Re: [pyrnet] Behavior Problem Pyr

["Tracy" <espinay@bigpond.com>]

 <<Part of the problem (in hindsight) was that we would tie her up outside
in the backyard with a 50ft lead b/c she loved to lay in the grass, etc. and
we dont have a fence.>>

Being tethered can sometimes increase aggression particularly if she was
being teased/taunted as you say.  Any way you can get a fence and/or
construct some kind of visual barrier for her?  Or build her a run to use
instead of the tie out?

<< She has been through extensive training and the thing is, when she is out
at the trainers she is very mild and obiendant with them and when she comes
home, she is right back to her old ways. >>

When she went through the 'training' were you the one doing the training
with her or was she sent away to work with someone else?  Yes, the trainers
may be able to do all sorts of things with her, but  training is more than
just teaching the dog to do things (or to do things with the trainer) it is
about her relationship with you and helping YOU to manage her in the home
environment where the problems are occuring.  Unless you are the one doing
the training/managing, IMO you are not going to achieve much.  The types of
porblems you have having also IMO need to be addressed directly and this can
mean a bit of a different approach - more behavioural than 'training'.  My
suggestion would be to get a trainer/behaviourist to work with you in the
home environment and directly address the issues you are having.

<< I dont know the best way to correct her when she starts to snarl and
bark.  If I correct her with her choke chain she seems to get angier.>>

This is actually a reasonably common response.  Pulling back on the lead,
leaning forward, and speaking/yelling an a 'growly' voice can be interpreted
by the dog as you giving 'back up ' in the situation against another
dog/person and can therefore escalate the reaction.

<< I try to talk to her in soothing tones, but nothing seems to really work.
>>

I would also suggest soothing tones are not the answer - you can be passing
on your concern/worry which is being interpreted by the dog as meaning that
there really IS something for her to be barking at.  Your 'worry' reinforces
her decision that this person/dog is a problem.

What may perhaps help IMO is 'distraction'.  Keeping the lead loose, move
backwards, calling her towards you (in a happy voice)  in the opposite
direction to the 'problem'.  Praise, reward and keep her focussed on you.
You may want to consider using a Gentle Leader/Halti or similar which will
give you better control of hear head and the direction she is facing.  You
will need to start teaching it/getting it working BEFORE she is in a
situation that causes her to bark/growl.  Once you have it working when on
your own, you can slowly introduce her to situations in a controlled
environment  ie 'setting her up' to encounter a person/dog at first at a
distance and later once she is responding to you when they are a fair
distance off, with them closer.

<<2. Im newly pregnant and terrified about the dogs reaction to a baby and
whether we will be able to keep her.>>

As stated above, I strongly suggest finding a trainer/behaviourist to work
with you in the home environment.  They would be better able to assess your
situation.  In the meantime, baby gates are a wonderful invention.  My rule
is always "if you cant supervise, then separate".

<<the vet thinks she has mange. >>

What has worked for me for helping to treat a rescue with bad mange is
frequent rinses right to the skin with vinegar and a good natural diet with
supplementary omega 3's (eg fish oil).

 HTH a little

Tracy Bassett
Murrumbateman, Australia
espinay@bigpond.com