I'm not dead and in need of some advice.

[firebreather]

Good evening guys I hope all is well with everybody.

I know I have not been on for a while due to various reasons. Other interests taking priority and stuff. But when I had a problem with a new pooch I figured you guys would know what to do or where to go get the info from.

I have recently rescued a patterdale terrier from the dogs home and he is a real handful. In the home butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. Outside he is a pain in the proverbial attacking every dog bigger than he is. Within the first week he figured out how to open the chicken coop and killed one of the chicks. He has attacked one of our other dogs a couple of times going at her full bore.

I have had him to doggy day care in an attempt to overload his aggression towards bigger dogs. I have also started at dog training, it's early days but it does not appear to be helping so I am waiting to get into a different class that after watching seem to have a better / different approach. Today a rat was in the back garden and he dispatched it with ease. After the kill he went ballistic and wouldn't let it go.

I don't want to hunt with him but accept that he has natural instincts and want to make the most of those. Any hints, tips or training advice ?

Cheers greg

 

[vizsla]

One Idea to help with the issues with other dogs is to either use treats or a extendable lead and a ball to distract him and go somewhere were he can view other dogs from a safe distance rewarding him when he's calm, and gradually reduce the distance.
another idea to target his energy if he like hunting is get some animal scent that you squirt on balls and toys and hide them so he can do some hunting
dog training is very hard as there all different and everyone has an answer!
does he look at you as the leader or is he trying to take charge in his new surroundings? If he is dominating try making eye contact and out staring him, or depending on if he's dangerous and may hurt you then obviously don't do this but when he's naughty get hold of him and flip him on his back and don't let go until he becomes submissive .
hope this helps, dogs can be a pain!

 

[Jethro924]

Watch "The Dog Whisperer" on YouTube and "It's Me or the Dog". The "dog whisperer" works by dominating the dog and being pack leader, the "It's Me or the Dog" works through praise and recognition and reinforcing positive actions. Plenty of arguments about which is best but in reality a blend of the two works well IMHO. The more work you put in the more reward you will get back, you just need to persevere (it is hugely important that if you are trying a certain tactic then the whole family are aware and are all consistent).

Just my two penneth worth

 

[firebreather]

The extendable lead is a disaster ! The most effective tool is a leash. He does look at me as the pack leader and I can stand him down but when he is in the red zone nothing will take his concentration away from his prey. I stand in his way as Ceasar Milan does and that works . I don't think he would bite me as he is great with people it's just other dogs and trucks and horses lol

 

[firebreather]

We are using a combination of treats and leadership. It appears to be working in the home but when he gets in his red zone he is almost uncontrollable.

 

[ged]

Well first of all well done for rescuing a dog, and good luck!

We've had nothing but rescue dogs for over 30 years and they all seem to come with some baggage. You can''t always know the history and you just have to accept that some of the issues will remain issues for your joint lives.

Having said that I'm with the Dog Whisperer. I make sure that the dogs know who leads the pack, and that seems to make life easier for everyone although SWMBO doesn't see it quite the same way. When we're together with the dogs, which isn't all that often, I have to change the way I go about things so that she doesn't undermine me. The dogs know a few simple words, like STOP and OUT, the latter meaning basically "master doesn't like what you're doing there, so don't do it or at least don't do it there". I wish the same could be said for SWMBO.

Bad luck about the chicken, and I'd say that if the dog's instinct is to chase it down and kill it then it will be difficult to do much about that. Most of mine have been that way inclined, including the current pair who hunt as a team, although I don't hunt with them except occasionally for rats around the estate. For safety's sake they're never off the lead when I take them for a walk. Any animal that gets into their compound with them is going to die if it can't escape. To be honest I've no real problem with that, dogs will be dogs.

But finally I'd like to say that rescuing animals has been about the most rewarding thing I've ever done, and I'll keep doing it while ever I can.

 

[vizsla]

Maybe something to snap him out of it when he sees red, water or something noisy like chain to chuck on floor or tin with stones In, there are quite a few medications as well that can help with stress anxiety etc
it sounds like it's anything large Noisy that bothers him which means you need lit change his outlook on these things, ask someone with a large dog to help, it takes time but make him realise when he sees one of these things he gets a treat, let him go nuts but when he's finished and calm praise him, also when you see the problem coming straight away stand I front to block his view get his eye contact give him treats
oh treats need to be something worth him behaving for like cheese or tinned hot dogs , because for him he's already having a good time so why change for biscuit!

 

[Macaroon]

Patterdales are a real handfull if they haven't been shown the way right from the get-go; they're known as being a breed that makes one initial and very strong bond with an owner much earlier than most breeds, and if that bond is broken by neglect or mistreatment they go off the rails, and in a big way, as you are finding out!

The other thing that comes to mind is that often the dogs from rescue centers are entire when they get them but snipped before re-homing; if this is done at the wrong time for the dog it can take a long time before the hormonal balance comes back to something like level, and sometimes it never does. How old is he? Being snipped at a later than optimal age can be disturbing to them as well.....

I don't think there are any shortcuts with this, it's just patience and very hard work and then more of the same; as I say though, they are notoriously single minded and stubborn, but such excellent dogs if you get them right in the end. Good luck with the little fella

 

[firebreather]

We had him snipped a couple of weeks after re homing him. Waiting for it to gave an effect,we have also changed his dog food to a higher quality and more natural brand.
I'm also with you about other animals getting into the home / back garden as it's his territory. The coop is better secured now. He isn't a bad dog and he is very well behaved in the home. You are all right it will take time and lots of work. He curls up at my feet and follows me around all the time at home. He has defiantly made a solid bond with me, how strong would it be if I was his first owner ! Lol

 

[dwardo]

Our dog is a rescue and rubbish with other dogs. I really believe that if dogs are not socialised early when they should be then its very hard afterwards. They just seem to not understand dog language. I have seen shows such as the dog whisperer which is great but getting access to a pack of well trained dogs can be hard.
I have gotten to the point, after years where she will heel and wait for the leed if she sees another dog. I can introduce her to another dog after a time and she will tollerate the other dog, but she still has no idea how to "play" and always has to be dominant.

