Doglistener

[quote name='ellie']I adopted a lab mix 2 months ago from an animal shelter. He is about 4 years old. He was a stray picked up by the pound so we have no idea what his background is. He was understandably nervous at first but soon settled in and we thought how great it was that he was house trained. Just recently though he's started peeing in the house on walls and random items. He's just been to the vets and is in good health. There are no other animals in the house and none who have visited recently. He's also started getting aggressive when we have certain visitors around. Some people he loves, others he barks and growls at on meeting them. Any ideas on the turn around in his behaviour would be really appreciated. :)[/QUOTE] Have him medically checked over and a blood panel done. This sounds as though it may be related to thyroid disorder. Whenever behavioural problems start suddenly in an adult dog you first visit should be to the Vet not a behaviourist. Stan

I thought I might remind people of some of the problems that spaying and neutering may cause. I am all for spaying and neutering but at the right time or you may just regret you actions. Press release from PAACT Professional Association of Applied Canine Trainers Important observations on the psychological affect of early Spaying and Neutering Spaying and Neutering What Your Vet and the Rescue Centres May Not Tell You Spaying and neutering can make for a better and more affectionate family pet. It is a medical fact that spaying and neutering can prolong the life of our pets and may reduce the number of health problems in later life. Females can benefit from spaying by reducing the incidence of uterine, mammary, ovarian cancers and uterine infections such as Pyometria. Neutering a male reduces the risk of prostate and testicular cancer. They are less likely to develop unwanted behaviour's such as marking, sexual aggression, and mounting, and are less likely to escape, roam, or fight with other dogs. Some vets recommend that our dogs are spayed or neutered anywhere between 5 to 16 months. In America some are being done at 8 weeks old. Many rescue centres such as Battersea Dogs Home and the RSPCA/ASPCA spay and neuter as a matter of course, whatever the age. My colleagues and I have some serious reservations about this advice and practice. There have been many scientific studies on the beneficial outcome of spaying and neutering on a physiological level, but none I can find on a psychological and behavioural level. As behavioural consultants and obedience trainers, we find that we are treating many more cases where dogs are displaying (paedomorphic) tendencies. That is puppy like behaviours in adult dogs, which we believe could be related to the incidence of early spaying and neutering. We have also observed that bitches spayed too early may be far more interesting to intact males; unwanted male attention may cause the female to become aggressive and protective of this attention in adulthood. With regard to neutering, we believe that males should not be castrated until they have been cocking their leg for at least one month, and should be at least 10 to 16 months of age (depending on breed and size), unless there are medical or serious behavioural issues. In females, we believe that they should have at least one season first; then wait approx 3 months before considering spaying. Many vets and rescue centres will neuter a male dog before they have cocked their leg. It is at this point dogs start to seriously mark territory. Not the half-hearted attempts we see in immature dogs. The immature castrated dog may squat for the remainder of it

DIFFERENT TYPES OF AGGRESSION Aggression is one of the main reasons that dogs are euthanised or rehomed; at least 30% of all dogs in rescue centres are there because of the incidence of aggressive behaviour in one form or another. It is actually unusual to have a dog that is aggressing to have just one type of aggression; most dogs have more than one of the following types of behaviour. It would be prudent, before embarking on any program of aggressive behaviour modification, to rule out any medical reasons for that behaviour, especially if there is a sudden change in the dog

Hi The best brushes for long and short haired dogs are plastic and rubber currie combs for horses. You can see them on this site where they are sold. [url]www.doglistener.co.uk[/url] Stan

[quote]I think the point is being missed from most of these responses. It isn't how well YOUR dog "gets along" with other dogs. It how well the OTHER dogs get along with yours. [/quote] de ja veu>??????????????????????????????????????? I must be nissing something or I am I in a different planet?? Please read the poasts again and hopefully you WILL get the point! Thanyou

mouseatthebusstop wrote [quote]very wrong BUT the males should have been fixed also[/quote] Why???? Uncastrated Males don't come into any form of estrus twice a year and don't send dogs wild twice a year. This guy was either ignorant or stupid you do not take a female on heat into the park. However I have seen it all before then the owners go beserk when your innocent dog gets interested ....amazing

