How can I tame my one year old aggressive Bull Mastiff x Rhodesian Ridgeback?

Question

She has just started to become quite aggressive towrads strangers, especially men. She responds well to commands, knows who's boss, sits & waits for her dinner but can also be quite timid when diciplined. She is not desexed. Will this stop her being aggressive or how can I help train her that men are ok...?

Answer 1

Consult a certified behaviorist for proper training technique and direction on recognizing your dogs signs of aggression.Good luck! Definitely get her spayed to prevent malle fights and to reduce cancer risks as she matures.

Answer 2

I have a hound mix who looks to have a lot of Rhodesian ridge-back in him. We tried everything. I tried every book and humane device and collar out there. The citronella collar is horrible, by the way. Must have spent a couple thousand dollars on these things alone. He still bit a landscaper who came into my driveway, and it was a WOMAN. I hired a fancy dog trainer who worked with my dog all summer and he still misbehaves. It's just him. And he's neutered. The one good thing that came out of the trainer was I learned about the gentle leader, both a leash and a muzzle that works better than choke collar once they get used to it. And this clicker training collar, it's expensive but it's worth it. There's nothing better. It's waterproof and rechargeable so you don't have to buy new batteries. You can try the trainer, but they'll probably give you very specific advice that's impossible to follow because you're not a professional dog trainer and you actually have a real life that is not devoted solely to your dog. Try the collar at this website that's for companion pets: http://www.dogtra.com

Answer 3

Find what motivates your dog. Some dogs do anything for food. Some dogs do anything for Toys. Some do anything for a good petting. Some do anything for only one type of food, like cheese, or hotdog. Some only have interest in training for 5 minutes at a time, and others can go for an hour. Figure out what your dog is willing to work for, and then work with her in sessions that are no longer than she can tolerate. How to train your dog properly https://tr.im/zLXs2

Sign up for a dog obedience training class. It will not train your dog. It will give you training on how you can train your dog. Most people understand the idea of training, but there is a right and a wrong way to do it, and there is good and bad technique. Timing and consistency is very important, and it helps to have feedback of someone watching you who can help you improve your technique to get more efficient results with your dog.

However, she may be somewhat anxious around other dogs, sort of like the shy kid on the playground. She will benefit from continuing what you are doing as far as asking her to sit before entering, but there are more things along those lines that will help her to calmly go in and out of the dog park. She may also benefit from going in short bursts, or only when fewer dogs are present, or avoiding times when other dogs that make her nervous are present. Maybe she just plays loud - my brother's dog is this way - or maybe she is a dogpark bully - sorry it is possible. But more likely she is just a little anxious around new dogs and she wants to play but just doesn't quite know how to do that and still feel comfortable. Don't be surprised if your dog does not actually like the dog park, and maybe she would get more enjoyment and less stress out of simply going for a good walk somewhere else.

A wagging tail does not mean that your dog is happy or even comfortable with the situation. It means your dog is emotionally aroused. This could be a happy arousal, or it could be a nervous arousal, or it could be an aggressive arousal. Go youtube it, there are plenty of videos of 'vicious' dogs who are throwing a very aggressive fit of barking and snarling while their tail is wagging vigorously. Even police dogs who are not let off the leash to chase down a suspect can be lunging and barking and snarling, and their tails are still going.

Answer 4

Ridgeback Cross Bullmastiff

Answer 5

I agree that consulting a trainer/behaviorist now is a great idea. Believe me, taking steps now to solve this problem will prevent a lot of heartache in the future. You need to have a dog that you can relax around! Get some help, and have a look at some books (links below)
I'm including the link to Turid Rugaas' site as well, so that you can learn to 'read' your dog's body language and steer her away from a blowup before it gets ugly. Don't give your dog the chance to rehearse bad behavior, and always reward the daylights out of her when she's offering good behavior!

Answer 6

The Bull Mastiff is normally a very gentle & family oriented breed, however the Rhodesian R/back is naturally very protective of their master & since you are female, she is going to be especially aggressive towards men. One should always research a breed you are contemplating before acquiring said breed. I am afraid you are stuck with your problem unless you are able to afford a top of the line trainer, & there is no guarantee of success. Good luck.

Answer 7

Was she abused by a man in her past? Spaying and neutering does tend to calm dogs down.......will not stop all agression. I wonder why it's just men, is she exposed to alot of different people? Go for walks where she will get socialized, parks, places where there is alot of action, grocery store parking lots offer a wide variety of people that you can walk past and get your dog used to the wide variety of people out there. If she responds well to commands and knows you are boss, she will become less aggressive towards men with a little work on your part. Good luck.

Answer 8

Your first plan of action should be to have her spayed. In my line of work, sterilization surgery solves alot of behavior problems. Your second plan of action should be to consult a behavior specialist. Most obedience schools have a dog behavior specialist on staff that you can consult with in order to try to solve behavior problems. Once all that is taken care of, socialization is key. On the shoulda-coulda-woulda side, dogs should start being socialized once they have had their first set of vaccinations (at 6-8 weeks). If your dog is poorly socialized, and is already an adult dog, it will take time to get her used to strangers. I like the answer with the "gentle leader". Gentle Leaders are head collars, but must be used with caution. You can also get body harnesses for your dogs that attatch to the back legs as well as the body to keep her from jumping while on-leash. Consult with your trainer before using any of these products to make sure that you are using them correctly, and take your time. Be patient, and realize, that not all aggression issues can be solved. Some of them will always be there and just have to be dealt with in daily life. You may have to make adaptations such as crating her while you have company over (as I had to with my dog who was aggressive). Don't give up and good luck!

Answer 9

Getting her spayed might help. I got my dog spayed and she isnt as hyper as she was. Since she is good with commands then if she is going to be aggressive then tell her NO! sternly but not loudly. You might want to buy a choke collar / leash. It doesn't choke her , it just gets kind of tight when you tug on it. That is one way to get her attention. Mabey try obedience classes. My dog is aggressive twords people so I might take her to an obedience class. The vet in my town said to use the choke collar when she misbehaves so i can get her attention .

Answer 10

I thought if you didn't get a dog fixed by the time it was around 6 months old, it wouldn't change their agressive tendencies to do so later.

I think it depends exactly how she is agressive. If it's possible for her to get close up to men, try having men give her treats. If you walk her, you could ask strangers you encounter to give her a treat for you. Explain you're trying to socialize her and stuff..

When my dog was having a lot of problems I got alot of advice on the forums at the Leerburg Kennels site.

Answer 11

Dogs are a very good judge of character. And most females are more aggressive than males. I personally like my dog not liking certain types of people. It makes me feel safe when I'm alone. Look at it this way, right now, if a man comes up to you to harm you, your dog will stop him. Besides, Rhodesians were bred to fight lions. She is going to be aggressive.