my sheltie has very bad fear-agression from a traumatic experince at 6 1/2 mnths. old.he hates men,or anybody he does'nt know.i've tried different training,vet.,prescribed anti--depressants,ect..he barks,growls at ppl.,totoly goes bezerk he loses control.he's bitten me severel times b/c of moving him away from ppl..(i muzzle him now anytime out.)once he knows you he's the sweetest boy.ijust me & him he's a big baby.anyway,does anyone have any ideas,whatever how i can help him not be so afaid of people?i just got the cesar's way book.anyone know about it?any reply much appriciated.
2006-11-22 13:16:28 · 8 answers · asked by dysfunctionalyMe 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I'm sure you will find some things in your book helpful, but there's a limitation to it... techniques in it are not necessarily based on your dogs personality as an individual.
I would suggest seeking our a trainer in your area who specializes in behavioral issues. A good trainer will evaluate your dogs personality in person and develop a training method that will work best for that personality. I have seen our trainer turn a dog around in a few months and I was totally amazed at what was accomplished.
2006-11-23 03:06:25 · answer #1 · answered by Shadow's Melon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fear based aggression like this is extremely dangerous. It's a hard decision to make, but sometimes it's the only real decision. Keeping a dog like this around is extremely dangerous. You have small children- and you state the dog has gotten off leash twice. So far, no one has died- but easily could. I love my dogs more than anything, but I will NOT let them be aggressive towards humans or other dogs. The humans always come first. If I believed (or in your case knew) that an attack was possible- a SERIOUS attack- I would have my dog euthanized. It's the only responsible thing to do. It's a tough decision- and it's hard, because I'm sure you love your dog as much as I love mine. But you have to think about what's best for your family. You know in your heart the right decision to make- don't let anyone tell you that you are a bad person for this- you aren't. You are being a responsible adult- which means making tough decisions. I commend you for making it.
2016-03-29 06:09:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi I don't know too much how to fix it as I had a shepard husky that was that way and I was always afraid of him biting someone. Once the people were in the house he was fine I think his was more of a protective problem but I went into Yahoo search and typed in fear and aggression of dogs and there are a lot on that subject. there is quite a few on fear agression by dogs directed toward people and some toward other animals.
2006-11-22 13:46:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that getting the help of male friends to give treats to your dog will help a lot. You'll have to explain what you're doing, and caution your friends to not stare at your dog, or try to interact with the dog. Good for you for using a muzzle at this time and trying to work through the problem! I recommend the author Jean Donaldson - she can help you to get your dog past this without you having to further scare your dog. The lawsuit for a dog bite would not be pleasant!
2006-11-22 13:29:46 · answer #4 · answered by Misa M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fear aggression is the most dangerous form of aggression, as a dog that is fearful is more likely to bite and is unpredictable.
I suggest that you enlist the help of males in your family, or friends. Give them a bunch of yummy treats, and have them "drop" them while they walk by the dog at a comfortable distance.
Have them avoid eye contact with the dog, and no one should approach to touch your dog.
After a while, allow the person to pass by your dog at a closer distance, again dropping treats or tossing them in his direction. Eventually, you will be able to allow the person closer and closer to your dog.
http://www.libertydogtraining.com
2006-11-22 13:24:42 · answer #5 · answered by libertydogtraining 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You mentioned that you tried different training, are you trying to correct the problem yourself or have you tried a good reputable trainer? If you have not, I would recommend that you do, you may also want to consult with a Veterinary Behaviorist in your area. Good Luck.
2006-11-22 13:21:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cesar is great. He also has a DVD out on aggression. I haven't gotten it yet. Maybe you should get that and see what he says to do. He is great. You can but the DVD on eBay cheaper than his site.
Good luck with him (the puppy)
2006-11-22 14:27:54 · answer #7 · answered by MANDYLBH 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.leerburg.com talks about fear aggression. He's usually right on the money too (much better than Cesar Milian). Good luck.
2006-11-22 13:27:31 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