I’ve had the doodles for three years and brought the two huskies into my home when they were puppies two and a half years ago(each about 8 wks old). Elaine Pendall, Carolina Dog Training LLC He’s really a sweet dog, but he goes into attack mode when he sees another dog anywhere, and with the broom or vacuum. You may have to do some travel to find decent advice, but with a baby on the way I think it is important you prioritize it. We used to do a monthly trip to the dog park for social interaction, and he played well with all dogs. you can find collars small enough to fit a 5/6 pound dog. I am also available for consultations so if you get stuck and need some assistance we can talk via phone or video chat. Giving me some hope. That can help many dogs to develop better communication skills and greater tolerance. Plus need to decide if board and train route is the way to go before spending too much on one and one. Working to help a dog reduce reactive or aggressive behaviors, as well as build good social skills, is an ongoing commitment. I also recognize that resource guarding is a normal behavior…just undesirable for our domesticated pets. Using an e-collar to help you maintain control of her behavior could be helpful. Some will claim that shock collars aren’t meant to be punishment. You will have to find a way that she can be safe and not subject to harassment when you are not home. It certainly sounds like you have a very complex situation. Hi Sarah, It is not impossible for misalignment problems to be present from birth. Will an e-collar help this type of aggression? They have lived together for one year now. No, I’ve asked around with colleagues and I don’t know anyone up there. At any other time he is a very sweet dog. He had human aggression but we kept taking him to home depot so he’s less human aggressive. His bites were usually centered on guarding, but now have become unpredictable. It will help you get started properly by setting a foundation of good obedience work. The trainer is against training collars but i am at my wits end. The best way for a dog to “come out of their shell” around other dogs is to be integrated into groups of stable, well-mannered dogs that have good communication skills with other dogs. Happy Holidays. I call her the comfort zone dog – she takes a long time to get used to new things, and doesn’t like being outside her comfort zone. Puppies play with one another but as they mature the energy and activity they prefer to participate in shifts. I don’t want to have to bring him back to the shelter but I cannot be afraid or have my kids afraid of our own dog. Both are very quality collars with the basic features you will need. Whilst no shock bark collars for dogs are ideal, the reality is that the best and most effective anti barkers do at least have the ability to produce a shock. I truly enjoyed your artical and hope that there is some more insight you can give me inregards to helping Blue and myself with e-collar, or know of anyone local. Check our trainers list to see if someone is near you. She is attacking her, bloodying her ears, and even having to potty over the maltese’s potty spots in the yard (sometimes even while the maltese is going potty). Thanks for this information–unfortunately we are currently considering putting our aggressive dog down, but haven’t yet tried shock collars and are wondering if perhaps they might help. we got a pure bred border collie puppy at 9 weeks and he has been fear aggressive towards dogs and strangers since we got him. Even when the vacuum isn’t running! Hi there, You still should go through the processes and on leash work so that the dog has an understanding of what the stimulation means. Please help and offer some advice if possible. A remote collar is not going to provide a magic solution. Ultimately you would like to get to the root of the behavioral issue and that is going to take someone experienced to evaluate what exactly is going on and why. Average Rating: (4.5) out of 5 stars 58 ratings, based on 58 reviews. It is important to note that the collar is NOT being used to punish the dog for any aggressive response (barking, growling, lunging etc) Rather the collar is used to prompt and enforce an obedience command. Good luck, And finally find a pro to assist you. Using a shock or bark collar may silence your dog when they wear it but do we really want to teach our dogs to stop behaving in this way through fear? Secondly, he has now begun to eat feces of both his own and my pug when we let him outside, we do our best to pick it up every time they go but he just doesn’t listen. Under their guidance they may suggest using a remote collar as a part of the training but I want to make it clear that a remote collar is not a “magic solution”. Some boredom is better than what is happening outside. This can change his mind about the need to guard resources also. i would love help in finding someone in my area (Enon, Ohio) who has experience working with dogs with aggression problems and the e collar. The first thing I would advise is to find an professional trainer who is experienced with this sort of problem and get help. Meaning her message is “these guys are mine, stay away”. This helps but may not be the entire solution…as I said, get help. Take a look at this article