can fear aggressive dogs be rehabilitated?

Question

can fear aggressive dogs be rehabilitated?

Answer 1

You know what I always say, "genetics, first and foremost and you cannot change genetics!" First, I would like to say I am so very sorry you all had to go through this! Second, I hope the behaviorist at the college is not fully licensed yet, because she is an *** and I would seriously question her credentials! If put in a situation with an untrained, unsocial zed "fearful" dog that was attacking me, let alone already bite two family-like members, without hesitation I would put a bullet in the brain of such an animal and never look back at my decision! As for the Vet and all the employees so concerned for this dog, a refresher course in genetics is desperately needed not to mention they have never been put in such a horrific situation so how do they know how they would handle it. Props to you Glen for even trying to work with a genetically screwed up dog. I agree with you that the dog should have never left the school and been put down. In the end, everyone needs to remember Ashley is still very young, unfortunately, she has been taught by a halfwit behaviorist, and trained at work by a vet that guards textbook over hands on losing sight of each dog is different. There is no doubt in my mind had you thought multiple dogs was doing more damage than good you would have insisted the dog go back to the school or be re-homed because you obviously acknowledged and recognized the triggers that did exist for this dog. Don’t be too hard on Ashlee, remember her actions were based on what she was taught and how she was trained. In essence, it is their fault for not recognizing and evaluating the dog to be genetically unsound. And now because of their bunny hugging 3 people went through a traumatic experience. Remember when you (meaning the vet, the dig-bat behaviorist, and the motley crew at the clinic) point a finger at someone; you are pointing 3 more back at yourself. The mesh gloves should have been their first clue! Hello, Can I buy a vowel! In summary, yes Ashley did not handle it correctly, but only because she followed their method of teachings and training.

Answer 2

Fear aggression is a double edged sword.



1 - Some of them probably can

2 - Even though I'm very experienced in dealing with fearful dogs, I won't bother with most fear aggressive dogs because I know there is only a 50/50 chance they can be managed (actual rehabilitation is even less likely) and they more than likely are in their own version of a living hell. I also know there are literally thousands of dogs out there with no issues whatsoever that need someone to care for them as well. It's not about being cruel, it's about being realistic.



A fearful aggressive dog is not only miserable, he is also dangerous. Most of them, sadly, are better off euthanized.



Add: One important thing I left out. *I* MIGHT consider taking on a dog who I feel I can handle and manage/attempt to rehabilitate if I was planning to keep him. This is because I have been working with dogs with issues for over 10 years. This is also because I know that dog would be with me for the rest of his life - or he would be euthanized. I would never EVER recommend that someone else (especially someone who didn't have the experience) attempt to do it. It's a calculated risk, and you cannot take a calculated risk if you don't know what all the factors are.



I have recommended to friends on two occasions that they euthanize their dogs because their dog's problems were simply more than they could handle. One listened and nobody ever got seriously hurt. The other did not, the state made the decision for her after somebody got hurt.

Answer 3

Can Dog Aggression Be Fixed

Answer 4

I am an owner of a beautiful 11 month old cavashon who has terrible fear aggression. She is afraid of people, even if they have been over 30 times. I have to put a leash on her with any visitor as she will run after them and ? Bite them when they move. She has not bitten yet. I have had her since she was 13 weeks old. She is anxious all the time and is on Xanax now. I have had two trainers in my home, brought her to classes and she is in doggy daycare 2x weekly ( does well there ). My vet and breeder suggested we euthanize her. We are devasted. Have we other options?

