A serious problem with Jake

[Veganstein]

It's been a while since I updated Jake's progress. He has lost 31 pounds, and seems to be staying right at 185#, looks nice and lean and muscley. He is able to hike 90 minutes a day and still want to play when we get home.

Feet are straightened out, leg is healed. He will never have a normal gait, but I do not think he is in pain.

Massive progress in being comfortable around people. He will sashay right up to strangers in Lowe's and ask to be petted, (my husband says he is the mayor of Lowe's).

Now the bad news. He is aggressive, not reactive to other dogs, especially males. He doesn't just put his hackles up and growl. He charges in biting and snarling, and I think he would kill another male if he could get to him. So far, no dogs have been hurt, but it has been close.

I think I have 2 options.

1) Train him to a muzzle for safety, then gradually try to socialize him, starting with gentle female dogs and progressing toward males as he is able.

2) Since we live in a very isolated area and he never out of the yard without one of us, just make peace with the fact that he is one of those dogs that cannot be allowed around strange dogs.

To clarify, he is excellent with our Lab and the cats. We have had a few incidents over high value treats, which were promptly handled with no injuries, and we are much more vigilant now. He is very submissive to us, and a generally polite, sweet dog. He just wants to kill strange dogs.

I am looking for DOLers opinions, please!

[Lizzie]

My only experience with DA was with my dane, Louis. It escalated to the point of danger, he tried to kill every male dog he saw including my setter, Jack. I made the hardest decision of my life and had him PTS. To this day it haunts me, but I know it was the responsible thing to do. It was only a matter of time.
Sounds like you have a living situation that allows you to keep Jake and other dogs safe. You are WISE to realize what you have with his aggression, like Louis, NO signs. Just in for the kill. If you feel you can safely contain him, and that he will NEVER go after your lab, I would just accept him for what he is and love him just like that! I so wish I had that option with Louis. I learned a lot from him. I loved him dearly but knew no matter how much diligent training we did I COULD NOT change his temperament.
Good luck, and I wish a long, happy, PEACEFUL life for Jake!

[andipanda 1]

I think I am with Lizzie on this one. If you have the ability to keep him safe (from himself!) and make sure that he isn't going to hurt another dog, then he can live out his years at home with you. It isn't the BEST solution, but it may be the only practical one. This is a really tough one....

Andi

[szczur]

If you have the time and money I'd work with him on it. There may or may not be a time (emergency vet, someone pops out of a car with a dog, or you weren't paying attention and someone got too close) where you would have to immediately manage his behavior. I'd at least work with him so he can remain calm unless a male dog is sniffing his butt. Muzzles help but if your dog is going nutso he can still do damage with legs and body slamming, or get bitten himself confirming his snarly response.

[Veganstein]

I think we will definitely get a muzzle. I would add, our Lab is a female, which is probably why they get along.

I know a dog trainer that helped me with my anxious girl Gracie, I think I will ask her to evaluate him. I am puzzled at his response, because he is not dominant with people, but only other dogs.

Even in the midst of his frenzy to get at the other dog he does not redirect towards us. Before we got him he lived for 4 years in a a small yard in a trailer court and did not go in the house. I wonder if he spent that whole 4 years fence-fighting with other dogs?

If we cannot socialize him that would be a little sad, but we will certainly not rehome him. He is safe now, and happy, I think. If he absolutely cannot be trusted around other dogs, well, we can accommodate that.

I really appreciate your feedback, guys. It helps me plan for his future.

[angeldane]

Since he is a very large dog, and some dogs are naturally intolerant of the same sex, I would let him be.
To me the potential of a regression in training could mean the death of another dog, when he is probably happier and more stress free just being with his main family.
I would want to work on his focus, even if he hates other dogs he should be willing to not pull and lunge.

[HarlequinHorror]

Our first Dane was dog aggressive. We worked with her to the point where she could walk by another dog with no reaction, but if the dog initiated any kind of contact or anything like that she would start up. I think it's a good idea to try and work on him to be able to ignore other dogs, not necessarily to get along with them. Some dogs just don't like other dogs, but it's worth a try to get them to ignore other dogs for their safety and the other dogs. And it makes it a lot easier on you on walks, the vet etc. A muzzle is a good idea to get him used to as there will be situations where you'll need it.


Like Jake, Mia, our dane, was fine with the other dogs in the house. It was only strange dogs. I would say she was more than reactive but not quite at the point where she wanted to kill another dog right there and then.

[ouesi]

I would talk to your trainer.
It could be that he will never tolerate other males, and that’s fine, but you can still train him so that he understands better what behavior is allowed and what isn’t.

It may be that he never gets to the point where he is safe in lunging distance of another dog, or it may be that he learns to be more tolerant. You’ll never know unless you try, but I wouldn’t try unless under the guidance of someone who knows what they’re doing.

And definitely yes to a muzzle. It will give you peace of mind and it gives other owners (most of the time) a clue to give you distance.

[DPU]

I had success with a foster by getting the dog diagnosed by a Applied Animal Behaviorist who also developed a rehab plan for me. I then worked with a certified trainer and we did two basic exercises, BAT and Whats That! (a watch me exercise).

What I learned most from this rehab experience is you can't give up, take an easy way out, or diminish the exercises overtime. The dog will get it. This foster came to me young and was not dog aggressive when she came into my home. It was something that I did, allowed, or did not respond properly that caused this dog to be aggressive. Since I felt responsible, I spent the resources to rehab the dog and along the way I learned so much myself and that in turn will help other fosters.