[silentlore]

Is it common for Beagles to be dog agressive?

Boy, Bailey was Quiet, Friendly with all Creatures, her only quirk was not ever having housetraining down 100% lol /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

When I adopted Blackjack his AD said Kid friendly (CHECK), Cat friendly (CHECK), Dog friendly (NOT!), he is DOG AGRESSIVE! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif If I let him get near them to smell he will smell then bite and nip at them! Today he bit 2 of my neighbors Shitzapoos, he bit a Pomeranian that was loose in a neighborhood on a walk (the owner said the Pom had it comin' /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif ), He bit at a St. Bernard, He's bit at a Lab, I have to walk to the other side of the street if I see another dog walker coming in my direction.

When he sees a dog on another side of a fence, on his back he gets a ridge of fur that stands up on his back that looks like a mohawk, like hes in the defensive. He does that when passing by some people too. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif :freak:

 

[RhodaTse]

Oh dear, maybe a dog training will help. Sign him up soonest. I'm sure the trainer has a way to fix it. During Charlie's training, a owner of a aggressive dog, some kind of mix big dog signed up. Charlie and I had to tiptoed around him. The owner seemed to be quite satisfy and seen some improvement.

 

[Mandy781]

Oh my Louri...sounds like you got your hands full!

I found this article online tonight, it gives some pointers but talks about puppies mainly in the beginning.

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BiteInhibition.php

Here's another one:

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_SocializationAdultDog.php

Sounds maybe like Blackjack just needs a little reinforcement on socalization. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Hope these articles help a little! He is one lucky pup to have been adopted by such a loving family!

Amanda

 

[silentlore]

I found a local "Dog Whisperer" Dog Trainer online. Charges $85 per 2 hours... has been at it for 30 years... I'm calling tomorrow.

 

[Mom of 2 Beagles]

Best of luck to you and Blackjack. I'm sure you can find help for him!! Keep us posted.

 

[Spencer's Mum]

I have the same problem so don't thinkt hat you are alone. Spencer freaks out if he sees another dog but the thing is, it's only if he is on leash. If Spencer is loose at a dog social or whatever, he is fine. As soon as that leash goes on, he gets defensive. He has been attacked a couple times on leash by my neighbour's dog and that is what started all this.

You HAVE to remember to stay calm. He can sense when you tense up and will get defensive thinking that there is a reason for him to protect you because you are scared. I know someone who would walk their dog tethered around her waist rather than holding the leash with her hands because the dog senses less of a reaction when she doesn't tighten up on the leash.

I know it is the hardest thing to do and I have not mastered it yet but as soon as you can teach yourself to stay calm, you will see a change in your dog.

Good luck!!

 

[Genie]

Louri, Spencer's mom us right. I just checked out a DVD of the Dog Whisperer episodes a couple of weeks ago from the library, and one of the dogs had the exact problem as Blackjack. He told the owner that she has to remain calm when she sees another dog coming, because the anxiety that you feel travels right down the leash and he gets more upset. I wish I could tell you more tips about how he solved the problem, but on the show he just seemed to hold the leash tight, say "Shh" and give the dog a "little tap" with his foot when another dog came by-- /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif -- and in no time at all the dog was walking calmly beside one of Cesar's dogs!! I have a feeling there was a bit more to it than that!! I hope the trainer you've found can help Blackjack. It probably comes from insecurity--maybe something happened to him with another dog when he was a puppy. Or maybe he was just never socialized.
By the way, Miss Shiloh does the same thing with the mowhawk down her back when a strange dog comes into the yard. Hang in there with Blackjack. I'm sure you'll be able to help him, and you'll be able to take him to the dog park after all.

 

[silentlore]

Thing is... I use a retractable leash... there is no tencing of the line /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif My hand is on a plastic doo-dad.

I am going to try the trainer for the 2 hour course it's worth the 85 bux. It's no Cesar Milan... but heck if they've been at it for years and years... they've got to be good at what they do... course... you'd THINK they'd charge more... :conf12: So I'm a lil' skeptical based on the price... but we'll see. I could watch 100 Dog Whisperer episodes too and call my self a "Dog Whisperer" and rent myself out... but there were some credinentials etc... so we'll see, I'm going to call and ask a few questions and ask how they go about it etc, etc. If I like what I hear, I'll go for it... it DOES say on their list of top 10 hardest dogs to train... LOL... Beagle.

 

[Genie]

I dunno Louri, I'm certainly no expert...all you have to do is watch Shiloh and me to know who has who trained!! LOL!! But you might want to try a regular leash, at least during the training period. That's one thing I noticed about all the dogs Cesar worked with on the DVD-they all had regular-type leashes that he fastened some way so that it was close to their heads--kinda like at a dog show. Then he had better control of them.
So glad his new diet is helping his tummy problems. That's gotta be a relief for you, and he must be feeling better too.

 

[silentlore]

Definately, he is eating and his tummy is holding it down. In a few days I will start to put a few pieces of his new food in and gradually work it up through next week.

I have a regular leash too, I'll certianly use it with the training. I'll give them a call later today.

(amazingly the kids are still sleeping... so I left the husband alseep too... the house is ALL MINE! LOL!)

