doesn't beg at the table etc etc etc

She's quite smart. But, she doesn't have much contact with other dogs. And now she seems to be extremely dog aggressive. I have friends who would like to come visit with their dogs and it always turns into a big mess. Athena refuses to back down even when the other dog is 100 pounds bigger than her. My dog is usually the aggressor and she is usually the one who won't let it go after the initial skirmish.

What can I do?? Other people don't want to risk their dogs by letting them duke it out. Please help!

 

[danischi24]

pm Jamie dog trainer

 

[Tn Gamebirds]

Sounds like she is just protecting her territory when strange dogs come into it.

She would do the same if a preditor came wondering i would think. Which is good

 

[conroy]

Thats a tough one.. I have a dal/lab that has some dog aggression but not that bad. SO does my avatar ( alittle) but I think if you get a really mellow dog to come over and correct your dog the second she shows agression then give her treats when she behaves that might work. You have to somehow show her that the other dog being around is a positive thing for her. BUT with pit bulls this can be tough... I would watch some Cesar Milan... There is also a great forum called amstafftalk.com maybe someone there can help with dog aggro.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

My dogs have never been dog friendly. I have always tried to get them to be but the only place they behave their best around other dogs is the vets office for some reason. The rest of the time it just doesn't work. About 90% of the time its only other males. Now if a dog comes in the hard wether its a male or femal they get ticked real quick. She sounds very territorial. I have to keep my dogs kenneled when there is another dog over. Thankfully that is very rare that another dog comes over.

They are both male black labs.

 

[jacyjones]

Unfortunately I think the answer is lots of socialisation when they are puppies and before they develop fully. I think you could try her meeting other dogs off your property at a training class and get some professional advice. She needs to understand her place in your pack and she needs to respect the alpha - whoever that is. She can then be trained about what is acceptable behaviour. She is obviously protecting her place but you have to make her understand that other dogs are not a threat - difficult to achieve, I think.

 

[ninny]

Try this:

Find a submissive dog of the opposite sex. Go to a neutral outdoor place for both dogs. Starting on different sides of the field slowly walk the dogs towards each other. As soon as your dog shows any sign of aggression turn around and walk away till she is clam. Praise her (only when she is calm or she will think the praise is for the aggression) then try again. Keep doing this until you either hit her stress point or until she can greet the other dog calmly.

You need to know her stress point and when to end for the day. Make sure to end when she is calm and on a good note. It will help too if you have tasty tidbits as well.

The key in doing this is the second she tenses towards the other dog you whip around and walk the other way
If she is quick on the uptake she will realize that only way she gets to meet the other dog is if she is nice and calm and that being aggressive means she can't meet the other dog.

The reason you must do this outside is so that the dogs do not feel trap. They have plenty of space to get away if they need to. Also this must be a neutral place so that neither dog feels that they must protect their turf.


Watch your voice when doing this never yell or have a high pitch sound. Nice and clam boring tone is good. Yelling or high pitch only eggs dogs on.

This will also let you know if she is really dog aggressive or if she is just protecting her turf.


THIS MUST BE FUN!!! It needs to be very calm walk at your pace towards the other dog. It may be necessary to use a muzzle at first. the goal is to meet the other dog have a quick sniff and both of you walking together.


Let me know if i need to clarify any thing and if you do this let me know how it goes.

 

[Goat_Walker]

Quote:
I couldnt have said it better. When I have an aggressive animal, usually I take it and the victim and place them on opposite sides of a fence in a neutral area at first. That way my aggressor cant reach the victim but they get used to the others presence as well as get the smell for each other.

After a few hours to a few days, depending on how much time i am given and the aggression level I let them meet with out the fence but on leashes.

This way I am always in control of the situation. When they fist meet with out the fence they may sometimes show some aggression but usually its " oh, its you, who cares"

 

[ninny]

goat_walker you just made my day. i usually get called nuts for my training tips.



I have a what in my yard. Make sur you find a boy dog to do this with as 90% of the time fights are between same sex dogs.

Also if you dog is not fixed that could cause some of the probs.

 

[Goat_Walker]

Quote:
Lol, no problem!
People think my training tips are nuts sometimes too, untill they see my dog run theirs to the ground and stop attack in mid leap. They they just back away slowly and hope I dont sent it after them