My dog attacked my sisters dog, what now?

T

TrinityDobes

Novitiate
This was posted in another thread and I tried to move it to its own - so She can get some thoughts and help - but when moving I got an error - so I am cutting and pasting it here

Original post by Halesgirl

Hi All! GREAT advice on this thread and I have been waiting to try and get some answers to a similar event with my boy Max. Gail, I really hope you have some insight being such a great trainer AND owning Max's sister. Since the following story we are spending a small fortune in kennel fees since I can't bring him home with me anymore and I have had to be here in Salisbury this last for the unexpected passing of my father. Please read on and EVERYONE with advice please help me!

My boy, Maximus, just turned 2 years old. He is a real sweetie and lives to please us. He has been through basic and intermediate obdience and passed with flying colors. He is incredibly smart! From the time he had all his shots he has been going to Doggie Daycare twice a week for socialization and working out all that puppy energy. He LOVES it and even though he is a handful sometimes, everyone adores him. Recently, though, we were out of town at my sisters home - where we have been taking him from the beginning - when we had an incident I am really worried about. I was holding his chew toy for him so he could chew it standing in front of me (I know, I know - he's spoiled) which he loves. My sisters female pug jumped into my lap and it WAS ON!! They have never had a problem, ever, but he suddenly showed a viciousness I have never seen. I was trying to protect her and he just just kept coming at her over and over. And of course she doesn't know she's little and she was trying to fight him! I threw her behind me and my sister and I dragged Max away. It was horrifying!! He has always been a high-energy, playful boy and has never shown an aggressive side. He has always loved other dogs. Now he is not welcome at my sister's home (and I don't blame her) and as much as I love him, I don't know if I can ever completely trust him again. I look forward to any advice or insight any of you may have for me. My first Dobie was such a sweet, gentle boy we never encountered anything like this with him, so I guesss I was totally unprepared.​
 
There are several things going on here, the main one being resource guarding you and the chew toy - but too late tonight to address it well - I will try and post some ideas tomorrow - I wish you could talk your sister into having max come home - keeping him crated when you have to and just make sure the pug and he are not out at the same time until you can address it - dobes do not do well in kennel situations - and the separation, will add to his anxiety and can feed and contribute to other bad behaviors - I am sick that you have had to make the decision to kennel him - you can't fix and address this if he is not with you, If he can't come to your sisters, can he go home to your husband?

hopefully some of the others will come on and address with their thoughts too​
 
oh dear. This may be out of line but to me this would have always been a potential threat. 1) you are holding his chew 2) she wants to be on your lap. 3) its not in his own surroundings.

To me if you are in a house that you do not always stay in with your dog it should be beside you at all times. If it had to have a chew or toy it should be crated. This is how i have always worked things.

the dogs can be free to do as the please in the yard etc but not in the house.

i see this as Max guarding both you and his chew , you panicked as we all would and Max seen this pug as more of a threat.

i dont think kenneling him is doing any good. This needs to be addressed like yesterday, not tomorrow or next week.The dog is going to come out of this worse off than before.

im sorry if this sounds harsh but this is my honest opinion. He is a dobe and a guarding breed
 
lynz said:
oh dear. This may be out of line but to me this would have always been a potential threat. 1) you are holding his chew 2) she wants to be on your lap. 3) its not in his own surroundings.

To me if you are in a house that you do not always stay in with your dog it should be beside you at all times. If it had to have a chew or toy it should be crated. This is how i have always worked things.

the dogs can be free to do as the please in the yard etc but not in the house.

i see this as Max guarding both you and his chew , you panicked as we all would and Max seen this pug as more of a threat.

i dont think kenneling him is doing any good. This needs to be addressed like yesterday, not tomorrow or next week.The dog is going to come out of this worse off than before.

im sorry if this sounds harsh but this is my honest opinion. He is a dobe and a guarding breed
Click to expand...

Before I could reply Lynz had posted pretty well everything I was going to say :) Can't stress enough the importance of getting him out of the kennel before any more damage is done!!!!
 
I agree with getting him out of the kennel situation as nothing good can come from him being kenneled long term. Kenneling him is akin to burying your head in the sand and is not teaching him what is or is not appropriate behaviour in any given situation.

was holding his chew toy for him so he could chew it standing in front of me (I know, I know - he's spoiled) which he loves. My sisters female pug jumped into my lap and it WAS ON!!
Click to expand...