A dog thinks your a god a cat knows it is. Me

Mei-Mei wrote [quote]trying to walk my dogs and fifteen dogs will run up to me while their owners are chatting on cell phones or basically paying no attention. And then I get tense because it's a high stress situation, and I know that Lhiannon Sidhe feels my tension and it raises her level of anxiety. [/quote] I find it disgusting when I go to my parks and I see people constantly on the phone when supposedly walking the dogs. I never have my cellphone on over the parks that is my dogs time with me and they get my undivided attention. Mei-Mei wrote [quote] I am frequently the only one I see carrying plastic bags to dispose of my dogs' waste. As a matter of fact, I heard one gentleman say "Hey, it's natural. Why pick it up?" That attitude seems prevalent in our 'dog park.' [/quote] It is classed as antisocial if you do not pick up after your dog in the UK I would think 955 do it. I wonder if the guy who said "Hey, it's natural. Would like a years worth of his dogs droppings deposited in his yard and see how natural he feels it is then. :lol: I understand what you mean by a dog park now, especially if it near roads or rail. Our parks ar massive and have woods, lakes, wildlife and are Doggy Heaven. One of them Richmond Park is so big you are better off with a compass as you can get lost. We are a bit spoilt for that round here.

Mei Mei wrote [quote]It's not appropriate for you to tell me to 'get real.' I am rarely, if ever, impolite. Unless you are 100% sure of my dog's history and the way they have been treated, please address me with the respect I deserve, and I will do the same to you. Thank you.[/quote] I apologise if that came over more aggressive than I intended we read the written word but we don't see the body language. :-? The problems I deal with daily in these cases where dogs have fear or aggressive tendencies both on and off lead are in the majority of cases more handler that the actual dog problems, and I suppose I come over quite exasperated because of it, once again please accept my apologies. I you have a fearful or timid dog that reacts badly to other dogs then quite often it is a combination of things, removing the puppy from it's siblings before 7 weeks is one of the main reasons. this is a small part of an article I wrote on Puppies Psychological growth: [quote]0 to 7 Weeks Neonatal, Transition, Awareness, and Canine Socialisation. Puppy is with mother and littermates. During this period, puppy learns about social interaction, play, and inhibiting aggression from mother and littermates. Puppies must stay with their mother and littermates during this critical period. Puppies learn the most important lesson in their lives--they learn to accept discipline. [/quote] Early lack of socialisation is also a major cause. also take your dogs to puppy classes, these should be before the dog is 18 weeks before the start of the course [quote] 7 to 14 Weeks Human Socialisation Period. The puppy now has the brain waves of an adult dog, but his attention span is short. This period is when the most rapid learning occurs. Learning at this age is permanent so this is a perfect time to start training. Also, this is the ideal time to introduce the puppy to things that will play an important part in his life. Introduce the puppy to different people, places, animals, and sounds in a positive, non-threatening way. [/quote] In the case of a rescue their is nothing you can do about these periods and I accept that. However their is things that you can do to help a dog get over it's fear aggression/dog aversion/ Timidity. You can start by adding 4 drops of Dr Bach's rescue remedy in the dogs food daily and possibly purchasing a DAP diffusor ( Dog. Appeasing.Pheremone. )Diffusor this helps along with a socialisation program to help the dogs fear. One of the best ways is to reduce your dogs Alpha standing in your pack this then allows it to not have to worry about it's or your status and it doesn't feel the need to defend. If anyone wants a program to do this E Mail me. Gooeydog wrote [quote]I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "maniacally aggressive", as very few people (if any) here have dogs which I would see as falling under that term. [/quote] Dogs that will attack any other dog for no reason whatsoever ie the dog has not approached but the manically aggressive dog will run across the park to get at another dog and will not differentiate between the sexes it will attack both. [quote]Are we talking in a dog park type situation, or in a walk around the neighborhood situation?[/quote] Dog park! This whole thread is about Dog Parks I always have my dogs on a lead round the neighbouhood because of traffic etc. However they are never on a lead in the parks, and I can control all three with no problems, They are working English Springer Spaniels not the easiest breed to control as the hunting and prey instinct is extremely strong. The point is they hunt for me! Not themselves. One of them was a rescue with some very strange and difficult habits and was extremely unconfident, I have now had it 11 weeks and it's tail is up I have started working it and it's confidence has soared it is a different dog. Having said that most would have given up on this dog after a couple of weeks because of it's problems and peculiarities, however with perseverance this dog will be extremely happy and a very capable and a good working dog it has an excellent nose and a great working style and ethic. It had never been worked before ie Pheasant Partridge and Duck yet has taken to it like the proverbial duck to water. Stimulate your dogs give them something that will make them think and enjoy work on it and you will see a confident and happy dog emerge.

