I’m quite distraught. We have an 8-year-old female, Lula, who has been a member of our family since she was a puppy. A couple of years ago we were walking her around the neighborhood when she was brutally attacked by a large black mixed breed dog that escaped his yard. She ended up in an emergency vet hospital enduring a long operation and receiving numerous stitches as the dog had pierced her stomach and she had internal bleeding. After that incident she has become increasingly more fearful, exhibited through aggressive behavior. At first, as we headed out the door, she began circling us and nipping at our fingertips, just as a sheltie would sheep. Next, if one of us hugged each other either in the house or upon leaving, she would growl and bark. This behavior increased dramatically. Now when we walk her outside she barks incessantly toward other dogs. I’ve sought professional help, and I’ve been told that she is warding them off with fear-aggression. Also, since the incident, other dogs see her as prey due to her fear (even when she’s not barking) and have also tried to attack her. Finally, last year we adopted the sweetest young male sheltie, Santiago. Lula has now begun to attack him, especially if he comes close to me, her “Mom.” (My sister and her sheltie lived with us for a year, but Lula never displayed this behavior.) I’m heartbroken (and in shock) and wondering if I need to re-home our young male, but I’m wondering if this is giving into Lula’s behavior. I’ve tried professional training with her but to no avail. Our vet suggested medication. I just don’t know what to do, and it is making me ill. We love them both. Please help.
Help! Agressive female
- Thread starter bobbie
- Start date
aggressive female
I feel for you and your situation! We have a very dog aggressive female setter mix who is about 9 years old. We rescued her when she was about 6 months old and brought her home to our 8 year old golden (a very sweet boy)
She terrorized him and after seeking professional help and trying many things, he finally stopped taking her bullying and aggressive play and put her in her place. That was all it took. He has since left us and last year we got our Sheltie pup. We went for weeks of having them separated as we could not trust the setter. Gradual supervised introductions and outside walks with both on leashes.
I never thought it would work out and was very distraught. Then one dinnertime event where the setter went after him, he did not stand down and came right back at her. Very scary few seconds - no blood or injuries. Now they are best friends! Every once in a while she will try and let him know she is the boss with taking his bone or toy, but he has either learned that there is plenty more around or he will trick her and get it back! I will tell you we did not tolerate our setters aggressive behavior and would get in her face if she started.
Good Luck, be strong and hopefully your little guy will have had enough!
I feel for you and your situation! We have a very dog aggressive female setter mix who is about 9 years old. We rescued her when she was about 6 months old and brought her home to our 8 year old golden (a very sweet boy)
She terrorized him and after seeking professional help and trying many things, he finally stopped taking her bullying and aggressive play and put her in her place. That was all it took. He has since left us and last year we got our Sheltie pup. We went for weeks of having them separated as we could not trust the setter. Gradual supervised introductions and outside walks with both on leashes.
I never thought it would work out and was very distraught. Then one dinnertime event where the setter went after him, he did not stand down and came right back at her. Very scary few seconds - no blood or injuries. Now they are best friends! Every once in a while she will try and let him know she is the boss with taking his bone or toy, but he has either learned that there is plenty more around or he will trick her and get it back! I will tell you we did not tolerate our setters aggressive behavior and would get in her face if she started.
Good Luck, be strong and hopefully your little guy will have had enough!
labgirl
Forums Sage
It sounds like she is very insecure and possessive of you, which isn't good.
Did the professional give you any advice or just tell you what was wrong?
TBH, I think you need to find a trainer who can work with you to build up Lula's confidence and work on her dog aggression. Ideally in a class setting with a limited number of dogs.
A very dog aggressive cavalier joined our obedience class recently. At first he would lose his head just seeing another dog and to begin with he had his lesson behind a barrier, so he could hear and smell the other dogs but not see them.
Week by week he has improved and now can actually work among the other dogs.
A good trainer will not only show you how to sort Lula's behaviour, but will spot any unconscious habits you may have that are contributing - for instance, going tense on the lead when you see another dog because you fear Lula's reaction.
Did the professional give you any advice or just tell you what was wrong?
TBH, I think you need to find a trainer who can work with you to build up Lula's confidence and work on her dog aggression. Ideally in a class setting with a limited number of dogs.
A very dog aggressive cavalier joined our obedience class recently. At first he would lose his head just seeing another dog and to begin with he had his lesson behind a barrier, so he could hear and smell the other dogs but not see them.
Week by week he has improved and now can actually work among the other dogs.
A good trainer will not only show you how to sort Lula's behaviour, but will spot any unconscious habits you may have that are contributing - for instance, going tense on the lead when you see another dog because you fear Lula's reaction.
lovemyshelties
Forums Enthusiast
So sorry to hear of your issues. Our female Zoey (who has NEVER been attacked) now nips at my husband or me when we hug, goes nuts when I open the crank windows in the kitchen, and is dominant over our two male Shelties. She will go after their bully sticks even though she has one, but if I'm there I step in and take it from her and tell her to go lay down and then give it back to Bentley or Murphy.