for a few ideas of what I mean: I teach the dogs to let go of one thing in exchange for another. What I strongly encourage you do is find a professional trainer in your area and get enrolled in a solid program of private lesson to improve their obedience and overall behavior (a group would not work for this situation). No one, human or canine should be expected to tolerate prolonged taunting and teasing. Do you work with anyone here in Anchorage, AK? Lori Leornard Hi! My last hope is to use a shock collar to try and correct this behavior or I am afraid we are going to have to put her down as a last resort. It is constant & he has broken skin & drawn blood a few times. He is extremely aggressive. I would prefer to train him to the e-collar with a local, private trainer but live in Anchorage and I haven’t found a trainer here who works with e-collars and is a recommended trainer. It is possible that the reactive-ness would get increase if the collar was used this way. Not all trainers use the tool the same way unfortunately and some use it only as a punishment. You can rotate toys each day (hiding the other ones) so she is more intrigued by “something new” or consider a raw bone (femur or knee) from the butcher to keep her occupied. Let’s see if we can find you help for this problem. If he doesn’t “get it” then re-examine your teaching methods. I got him at 3 months but this month he’s been with me has felt like years. You should be using the e-collar more proactively in your practice situations. It did seem to work for a while. I dont worry about him around children and other kids and adults. Hi, I really enjoy this blog. It will help you achieve off leash reliability during your walks and give you a stronger recall. Dog training videos on YouTube promote "inhumane and ineffective" methods, an animal welfare charity has warned. Remote collars are great tools, however if they are used to “zap” a dog as a punishment for unwanted behavior, the results can vary. I have a 4 year old cockapoo who has dog to dog aggression issues (lunging, growling) that has gotten worse. Hi Jennifer. She has aggression towards ANY other dog, on and off leash. Using the electronic collar as a way to redirect the dogs attention is a large part of the success in how I go about rehabilitating dogs with aggression issues. We have him doing sit/ stay commands and he will do them, but that is it. But he has never actually bit anyone but if I’m holding my youngest nephew who’s 3 Duke will look at him side eyed and growl, bark and act like he would attack. I think your best bet, given the wide scope of problems you are having with her, is to enroll with a professional trainer and take a series of private, one to one lessons with her to build a much better relationship. Thanks! I use it to snap her attention back to heal before she reacts and it works with cats and squirrels as well. Good luck, He’s a male English bulldog. I think the remote collar is a very versatile tool for a number of uses. please help–any advice? I just need to know how I should go about using it so I can help him get back to the sweet little fellow he was before all of this aggression starting coming to surface. I am starting to get disconnected as I’m afraid to get bitten and afraid he’ll bite my grandchildren. Please seek professional help to assist you. More recently it’s just random outbursts. We have been bitten or scratched but always with a growl warning first. Depending on what features and range you want with your collar, take a look at the ARC, the 1900S or the 280C. I also typically teach a *look* or *watch* command to dogs dealing with aggression. I had Bucky about 3 months when the aggression began. I’ve been socializing her at our doggie day care since she was 8 weeks but sometimes she also randomly lunges at dogs, I would suggest you find a professional to help you better train your dog, particularly with the random lunging. https://robinmacfarlane.com/product-category/educational/. Required fields are marked *, #mc_embed_signup{background:transparent; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Thanks Robin! As he catches on then you gradually introduce more and more distraction. He’s very sweet 80% of the time and loves to play with dogs but when I have him on leash or when we come across another dog that is on leash while he is off leash he lunges and snips and barks. I must say in his defense that when he’s behaving, he’s the sweetest, funniest little guy that is full of life and I cannot (will not) bring myself to put him down. My dog has brought me to the ground and has gone after other dogs and I need help. we had one report by transient owners of him being allowed to fight with another dog, but no reported aggression. However, if the e-collar is used as a training tool first to teach attention and obedience in non trigger situations and then later used to maintain attention and reinforce the obedience in the presence of the triggers (keeping proximity in mind to keep the dog successful and not over threashold) there is a high level of success that can be achieved relatively quickly. Or for learning to drop items. Anyway I am going to keep working with him and slowly build up to food situations like you suggested. Any advice you would have would be very appreciated. You can email Robin@robinmacfarlane.com. A thorough blood work up, including thyroid (I am a strong advocate of Dr. Jean Dodds work – google her to find out more) Also consider exam by a DVM chiropracter and possible acupuncture. If a person straps the e-collar on the dog, waits for the dog to be reactive and then pushes the button as a way to punish the reactive-ness, it is hard to say what the outcome will be. Just remember, a shock or bark collar is NEVER the answer and even if it stops your dog barking it is just short term relief from a symptom that comes from a much deeper issue.