Answer 5

My dog was fear aggressive and shy aggressive. He is still reserved but has dropped the aggression portion. The trick is to find the triggers; these are usually displayed in body language or you may know when we go to a distance less than 7 feet away or someone comes out from around a corner or door. then use distraction training such as at 8 feet away get very excited and have him do his favorite trick (moving trick such as touch or spin) while moving away from the trigger and remember high motivating treats be that praise or cookies. Once that is ok you will find the psychological response is the trigger point may be moved to 6.5 feet so you can either move closer to the trigger to start the (party-trick) while moving away or change it up by being at the same distance as step one and going towards the trigger(be sure to use different triggers because he will become used to them) gradually move the trigger closer but try to not push it this is a very slow process and we human with our highly developed brains process faster than dogs who have to work various angles. Go slow work various triggers and in every day events keep the trigger points at safe distance unless training. When you get good you can work nonmoving keep distance and duration easy and remember to bring the party of treats still. My dog will sit at the side of a trail and wait for a passerby to go by because he knows if he is good he gets a party. You have to really know your dog. Have them trust you won't put them in harms way and be in control of them, don't yell at them because you missed the trigger signal just get out of the zone and settle them down with some tricks and good treats. If you have a scent motivated use cheese or roast beef or lamb lung to distract. then refocus on what you want. Turn them so they aren't looking at the trigger, or get a few paces further away. Moving helps calm them when they get nervous. don't pick them up unless you fear for safety, many with small dogs think the big dog must be scary to them, which is true sometimes if the tail is tucked under the bum and the back is almost curled, the dog looks away or seems to cower with head down, or licking lips, yawning, lifting a front paw these are signs of nervousness but not the only ones, if you watch your dog you will see them. Then you have about a second before fight/flight kicks in and that is when you missed the trigger point. Watch closely and keep everyone safe. If your dog is aggressive walk at dinner time on a straight path (busy road unless fear of that) so you encounter few and can avoid any you need to. Few loose dogs are out them because people are concerned with traffic. You can also go to edges of trigger points like parking lots of starbucks (lots of doors openning) stand across the lot but view the door. also the lot at a karate school or gym (places where people are in a hurry they won't stop and try to pet your dog) be sure to be far enough away though and walk around to give the ease. You can also use a muzzle if you are ever unsure and this will help let people know they should keep away. Go slow and love the dog you have just commit to making them better

Answer 6

Every dog needs some type of training. The first class I ever took a dog to was https://tr.im/aIpsV



It's a very basic kind of class. They will help you with your dog, and show you how to work with your dog at home.



They'll also answer any questions you have about your dog's particular problems and how to handle them. The most important thing in dog training is to be consistent and work with your dog at home on the lessons. The PetSmart class teaches sit, down, come, and the very basics every dog needs to know. They will also help socialize your dog. You are unhappy with an untrained dog, and believe it or not, the dog is actually unhappy to. You need to take your dog now, as the older he gets, the harder it will be to correct your dog's bad habits. Plus the classes are fun for you and your dog. My dog went from that first PetSmart class on to advanced obedience classes. You might also contact your local humane society. The one in my area offers obedience classes with a very good trainer at a reduced price.

Answer 7

No a truly fear aggressive dog can't be fixed. It can be controlled to a certain extent but it is never going to be a safe dog.

Answer 8

Yes they can....it's not very hard. Some mild cases only need encouragement ie training to teach them people = Fun toys and treat machines. Some harsher cases can't be FIXED per say, but controlled, through strict obedience. If you have a dog who's fear aggressive, yet obeys your commands 100% of the time, he'll never get a chance to bite somebody. This isn't a cure, it's a cover up but you do what you can, with what you've got.



As I always say Genetics = What you're given to work with



Training = What you do with what you've got



I can have a weak temperamented slightly fearful dog who's a much better dog than your genetically perfect dog, if you don't invest the time to train the dog. You can not FIX genetic fear, you can TRAIN a genetically fearful dog that the things it fears aren't scary things through positive methods, and you can advert negative outcomes with corrections training. But no, it can not be fixed....but to me rehabbing isn't fixing, it's dealing. So yes, fearful dogs can be dealt with, they can be rehabbed, some can be "cured"...it depends on the trainer, the dog, the owner, and the amount of time you're willing to dedicate to it.



-Owner of two fearful rescues, and 1 that was a full blown fear aggressive, obnoxious ankle biter who gets on through daily life just fine now.





-edit- Okay I see some talk that a fearful dog my bite somebody out of some random trigger....this is ABSOLUTELY TRUE...but so can a VERY WELL TRAINED stable dog. I can tell you what my dogs will PROBABLY do, but no man on this planet can say a dog won't bite a guest or visitor because a dog's brain weighs 3 fricken ounces. Very funny in fact because...Michael Ellis spoke to that point just a few weeks ago...about not being about to say any dog won't bite.



