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Question:

Okay, this is a follow-up from earlier posts regarding my ~2.5 year old, neutered, GSD/Greyhound (that’s a complete guess)male dog.   (there really are some questions at the end of this long post!–sorry!) Chronological Background: *from shelter to our home at ~5 mos. *very submissive to me, my 9 year old, our "alpha female" of 12.5 years *neutered as soon as we got him *obedience trained using positive reinforcement *had severe hip dysplasia and had a TPO on both hips when 9 mos. (Xrays a year later confirm excellent hip placement) *tried to handle barking:  at everything!  strangers, squirrels, inside the house with us, outside with us, etc. using spray bottle, redirection, can w/pennies, bark collar,lemon juice,  etc. Aboandoned all of the above for relocation in the house where he cannot bark at things in his line of sight while I’m gone. *he lunged at a man who walked too near the older dog, he was on a tie out with me(I was sitting right next to him-he’s not tied out EVER by himself). Well, his collar snapped, and he jumped up *at* the man, but seemed not to know what to do. The man and I said "hi", and the other dog did not react in a threatened manner.  Luckily, the man reacted quickly–he punched Bel right in the face, and Bel shook his head and came back to me. *have continued obedience training, and he’s a champ in the controlled environment of the training center, and also when walking outside of our block. Presently:  while keeping him in obedience has helped, he still has territorial issues, primarily just the yard and house.  We joined a neighborhood patrol and I carry treats with me.  When we greet strangers on patrol, he will pliantly sit and accept petting and treats from strangers.  Our biggest issue remains generally ANYONE coming inside our home, primarily children.  He WILL NOT calm down easily, and the rule of the house (for other kids safety) is NO admittance until he is securely crated in the rear of the house.  Even kids coming over to play that stay in my daughter’s room–upon coming out of the room he’ll begin barking all over again.   We’ve worked with a behaviorist in addition to training, who has said that territorial aggression is very hard to completely resolve. She has seen great improvement, and thinks that over time he will improve. I sort of feel that we’ve hit a plateau, and this might be as good as it gets.  As a mom, having other kids feel safe in my home is extremely important, yet we love him, and feel that we could never re-home him–as not everyone is as vigilant as we are, and I could’nt live with myself if he actually bit anyone’s child. As a "last resort", our vet prescribed amylltryptiline(no idea on spelling) which is similar to a seratonin-stabilizer my own father takes due to his stroke.  We began with the smallest dose possible, 10 mgs per day(he weighs ~70 #).  After a month, we’ve doubled it.  While it seems to have generally calmed him down so that he will now choose not to bark instantly anymore, the kid issue is our final stomping ground.  He will now often just whine and pace when he’s distressed, instead of full-fledged barking fits.  Something about kids still sets him off.  Boys more than girls, generally.  These kids are all normal–not terrors–and are usually school-aged(no toddlers).   Finally, the QUESTIONS: *anyone w/any experience with amyltryptiline usage–did you eventually wean off of it, or is this forever?  Any long-term negative side effects?   (it doesn’t stone him out like I’ve seen Prozac do in people, just calms him). *any suggestions for this final problem–how can I regain my trust of him? I don’t know if he’ll really bite someone, or if he’s just scared/lacking confidence around kids. *on muzzles:  what’s the best way to use a muzzle?  I’m considering muzzling him, then doing a desensitization with dog-aware kids in our home.  Is the muzzle going to make his insecurity worse?  The behaviorist doesn’t think it’s necessary–just a house line is needed–but I DO NOT want to toy with endangering a child.  While I try with body posture when around kids, it’s hard because I am very leery of trusting him, and tend to catch myself stiffening a bit.   of course, my sisters and mother think I’m insane–theyd’ve put him to sleep long ago, but I really enjoy his otherwise gentle nature, he’s NEVER EVER challenged me, my daughter, or our other dog.   HELP!  While he’s improved a TON since a year ago (when all this aggression began–no triggers that I am aware of), I really need to feel more confident so we can have a regular home and not a kennel for wayward dogs! Thanks in advance!  Sorry for the long post–but trying to cover every little detail to give you an accurate picture. Diane    

Response:

>HELP!  While he’s improved a TON since a year ago (when all this >aggression began–no triggers that I am aware of), I really need to feel >more confident so we can have a regular home and not a kennel for wayward >dogs!

It really sounds like  you have done ALOT with this dog, and he has come a long way.  Good for you As for muzzling… if you are going to keep this dog, and you are truly worried about the safety of children in your home, by all means, either continue to crate him, or muzzle him.  Dogs will be dogs, and even with all the behavior therapy and medication  in the world, sometimes you just can’t "cure" your dog.  You may have come as far as you are going to go with this dog, so you must be prepared and willing to take every safety precaution.  To worry about him becoming even more insecure because of a muzzle is a moot point. You may never be able to get your dog used to children, much less enjoy their company.   The safety of people comes first, and to have a dog who is not trustworthy around people means you have to be super diligent. You have done a good job so far, and I wish you luck:) Dogstar716  "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.  You are    his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true,    to the last beat of his heart.  You owe it to him to be worthy of such    devotion"    – Unknow

Response:

> Is the muzzle going to make his insecurity worse?  The behaviorist > doesn’t think it’s necessary–just a house line is needed–but I DO NOT > want to toy with endangering a child.  While I try with body posture when > around kids, it’s hard because I am very leery of trusting him, and tend > to catch myself stiffening a bit.