By holding his toy so he can chew it, YOU became his possession, not his owner. I agree that he was resource guarding but not necessarily the toy, I think it was more you. NO more holding his toys so he can chew them.

Since the other dog is your sisters', I suggest meeting someplace completely nuetral for both dogs. Pick a local park etc that you two can meet at. Before going though, your sister MUST be prepared to correct her dog as soon as he starts with any inappropriate behaviour, as well as you. Start walking at the park together with a comfortable disctance between you. The dogs will be on the outside while you and your sister walk side by side. Take your cues from the dogs, if they are behaving politely, as they normally would, you can walk closer together but head towards your sisters house. You both need to remember to keep relaxed and calm the entire time. Walk into the house, sister first, but keep them both on the leash.

I do think to re-establish the rules to both dogs is all that is needed here. HOnestly, I think it is simply because you hold his toys so he can chew them and he no longer sees you as his boss when you do this. You need to reassert yourself with him and the above scenerio should help. If neither you nor your sister is comfortable doing this alone, hire a professional trainer or behaviorist to help you...but do it ASAP. The longer he is kenneled, the bigger the job you are going to have.
 
I totally agree with all of the above posters. :) That was an "accident" waiting to happen with all of those factors in place. I NEVER give food or long time chewies (hooves, bully sticks etc.) to any of my crew unless they are all TOTALLY seperated (baby gates, crates etc.) Your boy is not a bad dog and I hate to say this but you set him up for failure. :( Please get him out of that kennel before more damage can be done.
 
I agree with the posts above - there are many good, valid points for you to consider - and without the chewy as a bone of contention max and the pug will probably get along fine - dogs live in the moment and once its done its ususally done. My guys will occaisionally get in each others face of some perceived slight or bump and it sounds awful -I raise my voice and .... like the devil him self is in the room give the command to LEAVE IT - silence and slinking away is usually the result *haha*

also with this very emotional stressful time of loosing your father, the dogs do pick up on that. I think that Max has paid a much higher price for his transgression than was deserved and he is probably very worried and confused as to why he has been left in a kennel instead of being with you .

Max just turned 2 and a lot of what I wrote in the other thread applies here too - but most importantly - this situation cannot be fixed with him in exile. He can't learn the new rules and the proper response you need from him - if he is not with you. please feel free to call my if you would like to discuss more how to proceed - but everyone has given very good advice, I hope you take it to heart and do not give up on Max, he is not a bad dog at all - he was just being a dog.
 
Mine get in each other faces at times also and it looks like they are ready to tear each others heads off, It looks very frightening because they growl and snap, but they never make any physical contact with each other, seconds later they are all best friends again, I'm not sure if the OP said there was actual contact, but it sounds to me like her dog was just telling the other dog to get away.
 
Thank you all for your advice and I am certainly not offended by being reminded I set Max up for failure. He is always such a good boy that I take it for granted and I missed the warning signs. I do NOT blame Max and I would never give up on him. I do feel terrible that he has been at the kennel instead of here with me - the only saving grace to that is that the kennel is the same place he goes to daycare, so he loves it there and he loves the people who take care of him. But I do not delude myself that it is anywhere near the same as being with me. My husband returned home today and is going to get Max and take him home with him. I am also going to have a discussion with my sister - maybe have her read this thread - and start working on a new relationship between our dogs so poor Max doesn't continue to be punished for just being who he is. I value the information you have all provided and if I need more "hands on" help Gail I will definitely give you a call. I worked hard to find Max and I know it is up to me to work as hard at giving him all he needs. He didn't make the mistake, I did. :(
 
I love you Carol and thank you for posting back about the kennel being one he is familiar with so it is someplace he is used to going - that was really breaking my heart.

We will be here if you need any help or have any other questions - theres years of experience with handling lots and lots of dogs and almoste every type of situation, here on the forum - and surely one of us can come up with something to help you and Max move past this incident and everything return to normal good times.!!
 
We are all here to help as we all love each and every Dobe out there. Don't ever hesitate to ask any question here...helping is what we want to be able to do for you. :)

I am sure you will do well and with Gail, you are in good hands. Sometimes though, dozens of heads are better than one or two. :P
 
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