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coroth 04-30-2008 05:53 PM

Aggression...please help!! (long)
 
I'm at my wits end! Lexie's aggression is getting to be a problem. I never noticed it until today. We have been bringing her on walks with Beau and my boyfriend's Border Collie Scout. Well, she used to be afraid of Scout, but today it was different...I'll start from the beginning.

A few days ago Lexie and Beau were playing, and she got rough with Beau and he yelped. So I grabbed her snout (and held it together) and told her "NO BITE!" and she started growling AT ME! :eek: So I yelled no when she started growling and I tapped her snout (VERY lightly!!) and she BITE ME! It wasn't hard and I think she was as shocked as I was! Now all of a sudden she has started biting when she plays with me...:( If you talk to her, she will jump in the air and she will bite your FACE! She only does it to me and Ryan (my bf). Then today...she bite Beau so hard that he yelped and ran into my arms again! Then it was time to go on our walk. I hooked her and Beau up to their coupler and walked over to where Ryan's car was parked. The minute Scout jumped out of the car, Lexie started barking like NUTS!!! She was jumping up and down on her back feet and growling. I tried to make she stop by pulling back on the leash and yelling no, I tried picking her up, everything. Then we were walking and everything seemed to be fine and out of nowhere Lexie ran over to Scout and started to ATTACK him!! He was very scared!!! He ran behind me and I had to pull her off of him! If it was the other way around, Lexie would have been dead. It was that serious. She would nip at him every time he came close.

She is aggressive towards ALL dogs that aren't Beau! She will bark aggressively and lung towards them until I DRAG her down the street. If someone walks by us, with or without a dog she barks like NUTS!! People will stop and ask if they can pet my dogs and Beau LOVES the attention!! But Lexie will pull away and cower. She acts all shy and I'm scared that she will someday become aggressive. When she is at my house, she will growl at people when they come in my house and she'll hid in the corner.

She also will run away from you if you call her name. Then if you go to get her, she will run away from you. I don't know what to do...

It is very frustrating for me and I've very concerned. We are going to an obedience class next Thursday and we had to sign a waiver saying we were at fault for what our dogs do, so now I'm worried she might hurt another of the dogs there....:confused:

Can aggression be fixed? I don't know what to do!!!

TootiesMom 04-30-2008 06:08 PM

I am no expert and really cant help you but I know that aggression can be corrected. I do know that there are trainers who can help you.... keep your chin up.....

I feel for you and wish you luck....
d

coroth 05-01-2008 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TootiesMom (Post 1956032)
I am no expert and really cant help you but I know that aggression can be corrected. I do know that there are trainers who can help you.... keep your chin up.....

I feel for you and wish you luck....
d

Thanks! I'm gonna need it...:(

CupofDog 05-05-2008 12:48 PM

Agression is just a whole lotta fear.
 
Hello there!

The first thing to know about aggression is that is elevated fear. So, Lexie needs a reeducation to learn not to be afraid. Try and see Scout from Lexie's perspective and how big a Border Collie must seem to a Yorkie.

You must rethink all of your interactions with Lexie including playtime, which is now becoming a problem. If you were Lexie's size and you wouldn't want it done to you, don't do it to her. Praise her with treats when she is calm and obedient. Practice simple commands like sit and reward with treats to build confidence.

Are you giving her enough exercise? My 7 month old Yorkie needs the same amount of exercise as my older and bigger Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I have also realized my Yorkie is much quicker to learn and needs a lot more intellectual stimulation then my Cavalier. She learns tricks in one day and then we just reinforce them every day. If we don't she gets bored and then, destructive or angry. This is the difficulty of smart dogs!

I think its great you are going to an obedience class. Obedience classes will give you the tools to help Lexie be calm and well behaved and not bite. Just remember what you put in is what you will get out of it. Just going to the classes is not enough.

I just read Victoria Stillwell's book "Its Me or the Dog," and I found it to be more useful for both my dogs and me then any of the other training books I ever tried. Its simple and clear and gives living guidelines to reinforce for a happy pup and owner. I just posted on the topic today, actually!
Check it out here: Its Me or the Dog! | CupOFdog | Dog Site for Dog People
Hope that helps and things are going better!

Juliealfies mum 05-05-2008 01:05 PM

Good advice from everyone, and I think that Lexi is probably biting out of fear aggression. Have a look at clicker training for her. There is a web site
www.clickersoloutions.com try on there for some advice.

