Our new dog

[burgess112]

My parents have just recently got a new 2 year old german shepherd and she is a lovely, gentle friendly dog but if she sees another dog it's another thing! She has gotten hold of 2 dogs, the first had to go to the vets and the second she had by the throat and had to be pulled off for her to release it. My parents have been training her as she was poor on the lead but is getting better. I think that she has never been walked and hasn't socialised with other dogs but need some advice as to how to rectify this problem.

[k@tie]

i think it is important to introduce dogs to as many different environments and situations as possible..mainly as puppies so they are less likely to get over excited or agressive in many situations in the future. the fact that your german shepherd is already two years old sets you at a slight disadvantage. try to find out as much as possible about her from the previous owners if you can. just try to be as patient as possible and introduce her to passing dogs very slowly. you could also try dog training classes where there would be plenty of dogs for her to socialise with and an expert to help with any problems! until you are confident with her behaviour always keep her on a lead when walking and dont give her the oppurtunity to leap at passing dogs. invest in a flippy lead so she has some freedom and you have piece of mind.

good luck!

[southerngirl]

I have a jack russell cross who I got at nine years old, who wants to fight every dog she meets on the street. I agree with burgess 112 that is is the result of poor socialising. I have had my dog for 3 years and have tried everything, with very limited success. It may be worth observing her for a while to see if it is just males, or females, certain types (dogs with forward looking bulging eyes are seen by other dogs to be threatening). You need a good behaviourist and in the meantime don't let her off the lead. You may want to try this one - take a very special treat, like cut up cocktail sausages and every time she sees a dog then sit her down and give her a sausage piece as the dog passes, she may then link treats with dogs and see them as a good thing. Otherwise, there is a book called "Fight" by Jean Donaldson which explains all sorts of attack behaviour and may be of use to you. Hope your parents have more success than me!

[CLOWN TICKLE]

We have a Maltese Terrier who is very much the same, my wife borrowed the book the dog listener from the library and it is to do with protection as he or she still believe that they are the important dog in your pack, my wife started trying her advice and has been generally impressed with the advice given when trying, does she jump up when someone comes in, her suggestion is to ignore it, within half an hour he has stopped doing it, good luck

[dancecaller]

Shouldn't she be wearing a muzzle when out? Other dogs and their owners should be able to walk down the road with confidence.

Then the training classes or manuals.

[im stuck]

I agree with dancecaller, get a muzzle if the police get several complaints they'll put her down as a dangerous dog.

[doglady]

I've got a Shepherd, and he is the same. Mostly, he's just playing, but he's so big and bouncy that other dogs don't really like it.

The first thing I would say is definately muzzle. You can't take the chance that your dog will do damage.

Secondly, see a qualified behaviourist, who should be able to help you try and sort this out. Your dog may never be 100% reliable with other dogs, but it should help.

Thirdly, relax. It's not your fault that your dog is like this, and if you get all tense and high pitched when you see another dog, you'll make her worse. I lost my voice a little while ago, and my dog was so much better behaved when I couldn't screech at him and had to use a low voice that I've been making a concious effort to use it ever since.

Fourthly, learn some techniques for dealing with your dog grabbing other dogs, just in case it ever happens again. I was told that if you grab your dogs tail and pull, he'll think it's another dog, and will turn round. Because shepherds are such long dogs, he'll have time to realise it's me before he goes for me as well. I have to say I've never had the courage to try this, and personally I wouldn't recommend it! The other way I was told is to grab his top lip, and basically rip his mouth off the other dog. Sure, it'll hurt him, but I can't have him hanging on to other dogs!!

Good luck with your loony shepherd!

BTW, our's was a nightmare from about 18 months to 2 and a half, (stroppy teenager dog), but he has really settled recently. Neutering helped, if this is something you are willing to do.

xxx

[southerngirl]

A muzzle IS an option, but then when you are out it will only stop the dog biting, not attacking and it cannot defend itself if it is attacked by another aggressive dog. It is best to keep the dog on a short lead at all times when out and about.

