I am scared of my own dog! - need help/advice/opinions

[joshuagough]

You did the best thing you could financially, you know what to do and how.. just gotta execute the plan.

I was throwing that out there because it's often times criticized.. but there are other folks in your same shoe's where its a very useful course of action.

I now wish we would/could have done that.

My trainer offered to take him down south with them for a week but it was double the cost of the in-home training. At the time I didn't really trust them enough or have the money.

 

[DAC]

You did the best thing you could financially, you know what to do and how.. just gotta execute the plan.

I was throwing that out there because it's often times criticized.. but there are other folks in your same shoe's where its a very useful course of action.

I absolutely 100% agree with you. Especially when you have more than just the "normal" behavioral problems. When he 1st bite me I was devastated thinking we were going to have to euthanize him. I am not really sure what my vet would have advised but I am thankful for the internet and being able to talk to my trainer and realizing we could fix this.

 

[4BIGdogs]

What a lot of adverse training advice given. Yeah you need to go back to basics but with the right training/trainer. Prong/choke collars recommend are you serious???? No wonder he is confused it is being created out of fear, fear of the equipment, techniques, and who is enforcing the fear and pain no wonder the dog's behaviour is getting worse. Why should he trust you any longer, why would he think you were showing him love esp when you disturbed a sleeping dog when he was most vulnerable?

Please research and only hire a service who is recommended by friends on trainers/behaviours who do not support dominance theories!!,and only use +R techniques. More effective, long lasting, helps you to understand the dog's mind so that you can always help your dog and in the long run you and your family will get your companion back the way you knew him.

 

[cinnamon roll]

There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with using a choke or prong collar if you know how to use them properly.

What a lot of adverse training advice given. Yeah you need to go back to basics but with the right training/trainer. Prong/choke collars recommend are you serious???? No wonder he is confused it is being created out of fear, fear of the equipment, techniques, and who is enforcing the fear and pain no wonder the dog's behaviour is getting worse. Why should he trust you any longer, why would he think you were showing him love esp when you disturbed a sleeping dog when he was most vulnerable?

Please research and only hire a service who is recommended by friends on trainers/behaviours who do not support dominance theories!!,and only use +R techniques. More effective, long lasting, helps you to understand the dog's mind so that you can always help your dog and in the long run you and your family will get your companion back the way you knew him.

 

[angelbears]

PETA'S website must be down.

 

[DAC]

What a lot of adverse training advice given. Yeah you need to go back to basics but with the right training/trainer. Prong/choke collars recommend are you serious???? No wonder he is confused it is being created out of fear, fear of the equipment, techniques, and who is enforcing the fear and pain no wonder the dog's behaviour is getting worse. Why should he trust you any longer, why would he think you were showing him love esp when you disturbed a sleeping dog when he was most vulnerable?

Please research and only hire a service who is recommended by friends on trainers/behaviours who do not support dominance theories!!,and only use +R techniques. More effective, long lasting, helps you to understand the dog's mind so that you can always help your dog and in the long run you and your family will get your companion back the way you knew him.

He bit me and my husband before a choke chain was ever used on him.

 

[joshuagough]

Welcome, heck of a first post..

You didn't offer one bit of advice on how to applicably apply the method in which you support, to the OP's situation. Yet you did offer a lot of criticism of the OP actions/choices, as well as criticism of the methods suggested by others to address the situation.

To summarize, you don't know how to train the dog via positive reinforcement. However your sure the methods suggested by others are the incorrect way to train the OP's dog?

I'll offer up this video, food for thought on a conversation of each method.

[video=youtube;xb8y4DWEr30]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb8y4DWEr30[/video]

What a lot of adverse training advice given. Yeah you need to go back to basics but with the right training/trainer. Prong/choke collars recommend are you serious???? No wonder he is confused it is being created out of fear, fear of the equipment, techniques, and who is enforcing the fear and pain no wonder the dog's behaviour is getting worse. Why should he trust you any longer, why would he think you were showing him love esp when you disturbed a sleeping dog when he was most vulnerable?

Please research and only hire a service who is recommended by friends on trainers/behaviours who do not support dominance theories!!,and only use +R techniques. More effective, long lasting, helps you to understand the dog's mind so that you can always help your dog and in the long run you and your family will get your companion back the way you knew him.

 

[cinnamon roll]

Pay no attention to the

 

[CeeCee]

Thanks for sharing! I thought that was a great video! I watch a couple others and thought they were very informative as well!

Welcome, heck of a first post..

You didn't offer one bit of advice on how to applicably apply the method in which you support, to the OP's situation. Yet you did offer a lot of criticism of the OP actions/choices, as well as criticism of the methods suggested by others to address the situation.

To summarize, you don't know how to train the dog via positive reinforcement. However your sure the methods suggested by others are the incorrect way to train the OP's dog?

I'll offer up this video, food for thought on a conversation of each method.

[video=youtube;xb8y4DWEr30]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb8y4DWEr30[/video]

 

[4BIGdogs]

There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with using a choke or prong collar if you know how to use them properly.

The correct term is "Check chains" but they are known for what they do. I too have in the past used them but that was old school thinking. Times have changed and training has come a long way. I think I would rather take the advice from science and the leaders in this field. The facts and education are out there the power of the internet and like minded trainers Yeah!

