In
reading your descriptions I am most struck by the fact that Fido's
behaviors are not at all unpredictable, in fact from all we know
about animal behavior, they are quite predictable and
expected reactions to stressors.
His stress reactions are
controlled in fact and intended to stop the stressor not aggressively
reactive: i.e. your son clattering down the stairs ( loud unexpected
noise coming from an unknown place; putting on a coat and hat, are
novel stressors to most dogs handled through de-sensitization by
associating them in training with cookies)
The
global term aggression doesn't fit Fido at all to describe his
relationships with other dogs or people. He is dog reactive under
specific circumstances and leash reactive . The responses are
pnly in specific situations. What is needed is change in
people's management of that behavior in those situations then
the dog will respond to the new rules. In the times you tried it it
worked ( novel house visitors)
History
Historically
( and this is based upon my experience as a psychologist working with
children using behavior modification) it is an enormous mistake
to (a) take an uncertain anxious dog to dog park where all sorts
of dogs with different levels of socialization and behavior skills
are running around in unstructured unruly packs;
(b)
continue going to the park to make it "better",
an activity that absolutely guarantees that that will make it
worse. What one does is de-sensitization in a calm setting with one
dog. Desensitization means a dog is rewarded for staying calm as
a new dog approaches closer and closer in a structured way and
each time one stops as the comfort point is reached. There are some
great "how to" books on that ( Patricia McConnell: Feisty
Fido)
as well as trainers who directly help.,
Behaviors
Being
protective of dogs that come in range of you on walks
is behavior often triggered by one's ownr behavior for
example a tight leash and the walker tensing then
interpreted by a dog as your anxiety
and the need to protect you. He is just doing his job.
One
behaviorist with her own Golden (who now gets along with all
dogs because she learned the triggers) taught her dog to relax
when the leash was tense.. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004J27O3G?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B004J27O3G&linkCode=xm2&tag=happytailsres-20 Click to Calm by Emma Parsons
is a step by step guide to managing dogs that are leash reactive etc
until they are not. It
is literally a recipe book that Emma designed when she needed new
management tools for her dog now CDC champion.
He
is uncertain around other dogs. De-sensitization helps with that but
not repeated introductions without de-sensitization to stressors at
the kennel or anywhere else. That has a predictable
negative effect and reaction. If I am afraid of
snakes repeatedly introducing me to snakes isn;t going to change
that. It will make it worse,and predictably so
When you
got Princess how did you introduce them?
When
you say they embolden each other, pairs of dogs very often work as
a team. Ours do. Everyone 's does. Dogs work as pack members. If you
watch, they all run together to bark at a stranger at a gate.
Dogs just do that. It is part of pack mentality..
People:
His
reactions are also predictable.When he associates them with good
things he is social, appropriate and receptive. But he will bark at
uncertain or novel stressors. Many dogs do bark at
stressors such as novel or strange sounds, someone suddenly
coming behind him clattering down stairs; novel things not
encountered before, that can't be predicted or seem strange ( hats:
common).
A stranger staring at a dog and reaching out his hand
to him is a threatening behavior. It is widely described in
dog behavior training books as perceived as a threat by most
dogs. That is an inappropriate introduction not an
inappropriate dog.
With
appropriate introductions and training he behaves
very appropriately with people in fact is far ahead
in his skills than most. That speaks to his trainability and
intelligence.
Because
many dogs are startled by someone coming up unexpectedly from behind
or on the side. I have had to train myself to remain "on alert"
on walks because people are "unpredictable" and to deal
with their unpredictability I move away when I see them
coming because I have dogs like that too. But it isn't unusual
behavior and is manageable.
Dogs,
especially herding dogs, chase bicyclists because they are
herding and chase is triggered by the bicycle. In his case the
nip was corrective and minor. It was controlled.
Summary
: Neither
of these two incidents are inherent to Fido or Fido's fault, are
understandable and are easily resolved and corrected. The
tragedy if there is one is that Fido is the focus and victim of
Animal Control's punitive polices towards animals and owners.and that
pressure on the family and everyone including the neighborhood have
negatively affected everyone and made him the scapegoat and
focus of concern when he isn't really the problem; just caught in a
bad situation. .
Because
of that context, his progress which is especially remarkable and a
testimony to a smart loving loyal dog has been made the
background when it is the foreground and the two incidents
described are in fact minor parts of this picture and not
descriptive of his abilities at all. I also know by your
description that he is very bonded with Princess and they each depend
upon one another. She will miss him and have her own reaction when
he is gone.
Goals:
I
would have Fido in very part time day training ( half a
day ; a couple of hours) a few days a week while seeking a home
for him, perhaps drop off for a few hours a day for
example to improve dog walking skills and a better analysis of
inter- dog discomfort.with a plan.
That
improves placement success. Barking at novel stressors is
normal behavior in dogs, His fear response is controlled. I am
guessing that something is being communicated during leash
walking that he is picking up on because he is intelligent and quick
to pick up on non-verbal cues. That is about mis-communication
and can be resolved.
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