Good luck

coroth 05-06-2008 06:08 PM

Thank you everyone! I am meeting with a certified behaviorist Thursday and I will be talking to her about Lexie's aggression issues. These are GREAT tips and I will be trying them out!! Thanks again!

ellie81 05-06-2008 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coroth (Post 1970991)
Thank you everyone! I am meeting with a certified behaviorist Thursday and I will be talking to her about Lexie's aggression issues. These are GREAT tips and I will be trying them out!! Thanks again!

Please let us know what the trainer says. Bengi has fear aggression issues too.... :(

Yorkiemommie08 05-07-2008 04:43 AM

PLease let me know how it goes??? My Shyloh is nuts also...she is biting my husband, children, strangers... the only one she is not biting is me??? She will bark for hours if she sees strangers or other kids. My vet put her on antriptyline for anxiety. We go camping often and it turns into a nightmare b/c of Shyloh and her barking and biting. She ignores me everytime I say NO BITE. Help b4 I pull my hair out....

CupofDog 05-07-2008 02:56 PM

We can't wait to hear how it goes!!

Paulie 05-09-2008 09:47 AM

Hi Courtney, how did the obedience class go?

I have a similar issue, but my dog is only aggressive to certain dogs, usually his size. I'm considering taking him to obedience training as well, because it's really frustrating. I can't stop and talk with other dog owners, because he starts barking like crazy.

Paul

Magneticgal 05-09-2008 04:58 PM

Gee- I am thinking it must be something with the name-haha!! My Lexie is the same way. I spent countless $$$ and time with behavior specialists and she IS better. BUT she still has a lot of fear and I am not sure ANYTHING is going to make it go away 100%. Luckily, I myself have learned to manage her better and avoid potentially volitile situations. I think that behavior is a result of fear.
I wish you the best- I feel your pain and totally understand what you are going through!! If you need to talk or vent ever, let me know. I will listen and not judge!!

coroth 05-11-2008 09:12 AM

Sorry I haven't gotten back! The first class was...uneventful to say the least. I found that when Lexie isn't on HER territory she acts just plain fearful rather than having fear aggression...:confused:

The behaviorist said that maybe this week we will get to see the REAL Lexie as she will become more comfortable.

I'll update everyone THIS Thursday as I have a feeling the real Lexie WILL come out...:rolleyes:

princess chloe 05-22-2008 07:40 AM

MY baby is 9 months old female,,,who thinks she is a great dane!! She is in heat but even before that she was aggressive.What is the best dicipline for her??I have 3 kids and I dont want them to get hurt!! help we love our little devil

mscat 05-22-2008 04:30 PM

I do not have any advice whatsoever, however, will keep following this thread. When Suzi gets a little older I need to know what to expect, or what could happen with her, and behavioral issues.
AS for now she is very loving, but, only on her terms. She does not lke to be picked up, and runs if someone approaches her. However, if you sit on the floor and let her come to you, she will smother you with puppy kisses all over your face and jump all over you or anybody. However, if I am there too, she comes to me .
It is obvious that she is my little one and preferers me . But, I want her well socialized too. :aimeeyork

CupofDog 05-22-2008 06:13 PM

With my dogs, I did a lot of work to make sure they were well socialized, well exercised and had a lot of obedience training. I can not emphasize the obedience training enough. We did classes and I made sure to have my husband go through the set of commands (once the dogs learned them) as well as my in-laws and strangers we met in the park who were willing to participate. Obedience training builds confidence and structure into their lives.

Mscat - you have children. Once your dog knows the command sit, teach your kids to give her that command with praise when successful and each command thereafter that your Yorkie learns. Your little devil will start treating them with respect. Also, include them in walks.

Find a dog park that has 'small dog' hours. Online there are also tons of meetups. Search them out! Having that outlet was so, so useful. My Yorkie Mix, Ella Bean was a rescue and when we first got her, she was aggressive and MEAN. She would growl and bite.

Aggression stems from fear. Take your dogs with you as much as you can and don't hold them - walk them. Reward them for dealing with a stressful situation with tons of treats and praise.

Also, I love to baby my dogs. I dress them and coo at them and love them to pieces - but I know that too much of that can cause serious behavior issues. But with the rest of the structure that my pups have, we have worked out behavior issues. My once terrifying little Ella is now a sweetheart - but it took time. We have had her since February and only now is she showing her true, sweet personality. She even gives 'high fives' on command!

I am not a professional trainer, but the classes taught me the common sense it took to have well behaved puppers. Remember that the classes exist to teach you how to teach your dog - just going isn't enough. You must practice everything in the classes every day.

It takes a lot of patience, repetition, praise and treats! Keep us up to date on your little devils. Soon, I am sure they'll be angels:lovewings


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