Will the use of a shock collar modify agressiion/dominance behaviors without damaging dogs personality?

Question

Recently aquired male expressing vicious behavior to his son. This male was raised an "only dog" and was basically the pack leader. Owners were ineffective in controlling his behavior as a puppy. He is 4 years old. We have three other dogs,including his son, and he gets along with the other two. His son submits but is still attacked. I have asked this before and wish to know if the shock collar will change his temperament for the worse. Yes, I of course, have them separated, but this isn't doing his disposition any good, and yes, I know the shock will hurt him physically, but if it will modify his behavior I will use it. It hurts his son to be bitten too.The collar comes with directions so I think I can figure it out. The vet assures me that, at 4, he will not be cured by being neutered. At this point it's a habit. I'd appreciate any useful suggestions. This is a 90 lb. German Shepherd. Sarcastic one-liners are counter productive and unhelpful. Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

We just bought a shock collar fence system for our yard. It works pretty well and hasn't done anything to change a dog's personality. My aunt also had an anti bark collar on her dog and it worked pretty good. Of course she only puts it on when she has company (when he barks incessantly). I don't know about a remote controlled shock collar. Perhaps as long as you follow the directions and sternly say NO to the dog so they know what behavior is inappropriate then hopefully you won't need to use it very often. However if it doesn't work very well and you are shocking the dog a lot I would try a different method at that time.

Answer 2

You know, it's worth watching the Dog Whisperer - I bet you can get a DVD of him. He's awesome and I try to watch whenever I see him on TV. He deals with dogs like this all of the time. I've picked up so many things from him that really work.

I personnally don't think it's an advantage for any animal to use shock unless extremely mild. However, watching this program, I DID see a collar where - when you pulled it, it 'dug' into the dog's neck when the dog acts up. Of course, it has to fit properly and when it is - it acts like a dog biting - but not hard enough to break the skin. I think that would be 'more natural' to the animal in a 'pack' sense as dogs do bite to overcome each other for pack leadership - and probably would be better than 'shock' which is foreign to a dog. Just my 2 cents.

Answer 3

First off, you need to consult with a dog trainer that is very experienced with German Shepherds. My dog had a problem with being aggressive to all dogs she met (even ones in fenced yards while she was walking by). I had to use a pinch collar, and lift her front legs off the ground for several seconds every time she got aggressive. It worked for me...but your dog sounds a bit bigger than mine. A dog trainer experienced in dominant and aggressive dogs will be able to help you out a lot.
You might try a pinch collar, and keep a length of leash attached to it at all times (called a drag line). Whenever, you see him doing something he shouldn't be doing, you can just reach down and correct him easily.
Obedience training will teach him that you are in charge, and when he gets aggressive with the other dog, you can give him a "down" or "sit" command.
A shock collar is a useful tool, and has saved many dogs lives. I would recommend getting a trainer to teach you the best way of using it. There are a few different techniques. It doesn't damage dog's personality if used appropriately, but if it is abused, then the dog might become overly submissive to you.
You also might try using a muzzle on the dominant dog, just as a quick fix until you get a trainer, or the shock collar training becomes effective.
Worst case scenario, you might have to rehome the submissive dog that gets attacked. It would be much harder to find a home to the more aggressive dog, and he gets along with your other dogs just fine.
An animal behaviorist also might help, because it's kind of odd for the aggressive dog to keep attacking after the submissive dog has surrendered. There might be something that a behaviorist can help you with.
Has your vet checked to see if there might be a medical problem causing the aggression? Dogs in pain can act out quite aggressively.
Again, there's nothing wrong in using a shock collar on a dominant/aggressive dog when other methods have failed. It's saved many dogs lives. As long as it's used appropriately, it can be a very effective training tool.

Answer 4

I am also having problems with dominating males. I have a male chow that is almost 4 and a male great dane that is a little over 3 years old. Both dogs are easily over 100 pounds each. The chow is the mastermind of all this. He wishes he were an only dog and is upset that the dane doesn't submit.
I also have them separated but it seems to be getting worse. I can tell you right now that getting the dog fixed would do nothing. Both of my males are fixed and I still have to break up fights. I've thought about the shock collar on many instances because NOTHING else works. Let me know how it works out for you because I am very interested in knowing if it fixes the agression.
Thanks!