Â, Please, contact me with any questions you have. I tried pinning my older dog down when he shows aggression at my other dog, i’ve tried putting him an extra bedroom until he calms down but nothing works. Those prongs deliver a small shock to the dog’s neck when the dog is doing something destructive or dangerous.Shock collars also are used to set boundaries for a dog. What should be we do to correct this? Secondly, Don’t wait till the dog is in the trash and then use the e-collar to try and call him away etc. Can training help? As for an e-collar the only advantage it could give you a very solid recall that would allow you to interrupt and call him back prior to a fight. Possible health issues (thyroid, structure problems, ear infections, deafness, and sight problems to name a few) should be ruled out by a veterinarian. Robin. She’s brilliant with people of all ages. We had taken him to a rehabilitation clinic but unfortunately that didn’t solve his dog aggression. And if he does come will he let me pick up the food or will he try to guard it and get aggressive? I had Blue by his leash, and didnt let him go to “defend” or bite back. The 2 pitbulls are aggressive toward other dogs and the puppy is aggressive toward any stranger that comes to the house. Her aggression has just gotten worse over the years and I 100% know anxiety is involved as well. Lisa. It was horrifying, I was covered in blood, Blue was covered, and even worse his eye was bleeding and I thought he was going to lose it. Even though resource guarding is not that uncommon or abnormal (from the dog’s point of view) it should of been something easily fixed at that young age (assuming you had coaching and learned how to fix it) If I see serious aggression issues in a dog that young I speculate that it may be genetic. do you think a spray collar will work she is only 5 or 6lbs I love my dogs and don’t want anything to hurt them but miss molly needs to start being nicer. warm regards, Once you have a pro getting you started with some training you can discuss with them the addition of a remote collar into the training protocols. Google Jean Dodds DVM and read some of her work on the subject. Be an advocate for your dog and when others want their dog to “say hi” evaluate if your dog looks interested or not. 919-349-0000. A healthy dog won’t starve himself so if he skips a feeding for a day or two, I wouldn’t not worry about that. I got him as a rescue at 13 weeks (found him near a dumpster left for dead) My husband and I spent nearly 3000$ in vet bills to get him up to par. So the goal is to be proactive. Would the e collar help with the aggression? It is very possible this is a due to lack of proper structure and leadership in the house but you need someone to assess that and help you get on track. Like all other tools it can be used to help train your dog. Would you be able to give me a couple of good brands of shock collars? I’ve never had such a problem. E-collar training can make the management and training easier and more efficient, but as you stated, “you’re losing control” of your pack. Both huskies reacted aggressively toward them for a day or two, but then things got back to normal. I have a basset hound/ mixed with something else 54lbs dog. After all, if you have a friend who screams whenever she sees a spider, slapping her on the head and telling her to get over it will not stop her being frightened and screaming. The underlying cause should be understood, the triggers identified and then a plan of treatment determined. Each case is different. Hello Ginger, It concerns me that you say he has had problems since 3 months old. In this way we are redirecting the dogs attention away from the source of tension and back to the handler and the *job* the dog is being asked to perform. Thanks for this article. I’m afraid if she doesn’t stop he will want to get rid of her. (Rather than you just trying to take away coveted resources). The answer is clear when you think of it in those terms – by using a bark collar you are simply frightening them more. Even when Boo is not reacting to passersby, kids and adults stop and bark at her to wind her up. However, when he gets to the chase point, it’s too late. He heels on command very well, unless another dog is around. Too often puppies and young dogs are not getting nearly enough uninterrupted time in a crate where they learn to self calm and get enough rest for a quickly growing body and mind. If there is someone in your area you can contact, it is ideal to work with a trainer that is local so they can see the dog and make some first hand assessment of her overall temperament and behavior. Dogs often attack what they consider “weak” and there are times where one has a medical problem and the other is attacking because they can sense that weakness. 