rehabilitating an emaciated attack dog

Hi guys. I have my hands full with this one. I have a rescued senior bitch who when we first took her on was a very loving and affectionate dog and apart from having issues with people entering the house seemed fine. Problem is as her health has improved, she has attached herself so deeply with the family her aggression to outsiders has started to cause us and her problems. We are limited to where we can take her as a family and she is limited to a muzzle and lead. I can't even leave her in the yard unattended as she can simply scale the fence.

 

If you can, why not set up a chain spot in the back yard? You can leave her out without worry then and you can put her on her chain spot when guests come over. Just keep her on a muzzle and leash when exercising her in public, or get a treadmill.

 

Basically I am looking for some training tips and recommendations for muzzles and yard set ups. I currently use a basket muzzle, but it tends to bash her face.

Her behavior when I take her for a walk is reasonably good and I take her to play with the other dogs in the park which she loves. Her issue is when we are out as a family, you aren't getting near them with her around.

I'm not talking about a dog that barks at strangers here, she will jusshoot up and try to take an arm or your stomach, we have tried her a few times with a muzzle with friends. She will be very affectionate is you simply react by not being scared and stoking her gently.

 

Thanks the chain spots a good idea. Any advice on setups as I don't know anyone using one here.

 

Muzzled introductions seem to be my best method of introducing her to friends, however I am looking into getting a leather one cause she can hit you quite hard and that doesn't feel good for her or anyone else. Any advise on a good lightweight one?

 

...she is what she is...high strung 1 man/family dog,,,build a secure run for her....who know's may-be ya will be very thank-full for haveing her around..????....or just go to some training lessons,,seem like like she senses those who are nervous of her and sense's it a s threat to you/family...????

 

Yeah at here age I don't think she'll change to much. As far as walks go I'll stick to taking her out into the woods to hang of sticks and things, keep walks in the town to a minimum.
At least I know my home is safe, just not good when the kids want friends over, etc.

I even got rid of my little staff cause the fights between him and her were horrific and he had the better chance of finding a home.

 

You let the dog loose in the dog part with other people around you knowing she can turn on a dime kinda contradicting.

 

She's not loose in the park, I use a police style training lead.

 

She's not loose in the dog park. I use a long training lead.

 

I half agree, but if that was the case what was the point in the court cases and shelters she has gone through to save her life when she was found after not being fed for so long she weighed only 20lbs, and was living amongst hers and another dogs graces? Like I said she was very gentle towards us and the shelter to begin with, it is only now that she is in good health with a family that she has became aggressive, or went back to the way they had her trained. I have a lot of time for this dog and my long term plan is to change her attitude towards strangers.

 

Like I said I partly agree, but she is so amazingly gentle with the family and people she knows, she just needs to understand humans aren't all that bad as she has experienced in the past. It's like saying anyone with an anger issue or mental health problem should be put on death row!

She wasn't taken from her previous owner cause she was dangerous, but because she was abused.

That's why I'm looking for advice on training a dog to not feel like people are a threat.

 

Get a dog that suits your needs not the other way around. Having it trained would still be a liability around your kid's friends something I would never risk.

 

I thought this was a controversial thread. I don't see why a dog should be culled just because the previous owner though it would be cool to train a dog to be aggressive so they can stand on street corners looking threatening or whatever. I was kind of hoping for someone to give me a success story of how they turned a dogs life around and gave them a second chance in life.

 

It doesn't have to be that she was trained to be aggressive. Maybe she has had a fucked up life and you guys saved her and she knows it. Either way if there's no problems with the family, put her on a chain spot. Why would you take her to the dog park? Me personally I don't agree with taking these dogs to the dog park, seems like its a case of what was mentioned earlier. You either change your lifestyle to suit the dog or you find a dog that suits your lifestyle. There isn't gonna be many success and rehab stories because people that own these dogs are smart enough to know that to begin with these dogs aren't your friendly dog park dogs

Sincerely Yours, Cajun

 

I admit you wouldn't see many in the dog park. My boy goes there regularly and enjoys playing with other dogs, as does my bitch. Regular socialization with other dogs is what's made him so friendly towards them. Also muzzles prevent any accidents from happening. I have owned males who are intolerant of other males, so no they didn't go to the dog park.

When we got her she was a real softy, like you said her behavior is probably due to her wanting to protect us cause we saved her. Maybe she is best kept as a yard dog, she loves the family.

 

So has anybody got any advice on training, building her confidence with people etc, or just showing her I don't need her to protect me or the family?