[ Post a Response | Molosser Talk The Original ]
Thank you for posting to the BEST Molosser site on the net.
Have a picture to share?
Please post to the Molosser gallery linked above the board.
.
Who knows it may be out next dog on top.
Posted by Karen on March 13, 2008, 6:34 am, in reply to "Re: Help!--Not about your breed though"
76.21.226.117
Corrections...
In a dog with issues, physical leash corrections can cause the dog to explode.
Effective looking does not mean proper. Remember, many trainers use things only because they appear to work even if they are working for the WRONG reasons.
Let me give you an example, my development from a general trainer to someone dealing with behavior came many years ago when I watched one of my mentors, a very well respected trainer (TRAINER) get mauled twice in one summer. One was a dog who was an out of control goofball. She knew how to time corrections and such but this dog got frustrated and was not being taught or desensitized to the environment. He was being made to stop through quick corrections. This is not learning though the dog APPEARED to improve. He was not, he was frustrating. Evetually, his frustration exploded and he nailed the trainer badly enough to send her to the hospital. The second dog that summer was low confidence and balking on the lead. She gave one correction and the dog panicked (Flight or Fight and the dog could not run). The dog nailed her and yup, another trip to the hospital.
There is a difference between a dog learning to hold behaviors until he can no longer handle the stress and then exploding and a dog truly learning to tolerate things. You cannot manage a dog with no tolerance by corrections which can cause a seeming improvement but in actuality, you are creating a time bomb.
Now, fussing over him may NOT create a dog who will tolerante handling. It could stress him out even more to the point where he will learn to mask what he is feeling until he explodes.
Generally when a dog explodes due to improper working, it is in a BIG way and someone may get hurt.
Sounds like you are working with a generic trainer who is NOT desensitizing a dog but FORCING (and even minor physical corrections are still a form of force no matter what follows and how the trainer is behaving when he does it - it is still force) and totally inappropriate for a dog that has the kinds of issues your dog sounds to have.
I would find someone else to work with this dog who knows how to desensitize and build confidence without using physical corrections. Also someone willing to work with your vet and discuss the possibility of anxiety reducing meds because animals who are under chronic stress can undergo chemical imbalances over time. If the dog has an imbalance then all the training in the world will be less effective.
Correction based training with a dog who has severe issues can be the worst thing to do as this does not show who is in control in a sane manner. In dogs, they try to avoid phsyical and when they engage physically it is with the instinctive knowledge that it could go to a fight. Humans are NOT willing to go to the fight. We challenge physically, them back down, confuse the dog more. The dog is under more stress, etc. I prefer a well applied NILIF program as I already gave you links for as a way to gain control. In charge means you control the environment and not physically challenge a dog already in a heightened state of stress.
I would go to
http://www.k9aggression.com and read. I fear the trainer you are using is inappropriate and the dog is becoming a time bomb waiting to explode.
Get someone else and fast. Someone who knows how to desensitize, get control without even minor appearing threats and who understands dog aggression. From what you said, your trainer understands controlling or appears to but he has no idea how to handle dog aggression, try and determine the type of aggression, etc.
Try http://www.IAABC.org and http://www.APDT.com
  |
|
Message Thread:
|
Please see bottom of board for rules.
