I need help!

[mlemiller]

I have a problem. My husband and I just adopted a 2 1/2 year old female. She is really loveable and SO good with our 4 month old puppy, and most other dogs. But whenever any dog challenges her at all, she attacks, and she's really tough!

We went to a park yesterday where we met my uncle and his dog. We think my uncle's dog may have recognized us and maybe asked ours "who do you think you are?" in dog language. She attacked her right away and it was pretty fierce. Luckily they were both on leashes so we were able to pull them away before any damage was done. But then we took her over to the no-leash park. We left her on her leash because we were afraid what she might do if we didn't. But she saw a group of dogs and started running so hard that she broke her leash. I panicked, but when she got to them she just wanted to play and there was no incident at all. So I know she doesn't just want to beat up every dog. She attacked my parent's dog last weekend after she was challenged, though.

So, in a nutshell, there is something about her that takes it very seriously when any other dog challenges her. Is there any way to train this tendency out of her? We have thought about putting a muzzle on her if we take her out, but is that cruel? We just don't want her to kill someone's dog.

We also thought about trying to find out from the rescuer who her previous owners were and see if they could give us some insight.

Any advice? I am open to it.

Thanks!

 

[avts1977]

Is she aggressive only when she's on-leash?

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I'm sorry but I don't see the problem here.

Your dog is being challenged by another and you expect your dog to do what? This is typical dog behavior.

Yes, you can train your dog to know there are alternate behaviors other than attacking. But, females don't often warn, so you may not have the time or ability to redirect your dog when another challenges her.

More socialization with lots of other dogs will be of great benefit. And remember, dogs have feelings too; they have their likes and dislikes just as we do. Some dogs they just don't like and some make them feel threatened and they respond like DOGS respond, not like rational, thinking humans. They are, after all, dogs.

Might also want to check out "Dog Behavior" by Ian Dunbar, Ph.D. Will be helpful to you in understand why dogs do what they do and how to manage such behaviors.

Good luck.

 

[mlemiller]

To answer the first question, no, it is not just when she is on a leash. The first time it happened she had been off her leash all day and had been fine around this other dog, then out of the blue she attacked her. We didn't see how it happened, but our theory is that the other dog wasn't scared of her anymore since they had been around each other all day and felt like she was safe to protect her territory.

And to answer the second question, at the rescue she was always with 8 other boxers. She was there for about three weeks, so I would think she was pretty socialized. And the rescuer says she never had any trouble with any of them.

I know dogs don't think like humans and that she is only being instinctive, but this dog is one big muscle and she is really tough. She is quite a bit larger than most females I have seen (other boxer owners have thought she was a male) and she is really strong. If something doesn't change we will never be able to take her anywhere we know there will be other dogs. And when I say "challenge" I don't mean the other dogs try to fight her. It's just when they give her a look or something she doesn't like. So she is the one that is instigating the fighting.

And I understand that there are going to be dogs that she just doesn't like. Hey... there I people that I just don't like. But we've got to teach her not to be vicious or we'll never be able to take her anywhere.

I will check out the book. Thanks for the reference.

Any other thoughts would be appreciated... especially if someone else has had this problem and can tell me how they fixed it.

Thanks

 

[brwneyesk8]

I have no experience in obedience or professional training but have seen people do this:

As Tulsa-Dan stated, socialization will be wonderful. Some folks that I've seen with dogs like that have brought the dog to the park, off-lead and waited. Once something like what you stated happened, they took to the dog out of the park and home.
One lady said that after doing that enough her dog learned that certain behavior led to her having to go home.

It may work. Dan, what do you think?
The owners that take their dogs out of the park after an altercation like that are the responsible ones. If your dog starts a fight with another, don't stick around to see if it happens again. Cut your losses and take the dog home. If she does that EVERY time she goes to the park or is near other dogs then you may NOT be able to take her anywhere. I also know people who have had 'house/yard dogs'.

As I said, this is just what I've seen people try. I'd be curious to see how it pans out.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

An excellent suggestion. Although I've not ever had aggression problems with my dogs in a dog park situation (other dogs yes, but not mine), I used the same technique in training loose leash walking. After we had worked on showing them HOW to walk properly on a leash, If they pulled me I turned around and ended the walk immediately, going home and me going about my own business. It only took about a week of that, consistently applied, before they knew never to pull me while on leash. They walk beautifully with me always now.

I have done the same on recall as well. If we are in the park and the dogs start running after another dog and I call them to "Come" to me and they continue running to the other dog (always to play), I walk over to them, leash them and immediately take them home. They disobeyed my come command (distraction training) and therefore they lose their park privilege for bad behavior. Believe me, they stop on a dime and return to me when called (except on occasion when Maggie's evil twin sister seizes her mind and body).

 

[brwneyesk8]

Dan, that's a great idea about distraction training. I had never tried that one with Porter. If I started that now at 16 months, how long do you suppose it would take (if I'm diligent)?
Thanks for the idea!

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Originally posted by brwneyesk8
Dan, that's a great idea about distraction training. I had never tried that one with Porter. If I started that now at 16 months, how long do you suppose it would take (if I'm diligent)?
Thanks for the idea!

I'd give it a month of good solid work and then test the dog to make sure he/she's reliable and consistent. I also started distraction training by using a 50 ft. tether, letting them run with it and then calling. If they don't come first time, I reel them in, praise and let them play again. But this was the first step in my distraction training; making sure they understood (i) the recall command and (ii) they need to respond on the FIRST call. After they understand what is expected of them, THEN I applied the correction of removing them from the park if they didn't obey.

Good luck.

 

[mlemiller]

The problem with just letting her go in the park and taking her out if she misbehaves is that there will likely be bloodshed. Really, she might really hurt another dog and I am afraid of that. I just can't imagine how I would feel if someone else's dog attacked one of mine like I know mine is capable of doing. Maybe you are right and that is the best way of doing it, but I just can't trust her.

She is an absolute angel in our house and with our animals, but she can be a total beast outside.

Argh! I just don't really know what to do. The main problem is that I want to be able to take her on trips with us when we visit family, but if she wants to beat up their dogs everytime, that's a problem.

Is there anything I can do to train her not to be like this without putting other dogs in danger?

 

[vaboxer]

Dan has given wonderful advise, as always

My girl Dayla was lead aggressive...but that went away after obedience training and a lot of socialization. Obedience training will help your girl understand that you are the leader and she is supposed to listen to you...and that will help with starting the advice that Dan put forth.

I wouldnt take her back to the dog park until you know 100% that she will listen to you...and that's what obedience class is for

Good luck...