Aggression....

Re: Aggression....

Katie B — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:25:50 GMT

Just monitor him then. My dog personality has changed a little recently. He is coming up for 2 years old in feb and loves other dogs and could handle all of them. However recently certain dogs irritate him and he lets them know. Luckily I sense it and can snap him out of it but it is strange that all of a sudden he is getting irritated (normally by dogs trying to mount him, he hates it) If only they could talk to us and tell us what the problem is. Very strange but then we humans are the same, sometimes we just react. Sounds like the kong idea is working, stick with it and if he gets worse then seek an animal behaviourist!

Re: Aggression....

Cat_blonde — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:47:25 GMT

Hes a collie cross, so not typical collie! There is no growling, snarling anything like that...but at the moment as people are leaving he is put away with a toy and he doesnt seem to bother that people are leaving, he sometimes just sits there waiting for them to leave...so hope thats a good thing!

So far has been as good as gold (touch wood!), but will keep it up as dont want to confuse him.

The bored bit could be true aswell, when it was snowing/icy he wouldnt go outside as he didnt like his feet being cold! So we got out the door and he wouldnt go any further, now the snow has gone he is back to his normal walks :-)

Re: Aggression....

Katie B — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 09:18:57 GMT

I definately think seek professional advice. I personally love Cesar Milan but I know a lot of people have mixed views on him. Sure he feels fine about that though in his million pound house. Must be doing something right!

Re: Aggression....

funkyfish — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:54:41 GMT

Please DON'T use any of Cesar Milan's 'methods' on this dog!!! Seek professional advice!!!! Why do people like him it drives me mad!!!!!!!!!!

It could be he is being bossy, can't cope with leaving rituals, goes into herding mode, doesn't want them to leave any amount of things. A lot of collies are high drive and impulsive, most of all he needs to learn to think before he acts. Most collies over think situations and like to control them, they need an owner who shows them what is expected of them in every situation and be black and white about it, he goes in his crate when ever anyone leaves, not just the people he has been problem with etc. Practice people leaving and reward him going in his crate- eventually when someone gets up to leave he should automatically go in his crate. This should be a fun game- but not over exciting or it may blow his mind and he could go in to collie mode.

Re: Aggression....

Katie B — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:55:34 GMT

Do you see him curling his lips before he bites? as that is a clue that it is aggresion. If he isn't it most proberly means he doesn't want them to leave. My aunty had a collie who was a diamond but as he got older he got aggressive and out of sorts. This was down to not having any space and lack of walks sent him a little bit strange. After a while they decided to put him to sleep as he was getting worse. I suppose collie dogs are working farm animals normally so they need lots of exercise. Maybe walk him before people come over to tire him out. It's a difficult one but sounds to me like it isn't aggresion. Watch Cesar Milan his methods may help.

Re: Aggression....

Jessica Scaife — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:25:14 GMT

Glad it's working for you. My collie went through a bit of a nippy phase, more out of excitement rather than aggression, we also ignore him until he is quiet and calm, which is working pretty well.

Oh and you have a great last name! I'm so used to being the only one with the name Scaife, glad to see another. x

Re: Aggression....

Cat_blonde — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:17:22 GMT

thanks!

In the last few days.... when someone is leaving we shut him in the kitchen with his kong and he is far more interested in that than anyone else! He sometimes cant wait for people to go and waits in there...... Also people ignore him until he is sitting calm, seems to be working well so far.... fingers crossed! x

Re: Aggression....

Dippy — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:45:32 GMT

My brother's dog is the same as Sal has described and they have done exactly the same, used a crate before anyone leaves the room/house and made sure all visitors know the routine so that they don't inadvertently put themself in that situation. They haven't really trained him out of it as he still does it if they forget but it has at least saved anyone else from being bitten. I stayed with them when I locumed in their area a few years ago and regularly used to go home with bite marks and bruises on my bum as I would sit in the lounge in my pj's drinking tea but they'd forget and leave the room and then I'd need to go and get ready for work and I was never quicker than him in reaching the door!

The other option is to put him on a lead and concentrate on keeping his attention with toys/treats etc and instructing visitors in advance that they will need to let them selves out whilst you do this. If you can make yourself more interesting than the person leaving, he may relax about things in time so that you could progress to a longer training line in conjunction with recall etc but still have that element of control just in case?

Re: Aggression....

Sal the 1st — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:03:18 GMT

my sister's dog would let anybody in the house - and I mean anybody, even burglars - but try leaving the house without bits missing was a challenge.

after taking advice from a trainer I started to use a crate and got my sister into the habit of using it when they went out or just before other people went out. (not used as a punishment but as a place she could associate with safety,treats and toys- dog behaviour isnt my bag I'm afraid I am more human behaviour so dont know if it is right or wrong advice but do know it has worked with this dog) she now knows to go to her bed when people are leaving with something like a kong to distract her. She used to get very exciteable when people came into the house to the extent where she nearly knocked people over. She was always worst when people coming into the house gave her loads of fuss and 'fed' her exciteability - they were the ones who really suffered on the way out. we found by rewarding a more controlled greeting and ignoring as much as possible the ott greeting she calmed down pretty quickly.

Re: Aggression....

Cat_blonde — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:59:12 GMT

I took him to work after the first time, and they said he was fine, he does have a unknown pupd which they thought was cushings but cant get a diagnosis on anything so put it down to psychogenic polydipsia.

He is fine will let you do anything (although has tickly feet) , and been to all the training clasees, he rolls on the floor with my God-gaughter, but now we have to shut him away from her incase he goes for her aswell...

Thanks for the replies x

Re: Aggression....

Steph Phillips — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:35:08 GMT

He only bites when she's saying 'goodbye' to him by patting him on the head? maybe he doesn't want her to leave? .. It's a tricky one as he only shows this behaviour once in a while, but for some it can 'once in a while to many' Does he go for you?? maybe ask your friend not to aknowledge him when she's going?

Hope it gets sorted for you xxx

Re: Aggression....

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:31:50 GMT

My first thoughts would be to have his ears and eyes checked. :) Hope this helps.