What are the dangers of using choke and prong collars? | Frequently Asked Questions | About PETA | PETA

 

[cinnamon roll]

ANYWAY..................................Do you have ANY experience with a prong collar?

The correct term is "Check chains" but they are known for what they do. I too have in the past used them but that was old school thinking. Times have changed and training has come a long way. I think I would rather take the advice from science and the leaders in this field. The facts and education are out there the power of the internet and like minded trainers Yeah!

What are the dangers of using choke and prong collars? | Frequently Asked Questions | About PETA | PETA

 

[LizB]

I would like to thank DAC for starting this thread on this forum, where many will benefit. I don't think you are in any way alone in your experiences with your Dogo, and you're doing a service by sharing quite openly the entire story, your actions, and your concerns. You have not glossed over the mistakes you have innocently made, and are open to the advice given, and there is some STELLAR advice in this thread. So many dogs with strong wills and stubborn personalities wind up in shelters and you are doing the right thing.

I have had some difficult cases myself, but nothing as serious as your situation, so I don't have anything to add, other than reinforcing the recommendations to exercise him before training, and to give him something to occupy his mind, like seek and find, nosework, etc. Setting boundaries and having a reliable routine should go a long way to helping him as well. You'll soon learn what works and what doesn't.

Keep us posted!

 

[4BIGdogs]

He bit me and my husband before a choke chain was ever used on him.

Hi Dac, there are all sorts of reasons as to why your dog bite you, you need to speak with a good behaviourist who has studied in updated methods and... more than likely this incident is where you became fearful and started to question all sorts of behaviour and from here the behaviours only got worse.

I have rehabilitated many large breeds, I have adopted a few who were going to be destroyed because they killed other dogs, bitten adults and children. My present dog who is one of those dogs, bite the 3 children in his home he was brought to the vet to be pts....we reconditioned his mind and now he works with my children's community programs 3 times per week. He's a star!

When you went to his bed, he was sleeping and vulnerable, and although you talked quietly he growled, he doesn't trust you you immediately got up and backed away (correct) but he was in fear mode and in a trance like state...think about it,... if you were woken up by someone who punishes you, in a frame of mind that is condition of being afraid of his own environment 24//7/365 wouldn't it take you some time to come around from your sleep state/trance and the fear feeling? You say his growl was deep yes it was...this was his fear growl but he didn't jump forward, he stayed in his bed....he didn't want to hurt you.

His hackles were up....hackles are not always a sign of aggression, google it, it can be a sign of fear and anxiety. He paced (a sign of stress) for around for 10 mins or more in this condition....poor dog, he is so filled with fear he is anxious of what pain is coming to him.

This dog needs guidelines and love not punished for not understanding what is unacceptable in our human world. He needs proper, kind, consistent training, that will earn him rewards and praise. Dogs are the only species other than humans who can recognise facial expressions and they love to please us. When dogs are praised they will repeat the behaviour to receive attention. (This also rings true for negative as long as they get attention...dogs are sociable animals and want contact, so if your dog is doing something they want attention so how are you going to correct him what is/not acceptable, teach or punish?)

It is us who needs to understand the dog and learn dog behaviour and throw out old school thinking. Dogs are not wolves, they do not form packs, there are no alpha's and I certainly have never encountered a dog who wanted to dominate a human. A dog does what is natural to a dog we humans have to train them with patience and using our body language what we like.

And please invite him up for a cuddle.

 

[mountainfila]

The correct term is "Check chains" but they are known for what they do. I too have in the past used them but that was old school thinking. Times have changed and training has come a long way. I think I would rather take the advice from science and the leaders in this field. The facts and education are out there the power of the internet and like minded trainers Yeah!

What are the dangers of using choke and prong collars? | Frequently Asked Questions | About PETA | PETA

Are you serious??? The ONLY way that the injuries mentioned in that stupid article could happen is if the collar is used INCORRECTLY period! They mention to use a harness , REALLY?? Thats the whole reason she is in this mess in the first place, the dog has been allowed to do whatever he wants, and when they put him out of his comfort zone, he retaliates by biting, he doesnt want to do it their way and now he is winning because they are afraid to deal with him for the fear of being bitten. And i do feel that neutering him WOULD help in this situation because it would take some of that testosterone away from him, he is acting all manly and needs to be takin down a peg or two, it is not an instant fix either , it takes a few months to see a bit of a difference.

 

[4BIGdogs]

ANYWAY..................................Do you have ANY experience with a prong collar?

ANYWAY .......................After reading the updated information and what I have written on "Choke" chains....why would I use such an adverse method when there are so many other ways to accomplish the behaviour I like from my dogs?


The question is....why are you still using them?

 

[cinnamon roll]

Who said I use them??

Secondly My post that you quoted referred to a Prong not a CHOKE.

ANYWAY .......................After reading the updated information and what I have written on "Choke" chains....why would I use such an adverse method when there are so many other ways to accomplish the behaviour I like from my dogs?


The question is....why are you still using them?

 

[cinnamon roll]

OH PLEASE!!!!! There are no prongs that would do that.

 

[NYDDB]

PETA'S website must be down.

Damn, you're good.

 

[angelbears]

Damn, you're good.

Thank you! And I actually kept it clean.

Love the baby pic of Mateo!!!

 

[NYDDB]

Thank you! And I actually kept it clean.

Love the baby pic of Mateo!!!

I couldn't resist-- while wandering through some baby pics, I got all mushy and sentimental.