I have bought about six muzzles for my dog, who is bright and destroys every single muzzle I have ever put on her, within about ten minutes, so although it can be a good idea it does not always work the way people think it does. Also if you have your dog under proper control and no muzzle you are much more vigilant, it can make you complacent if you think your dog can't bite another dog. I am fortunate in that my dog likes to fight but has never hurt another dog, it is the fur and feathers and noise variety of fighting. In fact she took on a wolf hybrid once and came off a very poor second with deep bite marks in her neck and chest. it has not put her off one iota and she didn't even notice she was injured - she also adores people and is very friendly and does not go for them, only other dogs. She is also very good with dogs she knows, just not strange dogs.

It is a very individual problem, each dog is different, most dogs will respond to muzzle, training etc. but some don't, it is just their nature and as they say, you can change dog behaviour, but not their nature.

I am reduced to taking her out late at night and to wild places on her lead and NEVER letting her off. I am also fortunate in that I have a friend who has a private field where she can run off her excess energy. My other dog is no problem whatsoever, so I tend to go on enjoyable walks with my other dog. Double walks every day, tiring, but hey, that's life!

I

[lankeela]

I really don't believe what I am reading on here.

Firstly a dangerous dog should be muzzled in public. No one should have their own dog put at risk because you are not capable of training or controlling it. There is no excuse.

Secondly if your dog 'likes' to fight you need to seriously change its behaviour or have it put down before it kills something or someone.

Get professional advice now before something serious happens.

If a dog is chewing a muzzle then it is not fitted correctly.

Pulling a dogs tail will only make him more angry and he will turn on you, not realising that it is not another dog. The only way to separate fighting dogs is to get a hold of the collar, and twist until the dog has to let go.

You can use a stick or a broom handle to turn it if necessary. This may sound cruel but it is no more cruel than letting a dog bite another dog. You MUST be ready to keep the two dogs apart or the other one will come in again to get a hold of the first dog. Fighting dogs take no notice of humans interfering. If you can, try to get one of them the other side of a door or wall or piece of furniture and close the door between them while trying to get them apart. Just pulling will never work and will rip flesh (or worse) from one or both of them.

[drgnrdr]

I would never grab a dog by the collar when they are in a fight, as long as there are 2 people to disengage the dogs then you do need to grab the tail or if no tail the back legs and keep your voice calm, yelling only makes them hear loud noise, which is close to what they are doing at each other, but you do not just grab the tail/legs (legs not ankle area, I call it the pork chop area the meaty part of the leg) you must go backwards and turn/circle backwards, this puts the dog in a wheelbarrow motion to make them have to walk and they can't turn to bite you, they are too busy being mad and if they try to turn and bite, you have got the control by saying their name and snap them out of the red zone. But you must have 2 people to do this or they are correct on here that the dog not restrained can get the one your holding. I never get the collar they are too close to the teeth end of a dog and soon as you reach for the dog he thinks you are another dog coming in on it, unless you are a pro and know how to grab but the regular fellow or lady will have difficulty trying to do it. I agree with lankeela on most of the rest. A stick might be recommended for pitbulls or other strong jawed dogs.

[drgnrdr]

Sorry fell asleep there for a second..I also agree with most of what Doglady posted...Having many GSD's myself for most of my life, and dealing with them in the dog parks, I have had to break up quite a few fights, when others were looking on not knowing what to do, everyone who grabbed the collar, got damaged, I never did and they were not my dogs. Take care..~/:\~

[doglady]

Sorry, I didn't recommend grabbing their tail. The thing with my dog is that he wasn't really fighting. He just had this habit of starting to play, and then getting carried away, and dominating the other dog by grabbing it, and refusing to let go.

The only times he's ever done it that badly have been when my other dog (who is very possesive about toys) has growled at another dog for coming too close to him when he has a ball in his mouth. Pack mentality means Kais has to rush in and help him, instead of leaving him to sort out his own battles, and that's when we have problems.

How are you getting on with your dog now, seeing as this post was a couple of months ago?