I have a rescue that is dog agressive, what should I do?

Question

My Esther - a chow mix, came to me having just had12 puppies, she was extremely emaciated and HW+ It is also obvious that she was beaten. She hid for weeks behind the shed and gradually bonded with me.

Now six months later she has come quite a long way, with firm handling she is a nice dog to walk and a pretty mellow house dog. Unfortunately she has attacked a couple of the neigbors dogs recently - when we did not latch the gate. I have another dog agressive dog who encourages her, she is a australian shepherd mix and very bossy, so I do not walk them together.
She plays kind of rough with the third dog and I do not let them
stay in the yard alone .

Another problem is that her heart is damaged from the HW, she cannot run without discomfort. I really love her and want the best for her, my husband is not sure she wont get worse, she has attacked one of my cats - the other one stands up for himself. Do you think she is in a lot of pain, its so hard to tell with dogs

Answer 1

As far as her being in pain, that is something that your vet will have to determine. Also, I would recommend a trainer come to your house and work with all your dogs to create harmony amongst them. It will cost, but it will be well worth it! Good luck to you and your doggies!

Answer 2

Take it from someone who has adopted 2 animal viscous dogs, it takes a lot of time.

Cody is a male Alaskan Malamute that we got at Animal control. He has killed 2 small dogs and goats before we got him. We had to sign all these papers just to get him. They told us we would never be able to have around any kind of living animal. Well it has been 6 months and we have 4 other dogs that he now sleeps and plays with. When they act up you have to make them cubmit to you. hold them down until they completly give up. Sounds cruel but Cody is over 200 lbs and I'm sorry I am just a 110 lbs and if he ever bit me in the face I would never be the same. A danerous dog is very hard to deal with. Keep working with her and make her be around other dogs. Make sure you have complete control no matter what you do. As long as they know you are the "leader" they are fine. It will take you longer because she's a female dog. Hate to say it but they are much harder to train from being aggresive. They will kill anything and everything. A male dog will not normally hurt a female dog and give up and be friends with the same dog it just got in a fight with. Female dogs hold a grudge forever and will not back down.

Answer 3

Chows as a breed are known to have a tendency to be dog aggressive and high prey drive toward other animals. For that reason they should be kept away from other dogs and kept as the only pets in the home unless socialized very early and even then it is not 100%. These problems are probably not solvable by training given her history and breed. Read the Dog Fancy magazine article about this breed in this month's edition. - it is available online I believe and it speaks to this tendency.

As for pain, dogs try and hide it. Your vet can tell you best what her condition might be.

Answer 4

Chows are EXTREMELY loyal dogs, with her previous experience it could be that she only trusts you and any other dog around will be a threat to her. It is definitely part of the chow breed to be bonded with one owner only. It is a very good trait, just a shame she doesn't get along with other dogs. I had a shar-pei like that too. Is your yard exposed to your neighbors' dogs? maybe if you spent time with her where she can see the other dogs but is far enough away that she won't react, just talk to her, encourage her that you are not in danger and that she has nothing to worry about. She sounds like a lovely dog, and she will need loads of patience and time.

Answer 5

Try "rescue remedy". She may be fearful. I would include the RR in her food daily for the next month. You can find more information about this product at your local Health Food Store, or for more specific remedies see the website at http://pethomeopath.com/specificmedicine.asp OR http://www.naturalpetcare.co.uk/flower.htm

Your local health food store should have all of these products available.

My own rescue dog was brutalized, and I used the services of a holistic veterinarian. I'm not sure where you are but if you are in Canada, contact the folks at the Edmonton Holistic Vet Clinic. I have brought many damaged animals into my home through rescue and each has responded differently (but positively) to holistic and homoeopathic modalities.

Vera
www.voiceless.ca

Answer 6

Chow is actually a chinese fighting dog... They have been over bred and are actually shown to be the "dumbest" dogs.. Which is not explaining the "aggressive" behavior but, they can not be trusted once they go "bad".. If the dog is getting more and more aggressive it might be time to put the dog down.. It might be in physical pain or the scars of a rough life just will not heal... In any case it would be best to talk it over with a vet or animal behaviorist and see the cause of the aggressive behavior... With proper training and supervision the dog can turn the behavior around.. However, if not treated the dog could attack another dog or a person... Good luck...

Answer 7

That is the hard part not knowing
What did your Vet say?
Sounds like you are really going to have to watch her very closely and you know what you are doing, keep up the good work.
The only thing I can suggest is obedient school
God Bless you for rescuing

We help animals
You do too

Answer 8

I would take her, and your other dog, or any dog with aggressive issues to a dog behaviorist. See if your vet can refer one. And put a lock on that gate! Especially if you have kids that forget to shut it. GL You sound like you have a very kind heart

Answer 9

It's unfortunate, but some breeds of dogs are dog/animal aggressive, pitbulls, chows, cattle dogs, etc. are all animal aggressive. I would suggest constant supervision and chaining him into the yard so he doesn't get out of the yard. If you're not careful, angry neighbors are going to riot.

Answer 10

i've heard that it's hard to rescue chows b/c of the abuse they've been, an agressive chow could be put to sleep if you let it have the chance. pit bulls and boxers can be very agressive if introduced to abuse.