Comments on: To correct, or not to correct…thoughts on squelching aggression http://k9trainer.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/to-correct-or-not-to-correctthoughts-on-squelching-aggressionover/ Helping Dogs become better companions! Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:19:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: shasta08 http://k9trainer.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/to-correct-or-not-to-correctthoughts-on-squelching-aggressionover/#comment-13 shasta08 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:26:24 +0000 http://k9trainer.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-13 I have found a couple of good resources specifically for your breed which can be an excellent help. There is a group that deals specifically with pit bulls and understands their mentality and can help you get a handle on what is going on. Their website is http://www.badrap.org They have information regarding pit bulls and dog parks on their website, some of which can be read at: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/dogpark.cfm You can also try SF SPCA. One trainer told me that because they have so many pitties up there they probably have a program designed specifically for them, and they are well known for being on top of animal behavior. This is one of those resources I was mentioning (you do live in an area where there are many resources for you thankfully!). Hope this helps, let me know if I can help you more! I have found a couple of good resources specifically for your breed which can be an excellent help. There is a group that deals specifically with pit bulls and understands their mentality and can help you get a handle on what is going on. Their website is http://www.badrap.org They have information regarding pit bulls and dog parks on their website, some of which can be read at: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/dogpark.cfm

You can also try SF SPCA. One trainer told me that because they have so many pitties up there they probably have a program designed specifically for them, and they are well known for being on top of animal behavior. This is one of those resources I was mentioning (you do live in an area where there are many resources for you thankfully!).

Hope this helps, let me know if I can help you more!

]]> By: shasta08 http://k9trainer.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/to-correct-or-not-to-correctthoughts-on-squelching-aggressionover/#comment-12 shasta08 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:40:45 +0000 http://k9trainer.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-12 That can be a tough situation to deal with. Part of it could be her age. If she is "coming into her own" and maturing, that may be contributing to it. Where once she was a pup and wasn't as overly concerned about things like status or whatnot, she is perhaps growing up and becoming more concerned about it. At the same time, other things could be going on here. With her breed, while I am a big fan of pit bulls, and I love them dearly, they can be more reactive to other dogs. There is nothing wrong with that provided owners handle them correctly. They are not labs or goldens, they are their own special breed. Those who appreciate that, can appreciate that sometimes, they can just have issues with other dogs. As long as you are able to get her to behave at least civilly and under control around other dogs, you'll be fine. She may not be the type of dog though that throughout her life can deal with the loose rules of a dog park. Please realize that a dog park has its own needs and problems too. The problem I normally see at a dog park is that by and large, most people that go to one do not necessarily know how to read canine body language. Even if YOU did and were very much in control of your dog, someone else may NOT be. That puts you and your dog at quite a bit of risk. When dog parks were first becoming popular I used to take my old boy Maverick to them all the time. He was attacked on 2 separate occasions, and it took me at least 6 months to get him relaxed around other dogs again. These attacks were beyond my control. I have never taken one of my own dogs to a dog park again. (I personally run my own dog park/freeplay class where clients can bring their dogs to play off leash under the eyes of a couple of trainers and with very specific rules which helps quite a bit...though these aren't available everywhere). At this point the best thing is to try to understand her, and find a trainer that can help you get control quickly. And soon before it gets any worse. (I will contact you privately with some names as soon as I can). Keep me posted!!!! and I'll post more as I think of it! That can be a tough situation to deal with. Part of it could be her age. If she is “coming into her own” and maturing, that may be contributing to it. Where once she was a pup and wasn’t as overly concerned about things like status or whatnot, she is perhaps growing up and becoming more concerned about it. At the same time, other things could be going on here.

With her breed, while I am a big fan of pit bulls, and I love them dearly, they can be more reactive to other dogs. There is nothing wrong with that provided owners handle them correctly. They are not labs or goldens, they are their own special breed. Those who appreciate that, can appreciate that sometimes, they can just have issues with other dogs. As long as you are able to get her to behave at least civilly and under control around other dogs, you’ll be fine. She may not be the type of dog though that throughout her life can deal with the loose rules of a dog park.

Please realize that a dog park has its own needs and problems too. The problem I normally see at a dog park is that by and large, most people that go to one do not necessarily know how to read canine body language. Even if YOU did and were very much in control of your dog, someone else may NOT be. That puts you and your dog at quite a bit of risk. When dog parks were first becoming popular I used to take my old boy Maverick to them all the time. He was attacked on 2 separate occasions, and it took me at least 6 months to get him relaxed around other dogs again. These attacks were beyond my control. I have never taken one of my own dogs to a dog park again. (I personally run my own dog park/freeplay class where clients can bring their dogs to play off leash under the eyes of a couple of trainers and with very specific rules which helps quite a bit…though these aren’t available everywhere).
At this point the best thing is to try to understand her, and find a trainer that can help you get control quickly. And soon before it gets any worse. (I will contact you privately with some names as soon as I can). Keep me posted!!!! and I’ll post more as I think of it!

]]> By: Meghan http://k9trainer.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/to-correct-or-not-to-correctthoughts-on-squelching-aggressionover/#comment-11 Meghan Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:13:21 +0000 http://k9trainer.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-11 I just took my dog to the dog park after about 3 months of not taking her (she is a red nose pitbull that grew up going to the dog park). She had been showing signs of aggression towards other dogs while on the leash but normally had never had any problems at the dog park. Anyhow, I took her today and she immediately got into it with another dog. I corrected her by telling her "no" and then we left. I'm really upset. I feel horrible like I totally screwed up by missing those three months of taking her to the dog park and I don't know what to do. Her breed has so much energy and I have to be able to take her there, but not at the expense of other dogs. I don't know what to do and I am desperate. Is there anything (websites, trainers, etc) that you could suggest to me??? Thank you so much. Meghan I just took my dog to the dog park after about 3 months of not taking her (she is a red nose pitbull that grew up going to the dog park). She had been showing signs of aggression towards other dogs while on the leash but normally had never had any problems at the dog park. Anyhow, I took her today and she immediately got into it with another dog. I corrected her by telling her “no” and then we left. I’m really upset. I feel horrible like I totally screwed up by missing those three months of taking her to the dog park and I don’t know what to do. Her breed has so much energy and I have to be able to take her there, but not at the expense of other dogs. I don’t know what to do and I am desperate. Is there anything (websites, trainers, etc) that you could suggest to me??? Thank you so much.

Meghan

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