Serious Problem

TheChinClique · 10-29-2007, 08:13 PM

Hi all ~

My mom's dog Beau, who is currently living at home with my mom and my two other dogs (and cat, as well as some small animals) while I attend school (I go home to see everyone on the weekend) has some serious problems and my mom is at the end of her rope. I admit, I too am starting to lose hope in the situation.

Beau was bought from someone we believed was a reputable breeder. She shows her dogs and even had a dog in the Westminster show. Well, outward appearances and a nice webpage and good attitude to begin with can be deceiving. As soon as my mom got Beau home, the breeder lost interest in trying to be so "friendly" and pretty much ignored the help that my mom asked for while training Beau. Instead, we decided to take Beau to puppy preschool and eventually went so far as hiring a private dog trainer (which was not cheap, mind you). None of what we have tried, which I feel has been pretty much everything, has worked. The behavioral problems that Beau exhibits are for the most part not serious enough to give us a reason to find him a new home...but there is ONE problem that can not be tolerated. Since Beau turned about one/one and half years old, he's been attacking Tank, my Bulldog, without warning. Tank can be sleeping on his dog bed and doing nothing wrong, and Beau will put his ears back and viscously attack him. Luckily, my mom and I have learned to see the signs of an oncoming attack and we stop it. Well, tonight my mom was at home by herself with the dogs (I am at school) and Beau attacked Tank and it was very serious. My mom said Tank was bleeding from his eye and he is currently at the emergency vet for assessment. I am extremely upset that I can't be there for Tank right now but there is no way for me to leave school until Friday. We are seriously at a loss of what to do. Beau has always singled out Tank for the attacks, and is very aggressive towards other dogs at the park. My mom walks him at the park every day, but you wouldn't know it by the way he acts. He has never tried to attack Henry, but if he did...well...it makes me have trouble sleeping at night just thinking about what would happen. I think the only reason he hasn't tried to attack Henry is because Henry is still a puppy. I will be moving with Henry in August, but until then we will have to watch over Beau like a hawk.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Should we try to rehome him to a single dog household?

Thanks-

Andrea

Durbkat · 10-29-2007, 08:23 PM

I would crate beau when he can't be watched and when he his out he should be on his leash. Perhaps a behaviorist is in order?

Lonewolfblue · 10-29-2007, 08:29 PM

Could try a separate kennel just for him when nobody's around. As for the behaviour, might see if you can contact an animal behaviorist, or if you can find a trainer that has handled these kind of problems, and see what they recommend. This is exactly what I'm currently going through with Betty. This aggression to the other dogs is more fear for Betty than wanting to attack. And my trainer showed me what to look for, and how to tell the differences, such as in the body language and the bark. First you have to know the problem before you can start working to fix it. And the easiest way is to take the dog to the park and see exactly how he reacts to other dogs while he's on the leash. Keep in mind that some dogs are great off leash, but when put on, that fear becomes amplified. And a good trainer or animal behaviorist should be able to tell what the problem really is.

TheChinClique · 10-29-2007, 08:37 PM

We already have a private trainer through Bark Busters who we have over fairly often. Beau is crated when we aren't home. We have tried crating him when we can't watch him in order to avoid the attacks, but all that ends up happening is that he gets pissed off that he is in the crate and and soon as we let him out he's aggressive and wants to attack Tank. We have, by the recommendation of many animal behaviorists, put a Gentle Leader collar on him as soon as he exhibits undesirable behavior...but all he does is wag his tail as if to say "haha, I'm gonna be naughty and there is nothing you can do to stop me!" This aggression is NOT fear based. Beau is a very, very alpha dog and gets aggressive as soon as that "power" is taken away from him.

My mom has even decided to take him to a pet psychic on Saturday. Yes, she's that desperate.

Durbkat · 10-29-2007, 08:40 PM

Well then I would put tank in his crate when you let beau out till he calms down then let tank out but keep a leash on beau at all times so you can step on it if he goes for tank.

Cheetah · 10-29-2007, 08:43 PM

Bark Busters is a dominance-based franchise dog training business. They are NOT by any means accredited behaviorists, only trainers who were taught by the company how to train their way.

