My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

New dog is fear aggressive and I'm struggling.

45 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 30/04/2013 22:35

Got a six month old dog at the weekend so I'm aware it's very early days. Dog came from a breeder but hadn't sold, however it seems very unsocialised. But he was lovely when we saw him at the breeders house.

He is fine with my 12yo dd all the time. He follows her round like a shadow.

He is always fine with me if I am on my own or if its me and Dh. If dd is there as well he will sometimes growl and snarl at me when I come in a room.

When dd is at school he follows me like a shadow and is fine with me. But then if Dh comes in a room he snarls and growls and lunges at Dh.

If Dh is home alone with the dog then the dog is fine with Dh and follows him around.

We've read up on dog body language, our body language. We're ignoring bad behaviour and praising him for not growling/been good. If he growls we turn our back on him and move away.

We've got the dog a dap collar and he has a crate so he could retreat there if he wanted to. I've made an appt to see a dog trainer on Thursday for a one to one.

I spent all day yesterday with him either by my feet or on my knee.

He's fine with people coming to the door but occasionally lunges snarling at random objects like bags. He lunges at other dogs on walks when he first meets them but will then walk alongside them fine for ages. But if they start playing with each other amongst themselves he will start barking and leaping about, like the excitement tips him over the edge. He's kept on his lead and other dogs are off their lead....which he's ok with as long as they're walking nicely. Do I keep walking him with these dogs for socialisation or take him on calmer, quieter walks?

Dd had a friend round tonight and dog was mainly ok with the friend. I wasn't here so didn't witness this but apparently dog was doing occassional growling at friend and then nipping at her trousers. Dh got fed up with this and ignored all I'd told him and pinned the dog to the ground. Dog then bit him.....has left a bruise but not broken the skin so not a proper bite. I've pointed out to Dh that he's probably made the dog even more scared now so it won't have helped.

What do we need to be doing to resolve this? Will it just take time and effort? Is he beyond hope if he's not been socialised by six months?

OP posts:
Report
LostInWales · 30/04/2013 22:38

Sounds like you are doing all the correct things, it is, as you say, still very early days. Sounds like you need to rehome DH if he can't stick to the plan Wink. I'm so pleased you got your dog btw, I'm sure you will get through this, the dog is only a puppy after all.

Report
ExitPursuedByABear · 30/04/2013 22:40

Not enough experience to give any advice, sorry. What breed is he? I would be very wary of a dog whose first response was to bite, and he sounds scared, which is so sad.

How lovely that you are giving him a chance.

Report
ExitPursuedByABear · 30/04/2013 22:41

Yay to rehoming DH. I am thinking of swapping mine for another hound

Report
VivaLeBeaver · 30/04/2013 22:43

Well his first response isn't to bite. It's to growl, which I think is a big difference. But yes I am worried, thankfully he's fine with dd and seems to worship her.

I really hope we get through this. I think an 8week old puppy would actually have been easier!

OP posts:
Report
VivaLeBeaver · 30/04/2013 22:44

Dd texted me this eve to say that Dh was looking at houses to rent as he was sick of the dog. I actually rang Dh to see if it was true as I thought it might be!

OP posts:
Report
ExitPursuedByABear · 30/04/2013 22:50

Sorry. I meant when your DH pinned him to the ground his response was to bite him. Our hound would cower.

Report
VivaLeBeaver · 30/04/2013 23:00

Ah yes. Mmmmm, but it was a restrained bite, didn't break the skin

OP posts:
Report
ExitPursuedByABear · 30/04/2013 23:03

Sending positive vibes

Report
VivaLeBeaver · 30/04/2013 23:04

Thanks both of you. Am really hoping the trainer can help.

OP posts:
Report
VivaLeBeaver · 30/04/2013 23:05

Someone at work has a fear aggressive dog and they've spent a fortune on trainers to no avail.

OP posts:
Report
TataClaire · 01/05/2013 05:22

Dogs kept on by breeders beyond the normal 8 weeks are often under socialised, the breeders normally have so many dogs they don't take pups to classes etc and just rely on them getting on with the other dogs at home as their socialisation.
You're absolutely right to call in professional help asap as this could go either way inadvertantly.
If this dog has missed being socialised during the critical period which ends around 14 wks old from memory, then the task is infinitely harder and will require a lot of work from the the whole family at sticking with the plan. Is it a straight dog trainer or behaviourist you have contacted? Ensure it's someone who trains using positive methods and ideally have someone registered with the APBC or APDT and that they have the proper insurance - as remember anyone can wake up and set up as a dog trainer/behaviourist and with a problem as potentially serious as this you need to make sure they've got the proper credentials and cover.
Good luck!

