Bear -- New Neighbourhood Bully

[MommaBear]

Oh my sweet timid Bear has turned into a neighbourhood bully on our walks now. Up until a few months ago she would lay down and politely wait for dogs to come up to her on our walks. Now seh lays down and then lunges at them, growling, barking and towing me across the street . I have tried telling her to "stay", "leave it" and distracted her with treats to no avail. Any better ideas? She has turned from the neighbourhood sweetheart into a territorial maniac!

[navarre1316]

I have to agree with Stella.  That's what I had to do with Navarre, after he drug me through the front yard going after an elderly couple walking...with no warning I might add.  I only used those collars on walks, when I was working with him at home I'd use his regular collar.  After he got out of his butt stage I could easily walk him with a regular collar and he wouldn't think twice about going anywhere unless I told him.  I know that some people have very strong opinions about choke and pinch collars but a bit of discomfort is much better than a lawsuit.  If that's a little much for you, some people swear by the martingale type of collar, I've never used one so I cannot say how they are but supposedly they help tremendously with the pulling.

[Nicole]

I don't really have a full-blown suggestion, but something I noticed is that you said that she went from "sweet and timid" to a bully, and that she lays down before she lunges.

It sounds to me like you might be dealing with fear-related aggression? Is this possible? I mean, only you know your girl, but that's just what I get from reading your post.

While I agree with Stella that in many cases, the saftey of the public comes first and you may have to resort to a pinch collar, I would say that if it is fear-related, that would make it worse and not deal with the "real" issue.

So, just assuming that it is fear-related you may want to take a different approach. I don't specifically know what that might be, but perhaps someone else could chime in on that.

[Nicole]

Good point, Stella.

[MommaBear]

Thanks for the advice. I think it is fear-aggression. She only seems to exhibit this behaviour with me -- not Chris, the doggy daycare or my parents. Perhaps she is being protective.

I will be looking into collars on the w/e. Right now I have her on a harness that goes around her chest.

Thanks again

[Scootergirl]

One thing I noticed from your statement was that you said you tried distracting her with treats. It may be that you have inadvertantly reinforced her bad behavior by "giving" her treats when she does this. I know it wasn't your intention, but she may be interpreting it that way. You can take treats with you, but give them to her when she exhibits the DESIRED behavior, not to encourage her NOT to be bad.

[Bubbalove]

I had to get a pinch collar for Kana b/c his walks were met with such excitement and he would also give me no warning before taking off after something.  The collar has worked wonders!  I, too only use it on walks in the neighborhood (when we'll be around people/dog situations) NEVER at home or in class.  With such strong, large, headstrong dogs like we have I feel I cannot risk him getting away from me at any cost.  It's definately a personal opinion, I have a friend that has 2 LARGE labs and a Swissy and he does not agree with the pinch collars at all due to the idea that the collar is correcting his behaviors not me - per say. 
I will tell you a trick if he does not always need the pinch collar...JUST PUT IT ON, don't attach the leash to that collar, attach it to his everyday collar.  Kana's is a 22 gage collar.  Very heavy.  He knows damn well when that thing is on, it's a reminder for him that he needs to be on task. 
My husband teases him... "OH, Kana you got your NECKLACE on?? Hmmm, can't imagine why you have your NECKLACE on.."
Hope this helps!

[redbean]

funny enough,my baby is called Bear too and has da same problem!! i find da head halti da best way. he snapped at a lab last week and dat was da last straw.i got da head halti and havnt had any problems he is much more responsive now. we are also workin on his socialisation, he never should any problems before this is all a new thing. its worrying thinking what cud happen, bear cud really do some damage. but hopefully we have it under control!! fingers crossed anyway:P:)

[MommaBear]

I have yet to get the pinch collar but we had a successfull encounter today. She began barking and I pulled hard on her harness which seemed to get her attention and she stopped and laid down

[maxsmom]

I use a prong collar for Jake, simply because I know I can't stop him, if he wants to take off and it corrects him, instead of me doing it.  Another thing you might want to try, if you find it is not fear related, is taking different routes on your walks.  I found that my dogs did better when I vary the routes we walk.  They don't start thinking of the entire area as their territory, because we always go a different way, so they don't need to protect it all.
Kathy