Baffled by bad behaviour in my dog??

[ladyB]

So as some of you will know I have a lurcher who can be feisty at times. She has never been a fan of smaller dogs however i was working with her on this and it was going ok untill this past couple of months.

 

Molls issues were mainly about her respnding to dogs who had a go at her and it was only smaller dogs. If a bigger dog did it she would back off. she would also be very bossy with nervous dogs as well.

 

More recently she is not being that choosy and appears to be going for almost every new small dog she meets and some old enamies as well. this is getting me down to the point that I am avoiding my usual walks and going solo on our walks. This upsets me because I have met some friends through walking Moll and we meet up almost daily. This however is being put on hold untill I can nip it in the bud!!

 

My question is what has created this excessive behaviour in her??? there are a few issues I have thought of but do you all think I am being daft.

 

1. I have been stressed due to an incident which took place at the end of August which I am still coming to terms with. is she picking up on me.

 

2. recently took her crate down. she has appeared to have accepted this and seems to like her replacement bed. in the same spot by the way.

 

3. This is gross by the way....I have just realised that the bloomin cat is peeing on her new bed . I have washed it a couple of times because it stunk but over the past week I have noticed the cat blooming peeing on it. Has this made Moll more insecure?? is it territorial war????

 

Moll is a good dog really and can be quite skitish and sensitive....I have commented in a post before that she is as good as gold with the dog walker so it's def me but I don't know how to fix this and it's getting me down..I burst into tears the other day when a walker had a go at me cause Moll was chasing her v nervous dog!!!

 

Any ideas???

[Elizabeth13]

Well i think your mental state will definitely play a big part in this!

Stress and emotions will put you in a much weaker state, and she will be the boss because of this.. And to me it definitely sounds like she is being the boss.

 

I'd get a trainer to come and work with you both - the dog walker does show you it is your relationship causing these triggers (not your fault though) and the trainer can show you how to put yourself back on top and control the situation once more.

 

We all need a bit of support every now and again, and help from others.

[vwkittie]

I have similar probs, our lurcher was fine with all dogs as a little one. Then she started disliking bouncy/boisterous dogs when she was on her lead. Then she started barking/growling back when barked at. Then she started barking at dogs randomly when on her lead (the other night she had a massive go at an old collie that was just standing there doing sod all). Now she's started to bark/growl at other dogs when off her lead - just runs over the them and barks/growls right in their face when they were just minding their own business?! She's getting worse gradually and I have no idea why, I'm obviously doing something wrong but I don't know what it is, I try and praise her when she's good, distract her etc but it makes no difference she just gets worse. Annoying when she's basically the perfect dog the rest of the time

 

My OH says she is not as bad when he alone walks her but I can't see any difference in how we walk her

 

I'm hoping to attend the socialisation session run by Jim Greenwood on Saturday 12th to get some advice - he's supposed to be really good with lurchers, maybe you could go too? I think it's £20 and down by Chesterfield somewhere.

 

One of my cats has also peed on the dogs things before, I took it as her sticking two fingers up to be honest, not sure what to suggest there though as our cat just stopped doing it by herself

[ladyB]

I know it must be the relationship she has with me thats prob the problem. Anna, dog walker, is fantasic with the dogs and she is very experienced and her relationship with Moll is very consitant. Moll knows where she is and Anna takes no messing about from her.

 

I would like to think I keep her life as consistant as I can, considering I work shifts and have kids etc. but something is just not working at the moment!!!

 

She is def not the boss at home and does everything I as of her in the house and she is really good but get her off lead and she is different dog these days.

 

I have got her booked into vets tomorrow just to eliminate any physical problems

[ladyB]

I have similar probs, our lurcher was fine with all dogs as a little one. Then she started disliking bouncy/boisterous dogs when she was on her lead. Then she started barking/growling back when barked at. Then she started barking at dogs randomly when on her lead (the other night she had a massive go at an old collie that was just standing there doing sod all). Now she's started to bark/growl at other dogs when off her lead - just runs over the them and barks/growls right in their face when they were just minding their own business?! She's getting worse gradually and I have no idea why, I'm obviously doing something wrong but I don't know what it is, I try and praise her when she's good, distract her etc but it makes no difference she just gets worse. Annoying when she's basically the perfect dog the rest of the time

 

My OH says she is not as bad when he alone walks her but I can't see any difference in how we walk her

 

I'm hoping to attend the socialisation session run by Jim Greenwood on Saturday 12th to get some advice - he's supposed to be really good with lurchers, maybe you could go too? I think it's £20 and down by Chesterfield somewhere.

 

One of my cats has also peed on the dogs things before, I took it as her sticking two fingers up to be honest, not sure what to suggest there though as our cat just stopped doing it by herself

 

I had Jim when she was younger and was due to see him early sertember but due to personal circumstances it got put on the back burner.

 

I have been told about his socialisation classes however I am at a wedding on the 12th. Maybe I could go to the next one.

 

Moll has never had a go at a sighhound and is generally very good with puppies.

 

Maybe us sighhound owners should club together and see if Jim will do a group session with us????

[bogwoppit]

I am waiting for a stock training appointment with Jim - would potentially be interested in any joint sessions if other owners were interested in stopping their dogs hunting sheep, etc.

[ladyB]

I think he would consider a morning or afternoon session with a group of us if the price is right. In terms of hunting sheep or stock training I just avoid these places with Moll however I do think she has a high prey drive which could be part of her problem so I would be interested in working with her on that.

[Evei]

My best advice is to get her out with a mix of dogs (nice and not so nice, by that I mean ones that are strong in their warning) If you are worried she will go further use a muzzle (and on any other dogs that will take a telling of too far). I have found through rehabilitaing a dog aggressive dog the best treatment is constant socialsation and allowing them to be told off by other dogs and them knowing when enough is enough and to leave the other dogs alone via practised command. You can only do this well if you are walking for an hour or so with other dogs and owners.

 

Otherwise they learn to do the behaviour and the threat/ fun goes away (because who wants to hang around an grumpy dog) so before you have had time to treat/ correct behaviour the threat goes away.

[ladyB]

Thanks for the feedback Evie. And some good advice.

 

The problem is trying to find people who are willing to let their small dog walk with a fast grumpy lurcher.!!!

 

We walk at least 1 1/2 hours min a day and almost daily I walk with a range of dogs of which she gets on with, from yorkshire terriers, labs, GS, husky gross, collie and puppies!! it's when we meet dogs she doesnt know OR Dogs she has had a go at in the past that she gets bad. She also walks with and sits in a van with, loads of small dogs when with Anna without a problem

 

As I said she was doing really well but over the past 2 months her behaviour has become more excessive.

 

One thing I have noticed is if the owner of the other dog is calm with her then she is ok. for example we have recently had a walk with Lottie and Beans, she had a grump at Beans but Lottie told me to Ignore her (Lottie also ignored her) And she was fine after that.

 

She seems to reflect the other dogs behaviour sometimes. She only seems to have a go at nervous timid dogs or in ya face snappy dogs.

 

She is always muzzled by the way because I would hate it if she hurt another dog. The daft sod always seems to come off worse with blooming bite marks on her neck!!

[vwkittie]

How did you manage to find good socialisation opportunities like that? We don't see too many other dogs and when we do they're normally too nice to tell her off or the owner (understandably!) just wants to get away from us as fast as possible...