Michael (rough quote): "I mean for protection dog trainers to advertise that their dogs are completely safe around strangers is BULL, and a lot of sport people will say "Ohhhh, sport trained dogs don't bite because we train them when not to bite!"...they're trying to protect their sport, understandable, but they're lying...period...the dogs may bite somebody indeed...but so may the average house pet...and I'll even go as far as to say the average house pet is MORE likely to have a misunderstanding and bite a guest or stranger...but to say that accidents don't happen when dealing with animals, trained or untrained, and of good and bad temperaments...is simply untrue."



I agree with that statement 100%...



When people ask me: "Does your dog bite" I simply say: He doesn't bite me. I never allow strangers besides the vet, to touch my dog. In the dog sporting game you have helpers who pet dogs during work...I don't agree nor disagree with that, and I DO believe the helper should and can correct/praise the dog, I simply ask him to leave the physical praise to ME.

Answer 9

Well I must say it is questions like this that makes me LOVE Greek God! Haha, sorry to all of you who disagree but I must side with him. I must say he is crude in his way of explaining but very correct!



A normal dog is for ALL dog owners but once a dog displays signs of aggression whether fear or dominance this is a dog meant for someone who understands dog behavior. I have worked with dominant aggressive dogs with good success and was able to place all but one in a well screened suitable home after a lot of time of reconditioning etc. But once we begin to talk about FEAR aggression it is a totally different story. Most fear aggressive dogs are either hardwired due to poor breeding and genetics OR from poor circumstances/socialization as a pup. Once this important socialization stage is missed horrendous things happen in the mind of the dog. These dogs in the wild would be killed my their pack members due to instability and making the pack weaker. A fear aggressive dog, in short, can NEVER be trusted! Dominance aggression is different in a sense. A dominant dog warns and gives cues...a fearful dog is fine one moment and snaps the next. Very hard to read even for the most experienced handler. People on a whole pussy foot around their dogs and treat them like pampered lil babies and it only becomes worse when the dog is fearful of a situation. I know people who have a fear aggressive dog and it is there choice to keep him He is in a very well contained yard and it kenneled should ANYONE come to their home. I am sorry but in my mind this dog is NOT happy. He is a very disturbed animal and no amount of anything will help him...he is a ticking time bomb. I must say his owners are responsible in the fact they do what is necessary to keep others safe but in the end they still have an unstable dog that is not happy...he has been to several behaviorist and has made baby steps but he is far from normal and I doubt in the best hands he ever can be.



Maybe not an answer but more of a comment so sorry but I had to back Greek God on this one! There are too many good dogs to waste time on one that will never be a normal happy companion. We as humans think we can "save" everything...not always the case.



ADD...There are people in the world who are not perceived as normal... they reside in nut houses because they are a danger to society...why do people think animals should be kept as such when these peoples families and society has given up on them for the better good of civilization? No one trys to "rehabilitate" and place in society these extreme cases...dogs should be NO different!



ADD There is a definite difference between a slighty fearful weak temperamented dog and a severe case of fear aggression...I took this question to address the severe case.

Answer 10

No for the simple reason that a dog’s basic temperament is set by its genetics & if its unsound in the head, there is nothing you can do to change what nature has given the dog, only work to control the dog’s behavior.



Rehabilitation presupposes that the dog was born sound in the head & can be restored to good mental health, which not the case if a dog genetically predisposed to fearful behavior.



While not all fear aggressive dogs can or should be saved because some are so mentally screwed, that euthanasia is the *only* safe option, having trained a dog with a tendency to be fearful of other dogs, I know in the hands of a capable handler, it's possible to control a weak nerved dog's behavior & manage its environment.



In my opinion a blanket euthanasia policy for EVERY dog with a genetically unsound temperament should NOT be the preferred or only option in ALL cases.



Edit: I am completely at variance with the opinion that it's irresponsible not to euthanize every fear aggressive dog & only a fantasist would imagine that an owner could control their dog's behavior.



Yes, fearful dogs are unpredictable & you cannot be sure what will trigger a fearful response, but I knew my dog inside outside, could read him like a book & stepped in to correct his behavior at the first sign of a problem.



I owned a fear aggressive dog for almost 8 years & NEVER had cause to regret my decision not to euthanize him because he was rock solid with humans, lived life to the full & I knew that I was capable of controlling his behavior around other dogs.

Answer 11

You can manage it - as in you can learn how to live with a dog with a specific sort of aggression.

Can it be fixed? Probably not.

Answer 12

No they not despite what all the happy, smiley bunny huggers try to say. A fear aggressive dog has crap genetics and as such need to be euthanized. Period.

