Leash Agression/ Yard Agression Options

[SimonSays]

Hi! My name is Emily and my dog's name is Simon. He is a Bluetick Hound I rescued from the SPCA four years ago. He is a truly amazing, soulful, loving dog. He loves all dogs and people--as long as he is not on his leash. About a year- year and a half ago, he started getting really aggressive with other dogs while walking him on his leash. He rears up onto his hind legs, bays, and breaths very heavily. I can control him, but it is very unpleasant for me and the other dog owner. I don't think he would ever attack another dog, but you just never know.We go to the dogpark every night, have a good group of doggie friends, and he has never ever been in a dogfight. In fact, he gets very upset when other dogs start to fight. He is curious, kind, and gentle to everyone. Until I put his leash on and he sees an unfamiliar dog. He has also started acting this way now that we have a fenced in back yard. He is NEVER unattended, as he is a jumper and his crazy aggressive fence behavior. A man was walking his two Goldens this morning and one got loose and charged the fence. Simon just about jumped the fence and was clearly being aggressive. The man walking his dog was (understandably angry). I tried to apologize but he stormed off.

I'm getting very anxious about Simon's new behavior. It doesn't fit with the rest of his personality, and I am afraid it could result in an injury to him or another dog. HELP!!! What can I do to get him to chill?

[JMM]

Any sudden change of behavior is always cause for a vet visit. Based on your dog's breed and age, a thyroid panel would be a good idea.

Your dog's behavior actually makes a lot of sense. When he is off leash and free, he can decide for himself his proximity to other dogs. He can leave whenever he wishes. When he is on a leash, he is essentially corners. His only choice, fight or flight, has been made for him - he cannot escape and must fight. The other part of this is learned aggression. Every time he has that big reaction he increases the distance between himself and the unwanted thing. It works. So it is repeated. Same with the fence.
The underlying dog-dog aggression is something you really need a professional for. Ideally I would see a veterinarian with a board certification in behavioral medicine or a behaviorist with a PhD. Your vet should be able to refer you. Next best would be a really, really good dog trainer. You can search on apdt.com and look for people with CPDT after their name. Be sure to interview them well to be sure they have experience with dog-dog aggression and territorial aggression. These things can have a very good prognosis if you receive the appropriate health. It is not something any dog trainer can address.

In the mean time, keep your dog on a long line in the back yard for safety. If you can notice him reacting before he goes all out in the yard, call him to you and reward him for coming. Then distract him with a game. On leash, you may benefit from the control of a head harness or front-hook harness. I like the Comfort Trainer head halter. Again, if you can catch him before he goes off and turn around and go the other way, do some obedience as you go, that will help manage the situation for now.

[bruisersgirl]

Yikes not good.
Are you sure his behavior is aggresive not excited?
If so I can offer a few explanations but this requires a profesional trainer with you.
Simon may be defending you or his territoy or both. He also might feel cornered as he cannot run when on a leash or in the yard.
Either way please get some help from a dog trainer. We can only do so much online.



JMM is right get him to a vet aswell

[SimonSays]

I think I may have misspoken or overstated the problem, as he is more excited rather than aggressive. He wants to be close to every dog he meets-- on or off leash... He wants to smell them and play with them. It's not exactly aggressive, just really overstimulated play. Again he has never bit a dog or come close and he is with at least thirty five different(and usually new dogs) every evening. This morning, the man lost control of one of his goldens leashes and the golden charged our fence unexpectedly. He truly is a good dog, just overly excited sometimes...

[Paws-to-Reflect]

Well I have never been around a Bluetick so I don't know what kind of personality they have but if this is a sudden change in behavior that would concern me. Has anything changed in his environment or was there an event that brought it on?

From the perspective of a silky terrier owner, the behavior you describe is absolutely normal. Every silky we've had will love you if we (the owner) make the introduction but if you have the audacity to walk on the sidewalk in front of the house the dog goes ballistic inside.

Our back yard has a cinder block fence that the local cats and the occasional squirrel use as a highway through the neighborhood. Our silky will charge off the back porch barking all the way until she gets to the wall. At that point she's too short to see the top of the wall so she shuts up.