Report
VivaLeBeaver · 01/05/2013 05:58

Its a straight dog trainer, there aren't any behaviourists anywhere near me, nor anyone registered with those organisations...I have searched via their websites.

He does come very well recomended by several people.

OP posts:
Report
ginauk84 · 01/05/2013 07:26

I would be a little worried to be honest and this sort of thing takes a LOT of work, you're doing the right thing by calling in a behaviorist but you need to be prepared there isn't going to be a quick fix for this type of behaviour.

Wish you all the luck with it.

Report
VivaLeBeaver · 01/05/2013 07:40

Thanks, I'm worried as well. Worried he'll never improve, worried dh will say that enoughs enough and the dog has to go.

I emailed the breeder two days ago just asking for advice and haven't heard back. Hmm

OP posts:
Report
ginauk84 · 01/05/2013 09:01

I think once you have seen the trainer you do have to make the decision, thinking about what's best for you, your family and also the dog. Don't think you are a failure if it does end up being taking the dog back. I am not saying you should or that there's nothing that could be done and don't want to come across negative, only that you will really need to think about it properly once trainer has been.

I have a nervous aggressive dog but it's only with strange dogs so I can manage that, have trained dogs for years and taken advice for him and nothing has helped. However I am lucky because I can just avoid those situations.

I hope it works out well for you.

Report
isitsnowingyet · 01/05/2013 09:09

I would be very wary of a dog who growls as a first instinct like this.

Our dog was 6 months old when we got him, but only growled and bit Sad our toddler when she had crawled onto his bed when he was trying to sleep. I wanted to get rid of him then, but am glad that we perservered as he is now a lovely family dog and if anything is over-friendly.

Sorry - not that helpful - as I haven't come across a fearful aggressive dog like that.

Report
ginauk84 · 01/05/2013 09:32

However the growling can also be seen as a good thing, at least the dog is warning you and you have time to react. My NA dog does not growl & goes into full blown attack, as a result we can't really do anything for him as we have no way of telling when he's about to attack - his body language does not change.

Therefore please be careful about telling off for any growling as this is a warning and should the dog then think he shouldn't growl and jut goes into bite mode straight away you are really in trouble. So I would suggest for now when dog growls to distract and not to reprimand until the trainer is with you. If trainer comes along and is telling you to reprimand him when he growls that should really set off alarm bells as it is a really risky way of dealing with it.

Report
finickypinickity · 01/05/2013 10:03

Viva are you sure the pup hadnt been returned to the breeder because of behaviour issues?

It seems an odd age for a breeder to home a pup unless i have missed the back story on another post its also not so good they havent contacted you back straight awayConfused

Report
VivaLeBeaver · 01/05/2013 10:31

I suppose its always possible he'd already been returned once. She said he and one of his brothers just hadn't sold.

OP posts:
Report
VivaLeBeaver · 01/05/2013 10:32

And he was fine with us at the breeders, no sign of a problem at all. She left us alone with him for quite a bit while she sorted out papperwork. He was happy to sit on my knee, have a collar put on, etc.

OP posts:
Report
ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 01/05/2013 10:40

Was he kennelled, Viva? Or living in the house?

Report
VivaLeBeaver · 01/05/2013 10:46

He'd started off living in the house but then was kennelled. She had done some stuff with him, so maybe its wrong to say he's totally unsocialised. He's been to a dog show and came first (so I was told).

He's been for another walk today with my friends and their dogs. Spends the first five mins lunging and snarling at them but then trotted along happily for the next hour.

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Juniperdewdropofbrandy · 01/05/2013 10:51

I reckon he'd be returned.

My dog was fear aggressive but towards dogs. Took a few weeks but I got him socialised. He hates toddlers though and can't change that but I just keep him away from them. Also off the furniture as he was snapping at dcs when eye level with them. But he's lovely and so much better than he was. I got him at 16 months.

Good luck with yours. I used the dog whisperer techniques with my dog. I know he isn't popular on here though Wink

Report
Juniperdewdropofbrandy · 01/05/2013 10:52

*been returned not be!!

Report
Juniperdewdropofbrandy · 01/05/2013 10:53

You didn't say his breed?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.