Aggression...please help!! (long)

[leucothea]

geez, it seems like just this morning my saga has begun. My male Ceasar has just turned on my Cleo. We introduced a new dog to the mix and she is as sweet as can be, but she is just getting over being in heat and he has become very possessive of myself and my boyfriend. He attacked Cleo in the middle of the night. We put him in the kitchen and then brought him back and he did it again twice this morning. I know it has something to do with Princess being in heat, but he was a shy dog to begin with and does not come when you call him. I was considering obedience class with him, but now it is a necessity.

I am determined, but he will have to be by himself until I figure this out and get some training. I don't want Cleo to lose an eye. It sounds like serious business when he is attacking her and she is not one to back down either. They are both young, so there is hope.

Thanks for listening.

[coroth]

Hello everyone!!

I just wanted you to know that Lexie is blooming in obedience!! She was scared the first few weeks and wouldn't come out of her kennel. (The behaviorist noticed the first day that she was PETRIFIED there so I bring her kennel as a place to escape so that training is always a positive thing.) Then all of a sudden last week she did AMAZINGLY!! She actually participated in one of the tricks and learned it very well!

She made friends with a poodle mix too!!

We are working on the whole aggression thing, but the behaviorist said that it will be a long hard battle because is it 100% fear aggression.

Lexie has been having "play dates" with the bf's dog so that they would just get used to each other, but now they are BEST FRIENDS and I literally have to DRAG her out of his house when it is time to go home.

It's been GREAT GREAT GREAT! Thanks everyone for the support!

[leucothea]

I'm having a terrible time with Ceasar and have contacted a behaviorist. Shoot the charge is $125 just to start. I had to again put him in the powder room and keep him away from the girls. It's only my one girl, the youngest. He stands still and stares at her before he lunges. I am so upset. Cleo is now going outside through the doggie door after these episodes and sitting on the porch and shivering and she was my outgoing playful one. I just never know when it will happen. I hope he is correctible as I just sent in his DNA test. I may have to alter my plans of showing him, etc.

I won't forsake him, but this is darn frustrating!

Thanks for listening again!

[Potter]

Pao went through that phase a while ago when we just moved back to Burlington and for me, I think he was stressed. When he started that, I used to carry him up to stop it and it makes matters worse. What I do is to not carry him unless there is a danger, and when I see another dog from afar, I just cross the street gracefully with him and continue to walk. I don't give him the time to stop and stare too much either-that gives him the chance to think and act. The weird thing is, he is good with Scooby, his 5 pound Yorkie friend and a border collie and another cocker spaniel friend but when he is outside, I think he tries to protect me.

[leucothea]

I agree it is the possessive thing with Ceasar. I can't even have him on the bed now. He has to sleep in a crate at night. I am hoping to get a good nights sleep one of these nights. This morning he had a hold of Cleo and when I went to grab him up, he had a hold of her so tight they both came off the ground about 6 inches. Spoke with a behaviorist last night and offered no suggestions other than having him neutered, which will change my plans drastically regarding my plans to show him.

I am thoroughly confounded at this point