 

[Murphys Dad]

I highly recommend reading "Cesar's Way" by Cesar Millan. He has this show "Dog Wisperer" on National Geografic, and is very good at what he does... There is this whole thing with being a part of the pack and pack leaders. He is dealing with aggressive dogs, and has this whole theory behind their behaviour... worth the reading time, I was fascinated. :thumbup:

 

[BookerMoose]

Moose has much the same problem as Blackjack with other dogs - but really only when he is on leash (so dog parks are, thankfully, okay for the most part) and, frustratingly, only when he is with me... with Marc he is good as gold and happy and friendly with other dogs even when on leash. Is Blackjack any different when he is out with your husband? Good luck with the training - I'm interested to hear how it goes and what you learn!

 

[Murphys Dad]

Louri: Definitely go with your instincts when you screen the trainer -- I would stay away from anyone who uses any kind of negative training. I have to say that the trainer having listed beagles as hard to train would send up a red flag for me ...

 

[silentlore]

Well, judge for yourself, he seems pretty legit to me, I'll have a talk with him.

Here is a link to the website. He's quite Cesar Milan"esc" & yes, I am quite the Cesar fan, I have been for YEARS /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

http://www.perfectdogtraining.com

 

[jassy]

I looked at the website and think its worth a try. Since you don't have to sign a contract you aren't committed to anything long term. Everyone tells me beagles are hard to train but I don't agree. We are starting advanced obedience next week. Maggie has completed and passed 3 classes and is usually one of the first to learn something new......however we still have an occasional battle of wills regarding whether she will do what I expect her to do. I don't mind that because I like her spunk and independent spirit. Kind of like with my kids, I pick what is most important and there is never any leeway on those things. I can see that you need to curb the aggression quickly so I think you are making a good choice.

 

[Spencer's Mum]

I have actually been told that a retractible leash will make things worse with agression. If I ever use mine, it is only when we are hikinh. When we are on the roads, it is a 6 foot leash.

You might not think that you are tensing up but I assume that when there is no one around, he is free to roam a bit so can be at different lengths. When oyu see people coming you likely lock it so that he is not 16 feet out and that you have more control. That to a dog is the same as tensing up.

I am working on better leash manners where Spencer needs to stay focused on me while we walk. That way, if something comes along, he will not be as upset about it and freak out because he is still focusing on me and getting treats for being good.

It's a long process and takes a lot of work but will all be worth it in the end to have a social dog.

 

[silentlore]

I do notice a difference in his walking with a regular leash as opposed to the retractable. Course I have not braved walking near any other dogs, certianly not my neighboors dogs.

I talked to a representative of the man who's site I posted, since Blackjack is "new" and I've had him only for a week now & also I told him of his tummy troubles when he got here etc, but other than that, he's been doing well, that he (Blackjack) needs time to adjust before him (the trainer) coming out here to do the training. & that He would recommend for best results that I set an appointment in 2-3 months. (wow). So that is what I will do. So, for now I plan to get a Halti Head Collar to help with the pulling etc & so that I can have better control of him if we do have another agressive encounter with a dog again.

 

[Spencer's Mum]

Let me just say that I have tried the head collar (I have a Gentle Leader one) and I really don't think they mix so well with beagles. Because Spencer walks and sniffs and doesn't walk with his head up like other dogs, I found that it never sat right and I was never able to get the proper control with it. Spencer would also tear his face apart trying to get it off so I would have to tape up his dew claws before going for a walk to prevent injury. It really didn't work so well for us.

I have used the Sporn harness and the Gentle Leader body harnesses, they both work well for pulling.

Good luck.

 

[silentlore]

Quote:Originally posted by Spencer's Mum:
Let me just say that I have tried the head collar (I have a Gentle Leader one) and I really don't think they mix so well with beagles. Because Spencer walks and sniffs and doesn't walk with his head up like other dogs, I found that it never sat right and I was never able to get the proper control with it. Spencer would also tear his face apart trying to get it off so I would have to tape up his dew claws before going for a walk to prevent injury. It really didn't work so well for us.

I have used the Sporn harness and the Gentle Leader body harnesses, they both work well for pulling.

Good luck.

Thank you very much for your suggestions, I will look into the Gentle Leader body harness as well when I am out looking at what I will be getting. Heck, maybe I'll get both & return the one that is least effective, LOL! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

I know I tried the Halti with Bailey too & she would smear her face all over the pavement trying to get the thing off, we couldn't even get as far as the walk with it on... so before she ruined it, I put it back in the package and returned it and just got her a standard harness and never tried anything else with her... of course she was only a 13" Beagle and was iddy biddy. She quite petite under 20lbs.

Blackjack is 15" Beagle of Solid Muscle, shorter legs, 30lbs of low the the ground of pulling power. I gotta get something, LOL! :biglaugh:

--------------------
~ Louri ~ Mommy to Quads (we'll be 4 years old in 4 months)

 

[Spencer's Mum]

Ya Spencer is a real puller too but he is 17 inches high and 30 lbs of muscle. Sydney is also a 13 inch beagle and a lot easier to keep under control. Do you take treats with you when you go for walks to keep him interested in you?