I wish I knew how to resolve your squabbles and bring peace to your house. I'm sure getting attacked has left scars on her so perhaps hiring a good trainer is the way to go. Keep us posted.
I wish I knew how to resolve your squabbles and bring peace to your house. I'm sure getting attacked has left scars on her so perhaps hiring a good trainer is the way to go. Keep us posted.
, Poor Lula, so sorry she was attacked and obviously traumatized as I'm sure you all were too! She may be going through a little bit of PTSS and her current behavior is the way she has "adapted".Like the others have said, a professional trainer perhaps one with rehabilitation experience might help!
Hang in there...
SheltieChe
Forums Sage
Bobbie, as much as I can feel your sorrow of what has happen to your dog it is YOU, who is living in the past and making excuses for the Lula's behavior. Dogs have memories but they don't hold grudges. They might be fearful about certain situations/ meeting with certain dogs etc if they had unpleasant experience but it is us who make the rules what is and what is not accepted behavior.
I do not think it would be easy for your alone to get out of this situation. You need really good trainer to help you. You might email Grisha Stewart and ask if there are any trainers that follow BAT or check with their yahoo group who is who in your area. Another way is to check for good trainer is to ask around who is teaching reactive dog classes, go sit on one and see if you feel comfortable with their training.
I do not think it would be easy for your alone to get out of this situation. You need really good trainer to help you. You might email Grisha Stewart and ask if there are any trainers that follow BAT or check with their yahoo group who is who in your area. Another way is to check for good trainer is to ask around who is teaching reactive dog classes, go sit on one and see if you feel comfortable with their training.
Caro
Moderator
I think medication is a good idea. This will be a very hard thing to deal with until you get her anxiety levels down. I know many people who have had similar problems (esp with rescue dogs) and tried behaviour modification first, then went for the meds in conjunction with behaviour mod and it makes a huge difference. You may need to try a couple of different meds though.
A dog with such high stress levels is going to have much more trouble dealing with small changes and it sounds like she is not coping with another dog in the house. I don't think you are giving in to her behaviour if you rehome him but I really think this can be resolved. For starters I would put her in 'time out' whenever she has a go at Santiago. Also try giving them individual time and when you are patting and playing with Santiago give her something really good to do - like an extra yummy Kong to chew on. This should help her associate you playing with santiago as something really good. I really do think medication will help with this one tho - she sounds so stressed she is taking it out on the other dog.
The nipping when you are leaving sounds like separation distress. Try some tehniques for sep anxiety like desentising her to you leaving by incrementally going to the door and them coming back, opening the door and then coming back, going outside for a short time and going back. In the meantime before you open the door throw a treat behind you (or Kong) to distract her.
When you hug and she growls ignore her - turn your back on her, don't talk to her or look at her. It sounds like attention seeking behaviour. When she quietens back down give her a hug.
I had a dog that was also attacked quite badly and went throught the same fear aggression issues. I just posted this on another thread about the techniques that were recommended to me for dealing with the barking at other dogs http://www.sheltieforums.com/search.php?searchid=820383
Also think about putting her in a head collar like a gentle leader or halti so you can more easily redirect her.
Btw - is she desexed? I had a similar problem with my female being targeted and at the vet's advice had her desexed and have not had a problem since.
A dog with such high stress levels is going to have much more trouble dealing with small changes and it sounds like she is not coping with another dog in the house. I don't think you are giving in to her behaviour if you rehome him but I really think this can be resolved. For starters I would put her in 'time out' whenever she has a go at Santiago. Also try giving them individual time and when you are patting and playing with Santiago give her something really good to do - like an extra yummy Kong to chew on. This should help her associate you playing with santiago as something really good. I really do think medication will help with this one tho - she sounds so stressed she is taking it out on the other dog.
The nipping when you are leaving sounds like separation distress. Try some tehniques for sep anxiety like desentising her to you leaving by incrementally going to the door and them coming back, opening the door and then coming back, going outside for a short time and going back. In the meantime before you open the door throw a treat behind you (or Kong) to distract her.
When you hug and she growls ignore her - turn your back on her, don't talk to her or look at her. It sounds like attention seeking behaviour. When she quietens back down give her a hug.
I had a dog that was also attacked quite badly and went throught the same fear aggression issues. I just posted this on another thread about the techniques that were recommended to me for dealing with the barking at other dogs http://www.sheltieforums.com/search.php?searchid=820383
Also think about putting her in a head collar like a gentle leader or halti so you can more easily redirect her.
Btw - is she desexed? I had a similar problem with my female being targeted and at the vet's advice had her desexed and have not had a problem since.