One step forward, two steps back?
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I've been working with Liam and even had a behaviorist come and evaluate him. It was determined his aggression is fear aggression. We've made much progress with this, and even more once he was neutered. Yesterday i took Liam to petsmart with Tuarwen and my mother. Liam was wearing his baskerville basket muzzle, and as we walked in the doors the trainer, the dogs owner and an Airedale were there. Liam looked at the dog but then looked back at me. I praised him and we walked on. As we browsed the isles he was fine with walking past other dogs. He did sort of hesitate when we went to pass a Pitbull, but did so without reacting aggressively(Well I stopped, switched so i was between him and it and he relaxed)
Well when we reached the end of that isle this guy who'd been walking past stopped, stomped towards Liam and leaned down to get in his face while staring Liam in the eye. Liam started growling and snarling and the guy goes 'It makes them back down' I was never more relieved I'd muzzled Liam then in that instance. I gently called Liam back to my side with his nickname(Prince) and he quit, but kept his hackles up and a weary eye on the man. This guy then proceeded to tell me he owns two labs, and had a pitbull he'd do this too. He also said he jumps off his delivery truck when a dog charges him and does this and they ALWAYS back down.
Well when we got away from him, we moved on to get the toys we were there for and headed to the check out. Once again the Airedale was there and Liam settled down within leash reach of it, not even caring it was there. After our items were scanned a chick with her bichon frise on an extendable leash comes walking up as we're paying and it charges us barking. Liam went psycho, bumped into the airedale and spooked it before he lunged for the Bichon. I pulled him back, blocked his view of the dog and asked him to sit and watch me, which he did. The cashier asked the bichons owner to take the dog outside, and they proceeded to complain till the manager asked them to go outside.
I told my sisters mother-in-law this and she goes 'ever think you shouldnt have had him there? He's not well behaved' he was there for socialization...both dog and human.
Do y'all think these two incidents will set him back?
Well when we reached the end of that isle this guy who'd been walking past stopped, stomped towards Liam and leaned down to get in his face while staring Liam in the eye. Liam started growling and snarling and the guy goes 'It makes them back down' I was never more relieved I'd muzzled Liam then in that instance. I gently called Liam back to my side with his nickname(Prince) and he quit, but kept his hackles up and a weary eye on the man. This guy then proceeded to tell me he owns two labs, and had a pitbull he'd do this too. He also said he jumps off his delivery truck when a dog charges him and does this and they ALWAYS back down.
Well when we got away from him, we moved on to get the toys we were there for and headed to the check out. Once again the Airedale was there and Liam settled down within leash reach of it, not even caring it was there. After our items were scanned a chick with her bichon frise on an extendable leash comes walking up as we're paying and it charges us barking. Liam went psycho, bumped into the airedale and spooked it before he lunged for the Bichon. I pulled him back, blocked his view of the dog and asked him to sit and watch me, which he did. The cashier asked the bichons owner to take the dog outside, and they proceeded to complain till the manager asked them to go outside.
I told my sisters mother-in-law this and she goes 'ever think you shouldnt have had him there? He's not well behaved' he was there for socialization...both dog and human.
Do y'all think these two incidents will set him back?
Alcemistnv [567 candy corns] (#3906)
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08-14-2012 at 7:01 PM
I don't think this set him back. If it did, then that means the training that you've been doing wasn't dug in his head enough. But since he did behave a lot better, I'm sure things are going good.<br /> <br /> See, I have to say, I'm proud of you for knowing your dog could be a hazard, and preparing him with the muzzle. Too many times I go to Petsmart and am met with aggressive dogs who drag their owners around. I feel like if you can't control your dog in an orderly fashion in a store where there are children and babies, you shouldn't bring the dog in. I can't even bring my one dog in because she'd attempt to attack anyone who got within feet of her.<br /> <br /> I appluad you for working with your dog and I hope it all works out :)
fly (#623)
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08-12-2012 at 3:46 PM
No I don't ;) you've got much further with your dog than I have with mine... It sounds like you handled the situation pretty well I Have taken my dog into pets at home in the past and we've gad a few points where other dogs have tried to go at him and he doesn't wear a muzzle as I have a headcollar and it's usually the other dog that starts the problems and you will find, like me that if an incident occurs it's usually caused by the other dog, and I think you were very smart to take your dog in there, however I (I'm not a trainer, but I help out at the training club that me and my fear aggressive dog attend) would have suggested to you to do it in a more controllable environment, such as taking Liam to a training club, and having him greet dogs that you know aren't going to cause a problem, but the incident with the Bichon will become less likely to happen in the future as he just needs to be desensitised to the incidents<br /> <br /> (my sources are my experience with my dog, helping at my training club, and countless doggy behavioural books, and your lucky my dogs problems started after we got him nuetered so he now aggressive on lead as he was attacked by another dog in the week healing process whilst we waited for his stitches to come out. ))
Marilyn Pearl (#9907)
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08-12-2012 at 3:41 PM
I think your discipling will pay off, keep trying :) .
kitty09337 (#21719)
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08-12-2012 at 3:31 PM
It will probably set him back a little.But only a little bit!If I were you I would keep trying!
Vision (#9146)
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08-12-2012 at 3:31 PM
From my experience also having a fear REACTIVE (not aggressive, doesn't bite/attack he just snarls and barks) dog (although mine has random triggers, and it is never human) It COULD set him back slightly, especially with dogs or people coming up into his face. Then again, Sully is fine if the dog can greet him, he does't like them from a distance, which...well my dog's an idiot, so I may not be of any help xP I think the biggest difference with ours is my dog's reactivity is completely random, while Liam's sounds like you have gotten him to the point where he only reacts if he feels like he is under attack. <br /> <br /> Also, that guy is a total idiot, why would he get in a dog with known aggression's face, even when the owner/handler asked him to back down? I would have gone off on the guy too xP