My dog just went crazy, what should I do?

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I would like to second this advice.

It is pretty clear from your descriptions that you have really seriously misinterpreted and mis-reacted to the dog's behavior in the past (edited to clarify: I am *not* criticizing or blaming you at *all*, it could happen to anyone!), and you are not going to get anywhere good unless you learn to "read" the dog more correctly. In particular, trying to use anything resembling force or punishment or correction is apt to go very awry if done with any misunderstanding of the situation.

*Please* get someone to help you out with this one, because it's not hard to unwittingly make a bad situation worse.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[cafarmgirl]

I haven't read every single post, forgive me if I am repeating something already mentioned. Lots of excellent advice already given about a session with a behaviorist. Obedience classes would be good too. Just wanted to add that in the meantime, if this were my dog, it would be penned up immediately 24/7. There is a lot of bad behaviour to undo here and this dog does not need freedom to do as she pleases.

 

[Pupsnpullets]

Quote:
Oh dear, your post really scares me. I've read the whole thread and so I think I've got a handle on the situation. The reason you post scares me is that you still think this is an isolated incident!!! Absoutely not!! This is the logical sequence of events in the life of an alpha pup maturing, without proper direction, into an oversized alpha dog in control of her environment.

I'm by nature quite the little ray of sunshine, however, I cannot see any bright side to you current decision.

It's be said over and over by both lay people and dog trainers: shoot her or call in the proffesionals. Please heed

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

I have to commend the original poster for being forthright about the behavior of the dog, in regards to play biting, jumping, clawing and food aggression. She could have hidden that from us.

What can be learned here is that a Great Pyrenees (GP) needs an alpha human from the start. Many times I read about how a GP needs to be rehomed due to behavioral problems, and people then begin to comment about the shortcomings of the breed.

Bottom line is that if you can't be the alpha dog, rethink owning a Great Pyrenees or other LGD.

 

[Haviris]

katrinag that's exactly right, she should not have been treated like a human, if she hadn't maybe she wouldn't be in this situation.

I'm sorry you'd have no guilt creating a problem and then putting a dog down because of it. I also would put the dog down if I couldn't get a handle on it, and yes I would still feel guilty for creating a problem that caused me to have to kill my dog.

I believe this could get serious, right now it's still in the fixing stage. She hasn't bitten anyone, she did not just "snap", and at this point there is still time to fix it. I would be very careful at this stage and get Professional help! If the OP can't or won't find a professional to help them, then the best thing probably would be to put her down, and still if it was me I'd feel guilty! I'd never pass of a problem dog to someone else. I did have a dog that was waaay worse then this one! If he's been a big dog rather then a little puppy he'd have been put down, in his case I wasn't the one that created the problem, I'd probably still feel bad, but not guilty. Thankfully he was fixed and became the sweetest most awsome dog you'd meet.

As for some of the suggestions I'm seeing, no I would NOT to the alpha roll with this dog! I also don't see how a prong collar would help. A shock collar will help w/ the chickens, but I wouldn't worry about that until the aggression is under control. First thing is get her to a trainer/behaviorist.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Haviris, the prong did work for me. I was told by 2 different dog behavior people to use it with a long lead attached to it..the long lead is so you dont get bit if you have you back up what you tell the dog. BECAUSE..when you tell the dog something..you HAVE to back it up...
example: I took in a rescue dane..he was sweet as a puppy..most of the time...BUT he had some issues that i found out after i took him in..

