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  #1  
Old February 11th, 2003, 09:25 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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How do I stop my dog from being aggressive to new dogs.

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  #2  
Old February 11th, 2003, 12:35 PM
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What kind of dog is he?
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  #3  
Old February 12th, 2003, 07:43 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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She is a 2 year old female spayed Dalmation. She is a rescue dog I just got her in August. She is fine with the dogs she knows, just new dogs. I will also mention she has been attacked by other dogs. Thankfully not seriously.
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Old February 12th, 2003, 08:07 AM
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There is a training technique that was taught to me by a fellow pit bull owner, and it works wonders. As you probably know, pit bulls #1 problem is dog aggression because historically they were bred for dog fighting. It's called " Bar Open" "Bar Closed" when you are walking your dog, and you see (and your dog sees another dog) feed treats over and over again (aka Bar Open) until the dog is out of site. Once the dog is out of site, stop feeding treats (aka bar Closed). Your dog will start to associate that everytime a new dog is around it's a VERY positive thing.

I'm sure if it can work on rescued pit bulls who were abused by their past owners by putting them in dog fights, then it can work on a Dalmation.

Good luck!
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Old February 12th, 2003, 09:08 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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Talking

Thank You!! How old is your Pitbull? and is it a he or she?
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  #6  
Old February 12th, 2003, 09:26 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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Doh Doh !! Sorry of course he's a male.
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  #7  
Old February 12th, 2003, 10:50 AM
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Oh I have more then one, Bruno is just top dog in my house
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  #8  
Old February 13th, 2003, 08:01 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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How many pet friends do you have?
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Old February 13th, 2003, 08:17 AM
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5 of my own

and whenever i get fosters in, it adds to the number

-Sara
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  #10  
Old February 13th, 2003, 08:28 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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Fostering is great. I wish I could. Sketch my Dalmatian came from a wonderful foster family. I keep in touch just to let them know how she is. I wish I could foster but I know I would become too attached. PS I started with the bar open and bar closed I will let you know Sketch's progress thank you again.
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  #11  
Old February 13th, 2003, 08:30 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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I forgot to ask are all your dogs Pitbulls?
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  #12  
Old February 13th, 2003, 01:25 PM
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2 of my permanant dogs are pit bulls, 1 is a chow - 2 are cats

all of em are rescues

fostering is very rewarding, the hardest one to give up is always the first one... then it gets better

It's very rewarding in the sense that you just saved a life... actully 2 - the dog that you took in, and it opens an extra spot at the shelter for another dog.

I'm excited to hear how the "Bar training" works with your furkid!

-Sara
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  #13  
Old February 17th, 2003, 09:18 AM
Kellie Kellie is offline
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I've started the Bar Training. When she acts up I say NO and give her a command of sit & stay until the dog walks by and I have been giving her bits of carrot since my Vet wants her on a vegetarian diet. She will do just about anything for a carrot. It is hard with the weather being so cold we are not out too long.
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  #14  
Old March 4th, 2003, 08:12 PM
andria andria is offline
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Bar Open question

Hi BrunosMom,

What should I do if my dog is so fixated on surrounding dogs that she won't eat the treats? Just work on my dog-eyes and start from farther and father away? I am assuming that's the deal - maybe I have been spotting them and starting the Bar Open when we're too close, and she's too distracted?

Usually she is SUPER food motivated - but if there's an appealing enough distraction, food takes second place for her. I will say that she's not aggressive with 75% of dogs - it's only about 25% that will set her off - but she is very excitable (usually she just wants to play) around other dogs and I want to keep her under control and focused on me, regardless.

Any suggestions?

Cheers
Andria
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  #15  
Old March 13th, 2003, 12:54 AM
lylag lylag is offline
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Hi,

I would suggest feeding the dog AFTER these walks so that the food is a stronger motivator.

Also I would pay closer attention to the dogs body language. The SECOND she gets excited you must give the food and loads of praise.

Lylag
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  #16  
Old April 6th, 2004, 08:16 PM
hillariep hillariep is offline
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Aggression towards children

Dear Brunosmom:

I assume the open bar strategy may work for aggression towards children as well. Do you have any other suggestions? My lab-mix is very snarly and jumpy around any child. Or people on bikes, or in wheelchairs....

I will start the open bar technic for now until I hear more.
Thanks!
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  #17  
Old April 6th, 2004, 11:18 PM
Lucky Rescue Lucky Rescue is offline
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Hi BrunosMom! I have a pit bull too, and do something similiar to what you do.

I took my dog through obedience school. When I see a dog in the distance, I put her in a "heel' and use the command "Watch me". If she is good while the other dog passes - praise and treats.

If she breaks the "heel" she gets corrected, but NOT for pulling towards the other dog, but for breaking the command.

This works very well for us, because now she knows that when she sees other dogs, she'll get cookies and praise.

Kellie -
Quote:
my Vet wants her on a vegetarian diet
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  #18  
Old April 7th, 2004, 08:31 AM
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I have a rescue Dal too. Has been quite a handful. Her face was smasked when she was hit by a car. She never had it repaired so her face is kind of wonky.

Lots of Patience with this breed. Also realize they are highly territorial. When we go to the off leash park she is bell of the ball let me tell you.
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  #19  
Old October 30th, 2006, 08:19 PM
rn4kids7901 rn4kids7901 is offline
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Question Please help!