3. Phone : 915-562-2500 There are too many unknowns and it is an environment you don’t have much control over. However that is not the entire solution. Try to find a trainer in your area that is experienced in the use of e-collar to help you if at all possible. If you would like to send me an email with your location (Robin@robinmacfarlane.com) I will see if I can find you a referral for a trainer in your area. Remote Electronic Collar Education Helps Dog Owners in Fresno, International Association of Canine Professionals, https://robinmacfarlane.com/product-category/educational/dvd, http://www.gundogsupply.com/robin-macfarlane-how-to-train-your-dog.html, https://thatsmydog.com/dog-behavior-specialists/e-cademy-graduates, https://robinmacfarlane.com/product-category/educational/, https://robinmacfarlane.com/possessive-behavior-in-dogs-can-be-prevented, http://www.truthaboutshockcollars.com/training-help-supplies/, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-6T1fk3Os&list=UULFJfSltiXVfv3hHbbDHpww&index=23, http://www.truthaboutshockcollars.com/find-a-trainer-in-your-area/, http://www.thatsmydogstore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=5, http://www.thatsmydog.com/trainers-school/graduates. Because your above descriptions says “he heels very well..UNLESS…” I believe the situation is essentially about practice, rather than correcting after the fact. I have a three year old pitbull. Tapping a pen on your desk at work? Trying to correct her behavior by saying no and telling her to move to sit in a specific area is only making things worse. The problem, however, is he bites me, my husband and my 2 kids when he is told “off” or “no” or “back”. After that all I have to do is use the beeper and the vibrator and he immediately goes into a cower. Robin. I work in a doggy daycare that excepts slot of what we call daycare rejects. There were no trainers in my area. Shop our selection of remote training & bark control collars to train or stop inappropriate barking. This is how he will learn that Heel = Heel regardless of the distractions present. A dog’s thought must be interrupted rather than his action. Using an e-collar to improve your recall training could be very helpful. For that you need to modify his mind about someone coming into what he perceives is his space when he has something. It takes consistency and dedication to help dogs that are struggling with aggression issues. Shock collars (or e-collars) operate by passing electric current into the neck of your dog. One day he might accept a behavior from my family and the next day it will upset him and he gets feral and attacks. In this way you can pick up the end of the leash and move him away from items rather than trying to reach in close to his mouth to take things away. I need some major help!!! Product Title Petrainer Dog Training Collar 330 yds Remote LCD Dog Shock Collar with Beep,Vibration and Shock Electronic Collar Average Rating: ( 4.0 ) out of 5 stars 7 ratings , based on 7 reviews Current Price $24.99 $ 24 . Next time we are outside I will use a leash too. The videos I have for purchase will teach you the basics of getting started, how to teach the obedience with the e-collar and how to use it proactively BEFORE you dog gets into problem situations. Then if you verbally scould him, or raise your voice to imply you aren’t happy with his actions, he will growl and has shown agressive behavior as in coming towards me. Raleigh, NC Robin. Generally that means using it to enforce a heel command if you want to keep moving and a Sit or Down command if you want to stop and let the other dog/handler pass by. Professional help with any aggression issues is highly advisable. Warnings about NOT using a shock collar to deal with aggression in dogs abound. My husband is not happy with the situation, and I am afraid he might be more prone to hurt Chad than me. on orders $35+ Pro seller. The collar supplies a small electrical pulse to keep a pet in check - and is used when other training methods have not worked. I would hand feed your dog for a couple weeks. More practice will build a stronger habit of how to heel around distractions like such as other dogs. The idea meaning you as the leader have the right to play/pet which ever dog you chose while the other patiently waits their turn for attention. An e-collar will probably help you regain some control, but after 6 years of “practicing” this aggressive behavior, there is much work to do and you really need to work with someone experienced. I have a 4 year old male yorkie, we have been thru 2 different training programs, he will listen and obey commands we give him such as sit, stay, lie down, come here, everything is fine as long as no one comes to our house then all heck breaks loose he goes into attack mode, i have gotten him to lie down on his bed when people come to the home however would not ever be able to let him roam freely and no one would be able to go near him or he will suddenly lunge and bite try to bite them on the leg, as a last resort I was wondering if one of the training collars might help snap him out of this “attack mode” moments, as a last resort was thinking of trying one, do you have any advice on that?