Excited: Thor's Aggression(s)
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:18 pm
Had a breakthrough of sorts.
* The extent of my knowledge of his animal aggression with previous owner was: choke-chain and yanked in another direction, where Thor twisted every which way but the "other" direction, howling like a banshee and re-directing aggression to handler. (He was surrendered after someone brought a small dog over wherein Thor was crated and the visiting dog was permitted to approach/circle the crate--Thor reached his threshold and popped the crate door.)
* A number of months ago, I wondered if Thor's drive was further pushed by the prong as this is the only time he ever re-directed with me. Found out he handles differently on flat collar. Still had, however, a low threshold, but the difference in his handling was noticeable in a few different ways. (Worked with him with a weasel ball far, far away.)
* Took him to the vet about a month ago--on flat collar with leather muzzle. Vet said he was leash aggressive. (What? Okay....)
* Can't test her comment on live subjects, so I bought another--different--type of specimen with which to work with him. It walks, makes an animal sound and shakes its head fast back and forth, also up and down. Worked with him off-lead, but not at the great distance as with the other "decoy." Different dog. He still wanted it--but he was much, much calmer, and therefore, more intent on keeping his focus on me and following through with commands. Also, his threshold was a lot higher. Not kidding...he didn't just handle differently...I have to say, he was dog I'd never met before. (I'd assume that all of the other work we've been doing helped contribute to his focus/obedience, but even so, the difference between choke chain/prong/flat collar and no lead stunned me.)
Now I have to think of a way to use this knowledge....
* The extent of my knowledge of his animal aggression with previous owner was: choke-chain and yanked in another direction, where Thor twisted every which way but the "other" direction, howling like a banshee and re-directing aggression to handler. (He was surrendered after someone brought a small dog over wherein Thor was crated and the visiting dog was permitted to approach/circle the crate--Thor reached his threshold and popped the crate door.)
* A number of months ago, I wondered if Thor's drive was further pushed by the prong as this is the only time he ever re-directed with me. Found out he handles differently on flat collar. Still had, however, a low threshold, but the difference in his handling was noticeable in a few different ways. (Worked with him with a weasel ball far, far away.)
* Took him to the vet about a month ago--on flat collar with leather muzzle. Vet said he was leash aggressive. (What? Okay....)
* Can't test her comment on live subjects, so I bought another--different--type of specimen with which to work with him. It walks, makes an animal sound and shakes its head fast back and forth, also up and down. Worked with him off-lead, but not at the great distance as with the other "decoy." Different dog. He still wanted it--but he was much, much calmer, and therefore, more intent on keeping his focus on me and following through with commands. Also, his threshold was a lot higher. Not kidding...he didn't just handle differently...I have to say, he was dog I'd never met before. (I'd assume that all of the other work we've been doing helped contribute to his focus/obedience, but even so, the difference between choke chain/prong/flat collar and no lead stunned me.)
Now I have to think of a way to use this knowledge....
