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Thread: My sometimes evil dog

  1. #1
    Veteran Member Sia's Avatar
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    Sad My sometimes evil dog

    So, I have a Lab/GSD mix that is 9 years old. He is extremely smart and well-trained, but he likes to bite other animals. I have spent countless hours training this dog, he can perform an amazing obedience routine, and we have even competed in dog sports. But he can be unpredictable around other animals.

    He has lived with cats incident-free all of his life, until a few weeks ago when he attacked my 4 month old Siamese kitten while I was gone. (Stupid me for leaving them unsupervised I know, but he has been fine with my other cats his whole life). I came home to a kitten with a swollen head, bleeding nose and a few shallow puncture wounds. Thankfully he recovered perfectly $400 and an ER vet trip later.

    Today they almost got into it again, but I was able to pull my dog off before he caused any damage. I now have him wearing his muzzle when they are in the same room. It really sucks to have to be paranoid about him attacking my kitten.

    Also, he has bitten a few dogs over the years, sometimes causing moderate puncture wounds. And after biting my parents' dog this summer (also causing a vet trip) he now wears his muzzle every time we are in public.

    The thing that sucks is that he really is a good boy most of the time, and is one of the smartest dogs I've known. He knows he shouldn't bite, he just can't control himself occasionally.

    Don't really know why I'm writing this.....just feeling sad that he has now promoted himself to muzzle-wearing even in the house. Sigh.

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: My sometimes evil dog

    Obedience training and aggression training are very different things. There are many many dogs that can heel, sit, stay like none other, but will attack another animal at the drop of a hat.

    Keeping a dog in a muzzle is not a solution. He can still hurt your cat or animal or child with claws, with his weight, etc, which an aggressive animal WILL do if his main weapon is taken away. You need to seek out an experienced trainer in rehabbing animal-aggressive dogs. It can be done, but it will be rigorous.

    This isn't a new development, you said he's been biting and attacking for years. That's a serious, dangerous risk. You are very lucky you have avoided a lawsuit.

  3. #3
    Veteran Member Sia's Avatar
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    Default Re: My sometimes evil dog

    First let me say that I fully understand the potential harm a dog can cause.

    I have trained with behaviorists that specialize in aggression and have spent years on behavior modification. I understand the difference between obedience training and behaviour mod and have a thorough understanding of learning theory. I didn't include all of that because most people don't know what I'm talking about.

    I have also had conversations with police dog trainers and protection sport trainers...people who are used to dealing with aggressive dogs. He used to be human aggressive as well, but isn't anymore. He has also come a long, long way in his dog aggression.

    Believe me, I wouldn't have been competing with him last year if he was out of control. His bites have never been in public, always the dogs of friends or family where we both understood the risk of allowing off-lead contact. He has absolutely no chance to harm a stranger's dog or child, as he is either muzzled and leashed in public, or off leash only in secluded areas.

    I know that he still has the potential to hurt my cats with a muzzle on, but there is really nothing else I can do. He can be fine for months or even years at a time, then an incident occurs. He also doesn't mind wearing his muzzle, it is a comfortable basket muzzle that he can breathe and drink freely in. It's just no fun having a dog like this sometimes.

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    Featured Member lopaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: My sometimes evil dog

    I can certainly commiserate with you.
    We recently adopted a 2yo GSD from a local shelter. He's an awesome dog, with the one exception of him being VERY fear aggressive towards other dogs. Up until recently, just taking him on walks was a struggle. He lunges at other dogs, and if given the chance would bite them. We also have to muzzle him when he is in any contained space with other dogs off leash.

    We tried positive reinforcement training on him.....it failed miserably. There is no treat in the world to distract him from attacking other dogs. Now, we are going the other way - corrective training. Lets just say it involves prong collars & white vinegar (sounds worse than it is - really!).It is a last resort, but it seems to be working. He is still far from "cured", and will never be fully trusted around other dogs, but at least now I can walk him without him trying to kill every other dog in the neighborhood.

    There is always hope!

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    Veteran Member Sia's Avatar
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    Default Re: My sometimes evil dog

    Lopaw, I'm glad you've found a training solution that's working for you! Believe me, over the past 9 years, I have trained with the whole range of trainers and behaviorists. Ranging from 100% purely positive to an e-collar based police dog trainer (not as bad as it sounds either....I've had the e-collar on myself full blast, which is way way higher than I have ever used it on a dog).

    But, like you say, they are dogs and animals are never 100% trustworthy or predictable. The main thing that's bothering me now is the cat issue. I'm not planning on him having to wear his muzzle 24/7 in the house, but he will wear it for a bit, until my kitten is old enough to know not to antagonize the dog, and they will never be alone unsupervised again, ever.

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: My sometimes evil dog

    Sia, I didn't mean to come off as talking down to you...clearly you know a lot about dogs and training; I just was pointing out the distinction to any other responder, as many people think that their dog is "trained" if he comes when called.

    My only point was there are several trainers who sole jobs are rehabbing aggressive dogs, which includes intensive, around the clock care for weeks at a time. That would be my only recommendation...since you don't train dogs full-time, it would be impossible for you to rehab your dog as effectively because you're not home with him 24/7.

    In my area at least, the animal control office could put you in contact with a trainer for this need. They usually are called for a "dangerous animal" who has attacked, and has x amount of days to be rehabbed, or will be put down, so they're used to dealing with severe cases, so I'ms ure they could help your dog immensely.

    Again, I'm sorry if I offended or belittled you. My family and I train dogs for service work, and also foster and rehab former aggressive dogs and former fighting dogs, so it's just something I'm very passionate/wary about.

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    Veteran Member Sia's Avatar
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    Default Re: My sometimes evil dog

    Quote Originally Posted by kandie_kitten View Post
    In my area at least, the animal control office could put you in contact with a trainer for this need. They usually are called for a "dangerous animal" who has attacked, and has x amount of days to be rehabbed, or will be put down, so they're used to dealing with severe cases, so I'ms ure they could help your dog immensely.
    I have worked with this person in my city, and other well known trainers in a few other cities as well. I do consider my dog rehabbed in his people aggression, but he will always have little glitches when it comes to animals.

    Quote Originally Posted by kandie_kitten View Post
    My family and I train dogs for service work, and also foster and rehab former aggressive dogs and former fighting dogs, so it's just something I'm very passionate/wary about.
    That's awesome, and I'm glad there are people like you out there.
    This dog has taught me more than I ever thought I'd know about dog training, and in some ways I am thankful for it, but I can say with certainty that the next dog in my life is going to be mentally stable and not animal aggressive.

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