agression

Question

New Pup   QUESTION: I am so totally at wits end that I don't really know what to do.  For many years my husband and I have raised labs with little if no issues with introducing a new pup.  About 3 months ago, we had to put our yellow lab down ( Lilygirl at 14 plus years old.  We also have a 6 year old yellow lab.  I recently went to a local SPCA to look at the dogs there and immediately fell in love with a mixed breed.  We are not sure what she is but could be a pitbull/lab mix.  She is the sweetest thing and such a love and snuggler.  The issue however is that Daisy has biten her 3 times now.  Two of the times my husband has had to pull her off the pup.  Last night she bite her little face and caused it to bled and swell and needless to say she is going to the vets this morning to be placed on meds.  I just dont know what to do about this.  Two of the times of attack where when the pup was near us and the other was during the pup wanting to play. I admit Daisy has not had the attention she normally gets, but my labs have never acted like this in the past.  What are we doing wrong? Thanks for any help you can give.

ANSWER: If I understand correctly, the pack was all labs and now you are introducing a new breed (mixed).  Dogs of the same breed or related breeds often hang together as they recognize their own kin. That's why you can go hunting with a half dozen Beagles and they all get along. Similar shape, color, scent, tail wag, etc. All the clues the dog uses to know the others are related in breed.  Greyhounds and dobermans get together well because they resemble each other and Doberman are breed from greyhounds as one of the base breeds.

In our training program we have an exercise that I'll try to describe. I'll sit on the floor. Both dogs are on lead. I get the established dog to sit or down next to me and I'll give it affection (petting, tummy rub etc. The new dog is then brought to my other side, is put in a sit or down position and gets equal attention. I talk to both dogs "good Fido, Good Rover" This lasts for 5-10 minutes. The new dog is then led away and the established dog gets a little more then iget up and walk away.  In subsequent sessions a toy and treats are introduced passing the toy between the three of us. If either dog growls or shows any aggression it is told NO! but only the reward is withheld. The opposite of reward is no reward, not punishment.

As the dogs get used to being close I'll begin to have one then the other be partly on me, over a leg or my lap. A single treat is held between them and they have to take turns to get it.

This is followed by walking both dogs (heeling) at the same time, one on each side, then both on one side, then on tandem lead.

Each dog has to learn that it is not losing anything to the other dog.

Regards,
Henry Ruhwiedel
Westwind Kennels LLC
www.dogkennel.org


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I get what you saying but our established dog is and always has been very needy. I am, very worried that this pup will always take a back seat and that they never can be left alone as we have done in the past with a huge fenced in yard. I never knew they recognized there own kin!  Also, I am having trouble getting the 11 week old to stop biting me.  Whens he bites my hubby, he says "NO" to her firmly as do I.  But as much as I try to pull away my hands, she goes for an arm or etc... It is like she wont take no for an answer even when I try with a strict tone and say "ouch".  I think we are going to have our hands full with this pup and with trying to find peace and harmony with them both! Thanks for your help...

Answer
biting:   Put lemon juice liberally on your hands or other objects the dog bites, then get the dog to bite it. They get the bad taste and stop biting. You can also squirt a little directly in its mouoth. Keep a little plastic lemon bottle handy. (looks like a lemon). I am working in the hole of a handicaped couple training their dog for obedience and to allow the owner to train the dog froma scotter chair. It likes to bits hands and toes, until two squirts of the juice bottle on the hands and socks. two attempts, no more biting. Use the words "no bite" and get the juice squirt within 3 seconds. You can put it directly on the lead for dogs that grab the lead because they don't want to heel. A few dogs like it, so use hot sauce, Tobasco, bitter lemon, cayanne pepper, anything that the dog does not like to taste. Dogs that have had the juice experience only need to be told JUICE to stop a bad behavior.

Never pull your hand away from a nipping dog. That tells the dog it won the fight. Push your hand into the dogs mouth gagging it. that tells the dog, it lost and you are now controlling the dog, the dog is not controlling you. I demonstrate in dog classes how to push the hand in sideways, wrap the fingers firmly but not painfully around the lower jaw and as you push into the back of the mouth, the dogs reaction is to try and back away. I hold the gag until the dog is really trying hard to escape then release. Usually only takes one or two corrections. Again the words are NO BITE.

To the dog grabbing you is no different than playing tug of war, its a I win you lose game. Tug of war also teaches aggression. If the dfog learns it can win, it will want to win more often.

The  "needy" dog is not needy, it has learned to control you. The exercise I described is to put you in control of the dog so it stops the agressive behavior. All of this and more is in our DVD and book.

Regards,
Henry Ruhwiedel
Westwind Kennels LLC
www.dogkennel.org