Answer 5

A shock collar may help with your problem, I've used them before, but only after having extensive training with a certified animal traininer (with my dog) in their correct use and never to correct dominance issues--only for obedience and hunting. If you don't use them correctly, you run the risk of seriously harming your dog and not correcting the behavior you're trying to modify or even making it worse or intensifying it.

Personally, I'm not against remote collars, when used properly. However, I don't think they are the answer to all problems. My advice would be to seek help from a professional trainer...however, I realize that a lot of trainers are against the use of remote collars, so if possible, I'd try to seek help from someone who unbiased and who will be able to help guide you to decide if that is the route you should go, and, if it is, can help you in the proper approach to using it and introducing your dog to it.

I might consider this a last resort however, and explore other options.

Answer 6

I don't personally have a german shepard, but i do raise black labs. I use the shock collars during training. It seems to help them distinguish the difference between right and wrong. I also use them while hunting. But, they don't always respond to the collar. And if you aren't careful with it, it can be easily misused. I wouldn't recommend a shock collar on a dog that is already 4 years old, he might already be set in his ways, but anything is worth a shot if he is too aggressive. If it doesn't work another option is to talk with a local human society and see if they have any behavior training to see if the dog can be brought around to be more gentle around others. If those options fail, you probably only have one left, to live with it or put the animal down. Sounds mean, but it is very last option.

Answer 7

Usually shock collars are better for training (don't do this specific thing) not for dominance. Dominance behaviors are difficult to control, you have to be in charge of the situation. When two dogs fight it is not always clear who's behavior is causing the problem. There may be something the other dog is doing.

Get both dogs very tired by running them and then establish your dominance over him them by touching and rolling if necessary.

Then force each to submit to the other dog by lying down while the other dog is around and let him get sniffed etc by the other dog. Be very careful, as this can cause injury if you don't have good control of both dogs. If you are dominant over both dogs they will be less agressive against each other.

Use a leash at all times for control and be very careful not to get inbetween two fighting dogs, just control one of them with the leash and be careful. Watch their body language and try to see which one gets tense first. Try to keep youself as calm as possible.

Your vet is wrong about nutering, it will reduce overall agression in dogs of any age, I'm not sure why he or she said that. Sure it won't stop all bad or dominant behaviors or cure fighting but it absolutely will reduce agression to the point where you will notice the difference.

Answer 8

I've never heard of a "shock" collar for behavior.

I thought it was only used for barking. The shock is supposed to be very mild and harmless.
I have an understanding that there is a time limit for use. 8-10 hours, and never all night and day.

Two things may be occurring, territorial behavior, or if the son is much smaller, often a small dog appears as prey to the larger dog. This is just instinct.
A muzzle may be in order.
They can adapt to one. All Police dogs wear them.

I've had a shepherd as a child, and loved it. He was not vicious. My baby sister put her face near its food, and the dog grabbed her face, teeth under her nose and below her mouth. Sadly, my dad put him down.

We called him Rin, after Rin Tin Tin, if you have any knowledge that far back. He was a movie dog, like Lassie.

Good luck

Answer 9

If you're not careful with shock collars they can inflict burns on the dog. I would never use one for any reason. My advice is to give the dog away or if you're dead set about keeping him, then get him neutered and whenever the two dogs are together then put a muzzle on the aggressive one. Whenever they fight, blast the aggressive one in the face with water. My husband and I have two males that started fighting before we could get them neutered and we tried everything we could to break it up. Fortunately we were close to the garden hose so we turned on the water and sprayed both dogs in the face. It took about 5 seconds and they backed off. They were both about 1 1/2 yrs. old at the time. We got them neutered the following week and have never had another fight.

Answer 10

Neutering probably wouldnt fix it, but it wouldnt hurt either.
It sounds like the dogs are exhibiting a wolf pack heirarchy
and one specific dog has been chosen as the omega.
meaning it is the whipping boy of the group. Even though the dogs are domestic, their instincts are millions of years old.
A shock collar may help, they are not very humane, but necessary sometimes. If there is actual biting you may try buying a hot sauce called daves insanity sauce, or some other very hot sauce that makes tobasco seem like ketchup, mixing it with water in a spray bottle, and spray it on the submissive animals fur where the bites normally occur, The dog should learn quickly that biting that other dog can get very uncomfortable.
This worked very well for me When mixing adult male ferrets
Who can get very aggressive with one another and literally try to tear one anothers throats out.