Answer 13

Apparently some of the more famous and accredited trainers believe they can....



http://www.amazon.com/How-Right-Gone-Wrong-Rehabilitating/dp/1577790758

http://www.amazon.com/Click-Calm-Healing-Aggressive-Clicker/dp/1890948209/ref=pd_sim_b_1

http://www.amazon.com/Cautious-Canine-Patricia-McConnell-Ph-D/dp/1891767003/ref=pd_cp_b_3

http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Light-Shadow-Trainers-Diary/dp/1929242174/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_4



Obviously a dog who cannot be fixed needs to be euthanized.





ETA: Gee, I wonder where those TD came from? Grow up. You are not right about everything, and when you have your own training books out and are famous, maybe you will be more convincing.

Answer 14

I'm too scared to answer. However...I'll agree to disagree with those I don't agree with.

Answer 15

Yes.



Positive reinforcement works well for pretty much any dog. I'd recommend looking it up and reading about it for other strategies to rehabilitate it.



When using positive reinforcement, find what triggers your dog. If it is human, have someone who fits in the dog's fear category help you. You hold your dog on the leash, and have plenty of treats. When your assistant walks in (remember, no eye contact), feed him treats. If this is successful, praise him and have the person leave. Have the person come in again, while you feed him, and have the person come closer. Repeat this step multiple times, until the person is extremely close (Don't be afraid to take a step back). At this point, have the person toss him a large piece of steak, but small enough for him to eat quickly. But remember, absolutely no eye contact. Have the person leave, and when they come back in, have them feed the dog some treats from their hand. Have them leave, and come back. Make sure they have treats with them this time, and also remember that this stage may also be your dog's breaking point, and a groomer's muzzle is optional. Have your assistant walk up to your dog (still no eye contact) and feed the dog while they pet him on the sides. When your assistant is done, praise your dog BIG TIME. You can repeat this stage until he is extremely trusting of your assistant. Also make sure that when you go for a walk, and someone wants to pet your dog, tell them

A- Do not pet them on the head (this causes discomfort in many dogs)

B- Do not make direct eye contact



Good luck, and I hope this helps!



My own dog had fear aggression, and this strategy helped him get over it. He has absolutely no fear of humans anymore, thanks to this, although I wouldn't bring him to a huge environment full of male teenagers, which is what he is afraid of.



@ Greekman- You are right, some fear aggression is genetic, but I really hope no one was dumb enough to get a puppy from a fear aggressive dog. But also, the strategy above was used for a dog (my dog) who had it from a bad experience with teenagers.

Answer 16

NO, THEY CANNOT and please do not listen to the dreamers that answered you. Temperament is genetic...fear aggression is part of a faulty temperament and since you cannot do anything about the temperament of a dog as far as changing it, you cannot cure fear aggression.

ALL fear aggressive dogs need to be killed, despite what their owners have to say about management and containment or that fear not being directed at a human. Hope I helped.



ADD: And the fantasies continue....there is NO telling what will set off a fear aggressive dog...there is not telling if it will be a human, an animal, a bag flying in the wind or a sound of a car going by.

To think that ANY dog can be managed or "cured" is a fallacy and wishful thinking unless that management and containment is such that the dog is NEVER exposed to the world and simply lives life in his head only!

Anything other then that is irresponsible and people do not want or refuse to understand that fear is a part of an unstable mind, a fault in the wiring and to claim that only ONE factor can trigger that fear is the worse possible thing to believe in.



ADD: Please keep the TD coming...I LOVE it when I get them as I realize that the more they come, the more the truth is harder to realize for most people who live in Disney world!

Answer 17

Hi, I desire to sign up for this question to get newest replies, so where can i do this please help.

Answer 18

Yes they can but it takes a lot of time and effort but it is well worth it. Consult a Specialist

Answer 19

Yes they can. I would recommend you see an animal behaviorist. They can help instruct you on how to help your dog.

Answer 20

Without a doubt. But you should be very careful and get expert advice. Ceaser Milan (or the dog whisperer) is the best and has a program on t.v which has been helpful to me in the past.



It's a starting point. Even if it just gives you some ideas of how to progress with the dog. It's all about leadership, trust and reassurance.



Best of luck

Answer 21

Yes it can

Answer 22

yes... i have one thats in training :)