....anyways...sometimes when we'd tell him to move...or get up from a spot..he'd turn and give a nasty scary growl at us...and stare us down.
this dog trainer (who works with high risk breeds) said to put the collar on him with a long lead and when he turns and growls at us to walk right up to him..and grab the lead (far enough away from his face incase if he snaps you wont get bit..) and say "NO" firmly like you mean business..and make that dog move! Dont let him boss you around...(which is scary to you when a 180lb dog is staring you down and growling!,,lol
but we did it and he learned VERY quick that we had control over him...he learned that he cant intimidate us...he learned that he WILL move when we tell him to. We rehomed him...to a lady with ALOT of Dane experience..and hes still doing great...(i HAD to rehome him because i do foster care and i cant have any dogs with iffy temperments in my house..)
But that prong collar was what worked for us...it kept him in control...
AND i used it for my female Saint..she was a little booger and she would do these drive-by body slam puppy attacks...NOTHING i did worked...giving her the knee....nothing..
So i took her to a Saint rescue lady...and she told me the same thing...use the prong collar and when she jumps at you grab it and yank up and say "NO" firmly and make her submit....and i swear it only took 1 week for her to totally stop jumping on us... Now shes totally trained..and it was because of using the prong collar..She hated the pressure it gave on her neck.. it really makes something click in a dogs head to stop what they are doing at the time..
also..i wanted to say..the prongs are NOT sharp...i know they look mean..i didnt want to use one because of how they looked. But if you use it correctly..its not mean at ALL. Trust me. I think a shock collar is much, MUCH harder on a dog..IMO. (NOT downing people that use them either...if it works for you, use it!)

BUT..this dog is very agressive...so...
But. i know that it worked with my rescue dane when he thought he was going to growl at us..
But again..she showed us how to use it..and how to not to get bit using it...
The OP NEEDS a consult with a professional...
I only needed 1 consult..it wasnt that expensive. She told us what to do..and we did it..and it worked..
BECAUSE, its more than just the prong collar..its a WHOLE life change you need to do. You have to ALWAYS be the pack leader, (you can never be off for a day...).. You are most likely doing things to lower your pack status and you dont even realise it. (i know i was doing things that i didnt even think about!) It could be something so small that you are doing..and a dog trainer will pick up on it and tell you how to change what you are doing.
make them lay down and submit to you before YOU feed them...
never let them on your bed...(they think they are higher in the pack if you let them sleep with you) etc...theres SO many things that you HAVE to do with a dominat type dog to make this work...
A consult is what is really, really needed.

Also..every dog behavorist is different also. They may not tell you to use the prong collar..Maybe your dog is too agressive to use it??
so before you go out and buy one...get a consult first..so you dont waste money on a collar. AND good luck!

 

[sundance]

I will probably get a lot of flac over this but I would have her put down, Know It hurts but for your own safety have her put down

marrie

 

[Brindlebtch]

Redhen is giving very good advice.

I've been out of town and just caught up with this thread.

Dear, this is something it would be best not to handle on your own, to start out with. If you can locate a GP rescue group in your area I would ask them for advice on who to contact for a trainer. A lot vets and animal control don't have a real good handle on dog behavior so I would not ask them for a reference.

I like prong collars. If used correctly they are a WONDERFUL training tool. If used correctly they do not inflict pain but give a natural correction like mom dog would give.

The dog has a dominance problem that needs to be corrected ASAP and nobody on this board can write enough advice on what needs to be done to effectively solve this problem. Time to look around for some face to face help.

I used to specialize in training aggressive dogs. You need to go through a dominance program and the dog needs some special handling and training. An obedience class (without clicker training) and using a prong collar would be a great start if you can't get a behaviorist/trainer consult right away.

Your safety and the safety of those around you is paramount.

Let us know if you can get a professional in to help you.

 

[Haviris]

Ok, I guess w/ the guidance of an experienced training the prong my be ok, I've never known of it being used in that way.

For me I've used to prong as a self correcting collar, meaning I don't do the corrections, they do it to themselves. It's great to stop a dog from pulling, because when he does he gets the pinch. And for jumping, I step on the leash, when they try to jump they get a correction, when they're good they get praise.

I'd never heard it used for aggression, if that's the case, this dog sounds similar to yours and it could work! But I still think they need to work w/ a trainer. And in that case I can see the shock collar working in about the same way.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Shock collar could work just fine with the chickens, no problem. I have no problem using a shock collar for aversion training with livestock.

A shock collar used for dominance training would require a fine eye and the trainer/behaviorist thumb on the button after the dog has been acquainted with the collar in the proper way. I think it would be better to use a pinch for the dominance training. I like the dog to see who has the leash and who is giving the corrections in that situation.