We are in a similar situation with a small border collie cross. He has become a fear biter. He had irrational episodes of fear that included pacing, panting, barking fits, sever shaking and he actually did bite a child that was in my care. Let me tell you, the guilt I suffered was amasing. The bite was only minor but the responsibility that lays on me as his owner is major. I felt awfull. I have resorted to a muzzle. He has to wear it when we know there will be strangers, kids or the specific people who set him off in our home. I thought for sure he would fight it and be distressed over this new contraption and limit placed on his face but on the contrary, he seems to relish it. When I get it out, he comes right over and sits to have it put on without being told. He seems to become much calmer with it. The pacing, barking, whining, peeing and of course biting has been eliminated by the muzzle. He still shakes but sits beside me or on his mat if I’ve placed him in a down stay. I will continue to use this muzzle for a very long time especially when kids are present. I will not risk any other child getting bit. You either need to keep crating your dog or try the muzzle. For your own peace of mind as well as your guests safety. Good luck. Donna — The Ryan’s http://www3.sympatico.ca/ryan7

Response:

I just purchased a muzzle for my GSD mix.  She absolutely hates it but does not seem to be agitated.  My problem is that she has no trouble getting it off.  Do you guys have a recommendation for a particular brand that would not be so easy to pull off. Kyla – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is the muzzle going to make his insecurity worse?  The behaviorist > doesn’t think it’s necessary–just a house line is needed–but I DO NOT > want to toy with endangering a child.  While I try with body posture when > around kids, it’s hard because I am very leery of trusting him, and tend > to catch myself stiffening a bit. >We are in a similar situation with a small border collie cross. He has >become a fear biter. He had irrational episodes of fear that included >pacing, panting, barking fits, sever shaking and he actually did bite a >child that was in my care. Let me tell you, the guilt I suffered was >amasing. The bite was only minor but the responsibility that lays on me >as his owner is major. I felt awfull. I have resorted to a muzzle. He >has to wear it when we know there will be strangers, kids or the >specific people who set him off in our home. I thought for sure he would >fight it and be distressed over this new contraption and limit placed on >his face but on the contrary, he seems to relish it. When I get it out, >he comes right over and sits to have it put on without being told. He >seems to become much calmer with it. The pacing, barking, whining, >peeing and of course biting has been eliminated by the muzzle. He still >shakes but sits beside me or on his mat if I’ve placed him in a down >stay. I will continue to use this muzzle for a very long time especially >when kids are present. I will not risk any other child getting bit. >You either need to keep crating your dog or try the muzzle. For your own >peace of mind as well as your guests safety. >Good luck. >Donna >– >The Ryan’s >http://www3.sympatico.ca/ryan7

Response:

That GSD/Greyhound mixture seems very volatile.  A six-month-old specimen followed me home, and I talked my husband into letting me adopt him. Cracker was the most easily trained dog that I’ve ever owned.  Once he learned where heel was (three short sessions), he wouldn’t walk in any other position.  At first he was fine around other animals, but, when he was just over a year old, he would go into a frenzy if he weren’t allowed to attack them.  Nothing sparked this off, and he remained friendly with any animal he had socialised with before the aggression developed.  He was also all right in training class.  But my husband returned from a walk with puncture wounds in his leg.  Cracker had gone into a frenzy at the sight of another dog, he said, then, "cool as you like" sunk his teeth into my husband’s leg.     As I was "Cracker’s people", we let this slide.  But a few weeks later a horse passed us.  Cracker was at heel and sat when I stopped, but he was quiverring with excitement.  Suddenly he shuddered, then, in slow motion, turned his head toward me with a glazed look in his eye and sunk his teeth into my leg.  Another shudder, and he was back to "normal", wagging his tail and looking pleased as punch that he was still at heel being a good dog. This, from a dog who’d roll onto his back submissively if he so much as brushed me with his teeth in play!     Had a child been passing at the time, I’m sure it would have received the bite.  As it was, I was convinced that Cracker didn’t even remember having bitten me.  I had to recognise that it would be impossible to train a dog not to do something that it wasn’t conscious of doing in the first place.  Cracker was also an escape artist, so innocent animals and people would be endangered by him.  We had him put to sleep.     I’ve trained dogs before and since that aggression toward other animals was out using both distraction training and convincing them (with gentle means) that I am the boss and aggressive displays are out.  But both the greyhound’s strong prey drive and the GSD’s protective instincts both seemed to have been too strongly inherited by poor Cracker.     You may never be able to trust your dog completely.  Only you can decide whether or not you can keep him safely.  Although Cracker was put to sleep over seven years ago, I still feel terrible about it.  He was so gentle with me and with children!  I keep thinking that there must have been something more I could do for him.     Perhaps, if Bel will accept a muzzle, you could teach him to obey commands from children while you are safely in control of him.  He may see them as prey now, but that might shift his opinion. Best of luck, Sarah Morgan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Okay, this is a follow-up from earlier posts regarding my ~2.5 year old, >neutered, GSD/Greyhound (that’s a complete guess)male dog. >(there really are some questions at the end of this long post!–sorry!) >etc.

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