Comments on: Dog/Dog Aggression, or Is It?

By: Christine Hibbard

Christine Hibbard — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:10:31 +0000

Hi Jamey, it’s hard for me to know what happening with Eyla but given your description, she sounds conflicted. She likes other dogs and gets excited but lacks confidence so can be a bully with strange dogs. Here are some articles that might help you:

http://companionanimalsolutions.com/blogs/what-is-a-reactive-rover/
http://companionanimalsolutions.com/blogs/invisible-fences-not-a-recommended-solution/

I recommend that you find a qualified professional in your area to help you sort this out. This article contains information on how to evaluate whether someone is qualified to work with you: http://www.companionanimalsolutions.com/why-choose-us-2/qualified-animal-behavior-specialists. If you need help finding someone, we’re happy to help.

By: Christine Hibbard

Christine Hibbard — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:43:05 +0000

Hi Kelly, you haven’t given me enough information to really be able to evaluate what is happening with your dog. Is you dog aggressive with people? other dogs? In what situations is your dog aggressive? Is your dog generally anxious or does your dog respond to specific triggers? You don’t say where you live but I recommend that you engage a qualified Animal Behavior Consultant to help you: http://www.companionanimalsolutions.com/why-choose-us-2/qualified-animal-behavior-specialists. You can also contact us directly at http://companionanimalsolutions.com and we’d be happy to help you find someone in your area.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:40:51 +0000

Hi, I have a question. I have a male 7 month old lab/akita/sharpei mix. I recently moved across the country with him, which seemed to be a stressful experience. He was the sweetest dog prior to the move, but now he is acting really aggressive. We now live with a roommate who has a 6 month old male lab. I don’t know what to do. Any advice will help.

By: jamey

jamey — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:05:53 +0000

Hello, I need some serious guidance to help my 1 year old pitbull/heeler mix Eyla. She is my first dog and I thought I was doing a pretty good job raising her so far until yesterday. I have an invisible fence system that worked 100% of the time until a couple of months ago. Now she knows if she runs really fast she can make it though. Yesterday a woman was walking her 2 dogs who were very complacent, yet Eyla darted through to the dogs and was very aggressive/dominant towards them. Then at the dog park a little “yappy” dog went nuts (probably scared of her) and she went after him standing over him and chasing him. There is no real danger here (yet), just aggressive, dominant behavior that scares me and other dog owners. She also freaks out on leash or in the car when she sees other dogs. Over the holidays a dog went after her and I got in the middle and even got bit by the other dog…then a week later I watched a friends dog for 10 days. Now that she’s back to being alone she is just going nuts with other dogs. Did this series of events put her over the edge and over her stress threshold? She plays with the 4 neighboring dogs everyday and is totally fine with them. It is just dogs she hasn’t met yet that seem to set her off. How do I resolve this aggressive and freaking out behavior before something bad happens. I have never been scared to have her off leash before yesterday as she has always been an extremely playful & social puppy.

By: Christine Hibbard

Christine Hibbard — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:28:34 +0000

I’m so sorry that you and your dog have both been attacked and bitten at the park. It sounds to me like your dog has pretty good common sense. If the park you’re using isn’t safe, then I would recommend that you not use that park. Even if you successfully counter condition your dog’s fear of other dogs, if she’s attacked again, you’re right back at square one. I’m curious about the limitations you’ve put on your options for your dog: either go to a dangerous park or walk busy city streets. Are those really your only two options?

If you decide to counter condition your dog’s fear of other dogs, you’re going to have to find a different off leash park. Have you read this article? http://companionanimalsolutions.com/blogs/dog-park-safety-tips. You don’t say what kind of physical condition you’re in but can you jog with your dog? I say this having started jogging at 6:30 in the morning with my Australian Shepherd and it’s nearly killing me at this point but I know I’ll get into better condition over time. There are devices you can hook up to a bike to jog your dog. Since your dog is already 3.5 years old, have you considered clicker training tricks? Most dogs who are over three years old thrive on 30 minute per day vigorous walks combined with mental stimulation. I live with two male Australian Shepherds and I can tell you from experience that 60 seconds of clicker training tricks wears them out more than any amount of physical exercise (except herding which requires them to use their brains).

If you want to learn about counter conditioning a dog’s fear, I can recommend this inexpensive booklet very highly: http://astore.amazon.com/compaanimasol-20/detail/1891767003

By: Ariel H

Ariel H — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:15:59 +0000

Hi, I just read your article and I’m hoping you have a few minutes to help me out. Under the “fear aggression” category I saw you noted that having a traumatizing experience at the dog park may lead to aggression toward dogs and this is just the issue I am now dealing with. I have a female purebred yellow lab that’s 3.5 years old. We’ve gone to the same park at least 4 times a week but she has recently been attacked by a 7mo male great dane and 4yo female lab/bulldog in the same day. Today i brought her back to the park and another dog attacked her (and bit me too). After that point any dog that came close she lunged and barked at. How can I solve this problem? I don’t want to give up going to the park as it is the only exercise outlet for her besides walking on the busy streets of downtown. Please Help!!

By: Ally

Ally — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:42:01 +0000

Thanks for replying so quicky. Yeah, we could be playing fetch (both of my dogs LOVE the frisbee) and a dog can try to join them or we could just be walking and he sees a dog from far away and does the same thing. I think we are going to avoid the dog park for awhile though…it’s causing me more stress than anything.
I also am thinking of trying to keep him on a long lead if we do go back because when it happens and he takes off after a dog, it’s impossible for me to catch him. When he knows he’s in trouble, he refuses to listen to me, even though his recall is wonderful any other time. Stubborn little Klee Kai.

By: Christine Hibbard

Christine Hibbard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:38:38 +0000

It’s impossible to troubleshoot when I haven’t seen the behavior but I’ll try to make a few suggestions. I would keep moving whenever you’re at the dog park. People standing around give dogs too much opportunity to get into trouble, keep walking and if you see one of his “target” dogs, run away in the opposite direction before he locks on. I would work on his recall: http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=dtb810p. I would also tell him “too bad” and leave the dog park immediately.

By: Ally

Ally — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 01:06:54 +0000

I would really appreciate some input. My dog just turned two years old. He was neutered at about 9 months and up until that point had always been just the sweetest dog ever. We would go to the dog park every day and he’d always play well. Once he got neutered, he started acting out. He’ll “go after” another dog at the park (generally ones that are intact males, or younger dogs who will eventually get bigger than him, I’ve noticed). He has NEVER drawn blood, as I make it a point to check on the other dog whenever he gets carried away, but it looks and sounds really bad when it’s happening. Any suggestions as to what to do, short of just no longer going to the park?

By: Christine Hibbard

Christine Hibbard — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:08:54 +0000

Cara Shannon at Buddy’s Chance is a terrific dog behavior resource for you. Good luck on your search and we’re looking forward to hearing back from you!