[quote]I must say I disagree with the above statements. My dog Lhiannon Sidhe dislikes smaller dogs, she always has, so I keep her on the lead. I certainly wouldn't say she's 'manically aggressive.' And she's definitely been socialized. Unfortunately, people who walk their dogs OFF-lead are the problem in our case. The dogs approach Lhiannon Sidhe wanting to be friendly, and she does not wish to be. [/quote] May I ask why you haven't trained or behaviour modified this problem? I see it every day, day in day out. Dogs are friendly and they go to a dog on a lead. A scream erupts get your dog away my dog she/he doesn't like other dogs. and then they start kicking the other dog that is sniffing. The problem is never the dog on the lead according to the owners it always the dogs of the lead. Get real sort ther dog or yourself out. Is it any wonder the dog on the lead has a problem it is related to the problem in the majority of cases to the handler not the dog. I also prove this regulalrly by taking the lead and the dog has no problems. The main situation is the handlers angst. The dog picks up on it and reacts accordingly.

It could be a Welsh Springer Spaniel as it fits the description. [img]http://artwork.net/saga/pedigree/cassidy.jpg[/img] They also come in slightly darker colours [img]http://artwork.net/saga/pedigree/carmella.jpg[/img]

Hi This is my site and is a Behaviour Modification and obedience Training Site. Thats my full time job. [url]www.doglistener.co.uk[/url]

I live just near Hampton Court Palace on the outskirts of London (Henry the 8th lived there) The are three major Royal Parks all almost walking distance Bushey, Richmond and Home. All are full of deer and wildlife and dogs are allowed off lead but not allowed to chase the deer. I find that 99% of all the dogs are excellent the ones that are a problem are kept on leads, but the majority are off and no problems whatsoever. I am talking about many thousands of dogs visit these parks daily without major incidents, After reading you posts on dog parks I think your problems are training, socialisation and acclimatisation. You can't blame the parks for that, only the owners and some manically aggressive dogs

Turning into a good debate. At no time did I say dogs did not have emotions I have treated enough with depression and many other emotional problems to know that, what I said was[quote] Dogs are capable of linking ideas together, but are incapable of linking actions which are separated by time. [/quote] Which clearly states that they can link ideas together And I also said [quote]A dog's brain is much smaller than a human's especially in the upper part of the brain called the cerebrum - the portion of the brain associated with intellectual functions such as speech, memory, consciousness, and logical and emotional thought. [/quote] Which though it states the word emotional thought, does not mean they do not have emotions. What I have tried to point out is dogs are not cognizant they do not and cannot take a moral high ground and cannot differentiate unless taught by rote right from wrong and that the emotions they feel are generally realted to instinct and drive. Let me give an example of that. Lets pretend you are a small dog, a poodle for instance. Your owner keeps going into the bathroom (to fix her hair for a big date), and you, the poodle, are wondering why. So first you think, well maybe she is looking for food, there was once a food dish in there

[quote]The shoes was a good example. Did he chew them up because he was mad at you for leaving him? Or did he chew them up because he is lonely,[/quote] Neither he probably chewed then because he was teething or because of separation anxiety ie rejection which is an instinct not a cognisant act. This is alway a sticky area because so many people are anthropomorphic I cannot tell you how many times People have said to me that their Dog thinks it is human and I always give the same answer