I have a rescued dachshund that I was told did not like children. It turns out that he does not like anyone that isn't family. He is 7 years old, and has been neutered for the last 2 years. Whenever anyone comes over, even if he has met them before, he will bark, growl and snarl. I have to tell people to stand very still and not try to touch him until he is through. If they try to pet him, he will bite hard enough to draw blood. Once he is through barking and snarling, he will jump in their lap and be their best friend. How can I stop him from doing this? I'm glad that he won't let outsiders hurt us, but the fact that he won't let friends visit is a problem.
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  #20  
Old October 30th, 2006, 08:23 PM
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Might want to start a thread of your own. This one is from 2003. You'd get more replies that way
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  #21  
Old October 30th, 2006, 08:38 PM
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Hey but its a cool thread I might try it with Joey - he is very food driven -
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  #22  
Old October 30th, 2006, 08:41 PM
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Joey.E.CockersMommy Joey.E.CockersMommy is offline
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Here is what I found

Quote:
This technique is based on the conditioned response to teach your dog that other dogs are a joy to be around. The idea is that when another leashed dog is present the bar is open, meaning that wonderful things happen. When the other dog leaves then the bar closes and all those wonderful things disappear. Here is how to make it work for your dog:

Choose a spot where other dogs pass by with some frequency. Make sure you are well stocked with your dog's favorite treats and rewards.
As soon as a dog comes into sight the bar is open. You flood your dog with treats, play things and attention. When the dog goes out of sight the bar closes and all the fun stuff gets put away. Ignore your dog (while standing on his leash) for at least a couple of minutes or at least until the next dog comes by.
As the next dog comes into sight the bar opens back up again, when the dog goes the bar closes.
As you repeat this over and over, it will teach your dog in no uncertain terms that other dogs mean good things. Which will in turn help your dog to enjoy being around them more.
A important part of the open bar—closed bar technique is that the bar is always open when another dog is present even if your dog is barking, jumping or otherwise acting uncontrollable. You are not trying to teach him to behave but rather to react well to the presence of other dogs.

All leash related bad habits take time to overcome and will require all your skills as a trainer. If you don't teach and continually practice your dog in the art of good leash manners he will simply revert back to his previous way of acting.

Given enough love, training and practice your dog can learn to become a wonderful well mannered dog who is a pleasure to take with you anywhere.


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  #23  
Old October 31st, 2006, 04:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joey.E.CockersMommy View Post
Here is what I found

I think it's worth adding to this, since I don't think it was mentionned anywhere, that if the dog gets so focused on whatever it's reacting to, you need to move back and find the dog's threshold. By this I mean, find the distance at which the dog can see the other dog, but is not so wound up that they cannot accept treats.
As you make progress, you can close the distance between your dog and others until you're able to pass a dog on the street, for example, without having a little doggie hissy fit.
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  #24  
Old January 5th, 2007, 07:25 AM
FlynnMB FlynnMB is offline
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agressive dog

I wonder if anyone can help me, I got a puppy last March whose mother was a pure bred cocker and the father was a border collie he was 5 weeks old when I got him, he is now 11 months old and is a lovely family pet, we love him & he loves us. He is very aggressive to anyone who is not within the immediate family. He ran after my mother snarling and he bit her on the ankle, he didn't break the skin, it was, what I call, a gummy bite but my mother (who is 72) was terrified, children and the postman is terrified. What do I do? 'Cause I love him so much. His name is Hector
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  #25  
Old January 5th, 2007, 07:30 AM
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Hunter's_owner Hunter's_owner is offline
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I would suggest some socialization and obedience classes.

Since you got him at such a young age (puppies shouldn't be taken at 5 weeks) the puppy lacks what they would have learned if they stayed with the mother and litter.
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  #26  
Old January 5th, 2007, 07:36 AM
FlynnMB FlynnMB is offline
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I know he was too young when I got him but the owner of the mother couldn't stand the sight of the mongrel puppies and gave them to the Irish Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals where I got him I live in a very rural area of Ireland so classes are out of the question as there are none! Is there anything that I can do?
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  #27  
Old January 5th, 2007, 07:43 AM
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I'm not sure. Maybe someone else will offer some advice, as I have never dealt with an agressive puppy before. Sorry
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  #28  
Old January 5th, 2007, 07:43 AM
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Yup. Great advice posted above. Maybe get a behaviorist in and get some advice from them. But Obedience is a great idea. Biting people is a BIG no no!
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  #29  
Old January 5th, 2007, 03:47 PM
FlynnMB FlynnMB is offline
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aggressive behaviour

Hi

Thanks for advice, the doorbell rang today & he started his barking/snarling I told him to sit and stay & he did, but it was just my son so I don't know what he would have done if it was anyone who was not immediate family.

Thank you for your advice

Regards

mary
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  #30  
Old January 5th, 2007, 11:20 PM
Micky Micky is offline
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Unhappy How do I stop my dog from being aggressive towards ME?

I have a spayed male miniature poodle who is 9 years old I think he may be getting more aggressive as he gets older as he wasnt when he was younger. The other day he bit me on the hand quite hard when I was about to undo his harness and his food was nearby. He also growls and snaps at younger children and dogs and I'm afraid that if he bites a child he will have to be put down. Does anyone know how to please help me?
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