I would get a second opinion from a certified behaviorist that is not affiliated with Bark Busters. Were the ones you talked to certified? Did they show you their credentials?

I don't think a gentle leader is going to do anything.

TheChinClique · 10-29-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheetah

Bark Busters is a dominance-based franchise dog training business. They are NOT by any means accredited behaviorists, only trainers who were taught by the company how to train their way.

I would get a second opinion from a certified behaviorist that is not affiliated with Bark Busters. Were the ones you talked to certified? Did they show you their credentials?

I don't think a gentle leader is going to do anything.

Well, that sucks to hear...she paid $500 for Bark Busters' services, not to mention the other training classes she's attended. I will see if my mom is open to getting a second opinion. This is her dog, after all. I am merely concerned with the fact that my two dogs are living there as well and I literally have trouble sleeping at night thinking about what Beau might do to Tank (or God forbid, my fifteen pound dog Henry) next. The other behaviorists we talk to were certified but it was free advice only...so we would have to dish out to actually get one to work with Beau. I do know this much...that he is an Alpha dog and like I said, when that power is challenged, he freaks out. So how do you take the power away from the Alpha dog without having him lash out?

Lonewolfblue · 10-29-2007, 09:30 PM

Take over the roll as Pack Leader yourself, and your mom. Beau has taken that roll because he probably saw a small door, and is now trying to remain in control. You need to take that roll back with training. Keep Beau busy, with you or your mom ALWAYS in control. It will take time. Doesn't happen overnight.

Curbside Prophet · 10-29-2007, 11:13 PM

First, you need to have Beau cleared by a vet. Then, you need the help of a certified behaviorist. There are a million things that could be going on here, and the problem can be exacerbated if you choose a rank reduction protocol that's inappropriate. So don't guess or you could make things worse.

Be very persuassive on getting that second opinion. Good luck!

battlemonkey · 10-30-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheChinClique

Well, that sucks to hear...she paid $500 for Bark Busters' services, not to mention the other training classes she's attended. I will see if my mom is open to getting a second opinion. This is her dog, after all. I am merely concerned with the fact that my two dogs are living there as well and I literally have trouble sleeping at night thinking about what Beau might do to Tank (or God forbid, my fifteen pound dog Henry) next. The other behaviorists we talk to were certified but it was free advice only...so we would have to dish out to actually get one to work with Beau. I do know this much...that he is an Alpha dog and like I said, when that power is challenged, he freaks out. So how do you take the power away from the Alpha dog without having him lash out?

What breed is Beau? I don't think I've read it anywhere?
You are right in stopping it before it stops, learning the signals he is sending is one step in the right direction, prevention. Good on ya for doing so!

While you are home, I would also suggest keeping a leash on Beau while he and Tank are in the same room, that way he doesn't attack the other dog, and you know where he is at all time.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

TheChinClique · 10-30-2007, 12:11 PM

Thanks everyone

I will try to convince my mom to look into hiring a behaviorist. Tank is okay (thank God) and my mom said he's being his same old self

Beau is an American Eskimo Dog...they're known for having dominance issues.

fredalina · 10-31-2007, 08:58 PM

i'm also thinking dominance issues, and i'm thinking he may be getting some mixed signals. i would second (or third) the idea of getting a certified animal behaviorist to evaluate the dogs, you, and your mom to see what may signals may be triggering the aggression. You should also look at the Nothing In Life Is Free article that's stickied on this board. Doing this with all of the dogs will help solidify you as pack leader and help you to know what signals you may be sending. The most important player is going to be your mom, though. She has to be totally on board with this or your dogs will be the ones suffering.

Good luck!

NorthernLights · 11-01-2007, 12:49 PM

I know that Orchid had issues for a while with thinking that she ruled the roost.

We ended up leashing her to us when we were home, and making her earn food and play time by making her sit or do some kind of trick for her food/play time.

Every time she acted like she was going to go after the kitty, we popped her leash and in a firm way said, "NO!"

If she got aggressive, we quietly put her in the crate until she calmed down.

If she was calm around the kitty, she got a treat.