So far as her not letting me take someting from her,,, everything is mine, anything she has is given to her because we allow it. We started this early with food. I would take her food away from her mid eating and then let her have it back, sounds cruel but it works. If she gets out of line then its physical but not out of control pining if necesary, if its something she has done wrong that doesnt need immediate action then its the look of dissapointment and being blanked for a few hours, the ultimate punishment.

Only ever used a choke collar and short leed. The collar only chokes to uncomfortable not "choke".

Given all the above she can still be a pain in the butt with food and other dogs, constant battle or "character".

Giving advice on dogs without knowing them is like giving advice on bringing up kids, opinions are like "behinds" everyone has one,

 

[firebreather]

Oohh I forgot to say he is around 2 years old. We think ? He was found stray and taken to the dogs home.

 

[Chiseller]

Patterdales.......are what they are.......99% of them can only be moulded while they are pups.
That's why strong lines were softened with border terriers.
Pound for pound , they are considered one of the hardiest and game terriers .
Good luck with your endeavor.......once a dog biter......always a dog biter imo.

You have to consider it's victims which also includes the owners and their family's.
Their instinct is strong and will go to ground at the first opportunity and not back off......they were bred as jaw dogs ....not bay dogs.
Grand if reared correctly from pup. Someblood lines are more tenacious than others.


Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[woodstock]

Good evening guys I hope all is well with everybody.

I know I have not been on for a while due to various reasons. Other interests taking priority and stuff. But when I had a problem with a new pooch I figured you guys would know what to do or where to go get the info from.

I have recently rescued a patterdale terrier from the dogs home and he is a real handful. In the home butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. Outside he is a pain in the proverbial attacking every dog bigger than he is. Within the first week he figured out how to open the chicken coop and killed one of the chicks. He has attacked one of our other dogs a couple of times going at her full bore.

I have had him to doggy day care in an attempt to overload his aggression towards bigger dogs. I have also started at dog training, it's early days but it does not appear to be helping so I am waiting to get into a different class that after watching seem to have a better / different approach. Today a rat was in the back garden and he dispatched it with ease. After the kill he went ballistic and wouldn't let it go.

I don't want to hunt with him but accept that he has natural instincts and want to make the most of those. Any hints, tips or training advice ?

Cheers greg

Give him to the guy with the tipi,

 

[Adze]

How old is the dog and is he still intact?

 

[firebreather]

How old is the dog and is he still intact?

The home told us he is about 2 years old. By intact if you mean not neutered then no we had him castrated on the advice of pretty much everybody we spoke to.

 

[Adze]

Have you tried excluding him when he does something reprehensible? Give him 5 minutes 'in the cooler', completely alone each and every time he does something against the rules. Longer than 5 mins and the dog likely won't associate behaviour with exclusion - being consistent is the key, it's more like training a vine.

 

[xylaria]

years ago we got staffy that was unpredicable with other dogs. The dangles were off and the muzzle was on. He wasnt walked without a muzzle until his behavoiur was sorted. He had lots of obiedience work, at home as well as when out. Very soon he would sit, stand and drop to command. He would stand still and wait for the next command if another dog came by. The ex kept him, but he is great dog now, he only needed the muzzle for few months. He even looked after relatives elderly blind dog, helped guide around him the house.

The use of muzzle and consistancy. Castration can months for the full effect to work.

 

[firebreather]

Cheers guys it is good to have it confirmed that what I am already doing is right. Patience seems to be the key.

greg

 

[plausiblydeniable]

I think time and patience are the keys along with constant reinforcing of expected behaviours.

Sadly we had to give up on our Patterdale. She was a rescue too and although she was ok initially at home, she was a nightmare out, invariably going after other dogs and being unpredictable with other people. We tried obedience classes and distraction methods like a squirt of water or treats, but once she set her sights on something you couldn't dissuade her otherwise.

Eventually she started developing dominance issues at home like humping the kids legs, which was something I really didn't know females did, but when she turned and bit my six year old's face while they were just sitting quietly on the sofa, that was enough and we had to return her.

 

[mousey]

We took on a alsatian crossed with a malumt as the owners were going to work offshore for months at a time. We went to visit the dog tried to hump my little boy, but did what it was told. Appeared to have domince issues with the original owners. He is a BIG dog and they lived on a second floor flat - they relly loved him and treated him well but just couldn't handle him. We were a little worried about his dominace thing but when we got him back home our top dog [a small alastian crossed with a collie] soon sorted him out.

Same as has been said before - get them used to having things taken from them food, toys etc, stuff is yours not theirs. Make sure they do have plenty of toys to keep them occupied, we don't give them soft fury toys which they can rag as that seems to reinforce the hunting instinct - besides young childrens toys are mostly soft and fury so if that is what your dog is used to playing with then the kids favourite toy may get chewed. My wife found it good to kick him out of his bed and lie in it herself. I seem to remember him trying to wee on her and the kids to which her response was to wee in a container herself, chuck him in the garden and throw it all over him an leave him out for a while.... he never did that again....

When out and about if he sees something like a seagull or rabbit he will go for it - not sure what he'd do if he caught one, but I walk him on a lead these days anyway.