Help - Unruly Dog

[rockyracoon]

You might remember me telling you that we adopted an 11 month old Bullmastiff back in October. Well, he's a great dog indoors but an absolute mare outside. For the first few weeks that we had him, he was keen to greet other dogs and whilst he pulled on the lead, it wasn't too bad, then we had him neutered, and the problems started. He pulls like a tank on speed, my husband who is very strong can barely hold him. We've had 2 trainers for 1-1 visits, one took the line of, reward good behaviour and distract from bad, which seemed reasonable to us. So we ventured out with him hoping to give him treats when the lead slacked, needless to say, we came back an hour later with a bag full of treats having got no further than the end of the road. This went on for a few unbearable weeks, he just wouldn't learn. When we stopped walking, he was quite happy to wait until we were ready to move ahead when the lead slacked, then he'd be off again. We were walking him on a Halti harness, clipped to chest and back.

We got another trainer who said we were using the wrong lead and came for a walk with us with Rodney on a slip lead. Whilst the trainer was there he walked like a dream, but the next day, off he went. He's also been quite aggressive to other dogs since he has had his bits removed, which is quite disappointing. He gets super excited when he sees a dog, screams like a banshee to say hello, then growls at them.

Has anyone got any advice. We tried the Halti face harness but he would end up injuring himself with that, any how he got it off as I think his snout is too short.

I wish I hadn't got him neutered. It seems the problems started just after.

[dannyk13]

nescio, I don't mean a harness, the Halti I referred to only fits over the head so that a pull on the lead turns the head.

[dannyk13]

[AuntPollyGrey]

If he behaved with the trainer then its obvious he does not treat you like the leader of the pack -which he must. I would take a walking stick with me and if he starts getting out of control then I'd whack him lightly on the chest to focus him on what I want him to do rather than what he wants to do then when he behaves make much of him. He was obviously a rescue dog for a reason and if he continues his behaviour he needs sending back so someone with a more suitable temperament can take him on and perhaps rethink the type of breed that may suit you better.

[rockyracoon]

Nescio, your situation is exactly he same as ours.

[AuntPollyGrey]

So people think dogs in the wild have a 'little chat' with the pack leader to become submissive? Too many people treat their animals like humans, that's why there are so many badly trained out of control dogs.

[dannyk13]

Over the years I have had several dogs of different breeds and sizes from a Viszla to a Newfoundland which I trained without ever using a choke chain.

[woofgang]

Find an APBT behaviourist/trainer. Your vet surgery may have a list of local ones. Be careful who you go to...avoid people who talk about being the pack leader, using chains or slip or choke collars or quick fixes.

[AuntPollyGrey]

danny its not only the tools you use to train its the attitude you take and you (danny) must have a dominant attitude ( which is good) towards training. Dominance, as you probably know, is not cruelty. I've trained many animals, mainly horses but a few dogs and rarely have to resort to hard discipline once they know who is boss and where the line is in the sand.

[woofgang]

DO NOT take notice of AuntPollyGrey or Thedevil

[AuntPollyGrey]

woofgang that's ridiculous. The OP's dog is obviously a dominant animal and needs to realise he's NOT the boss, before he does something really bad. Its not like he's a miniature poodle …...

[AuntPollyGrey]

woofgang -how many 500kilo animals have you trained in your life? Trained to follow you without leads? trained to go where they normally would not want to go? Trained to be ridden without bridles or saddles? Trained sheepdogs? how many? How many sheepdog trials have you competed in...Thought not.

[nescio]

are you people not reading what I have written?
Choke chain did not work
Harness did not work
Face/head harness did not work
professional trainer admitted dog was not amenable to training
Every one of his siblings returned - "completely unmanageable"
I have had several other dogs, along with Buster and after him, with none of these issues,so I do not think I was at fault.

[dannyk13]

APG, I have never considered myself dominant with regard to my dogs, I always used a firm attitude combined with rewards.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Danny - a 'firm' attitude IS dominance lol! You are not submissive if you take a firm attitude. Dominance is not the act of overpowering or frightening an animal -its showing the animal you are calling the shots not them.

[hereIam]

Don't take any notice of bhg either ...

[AuntPollyGrey]

We have a man walk past our door three to four times a day with his dog , a rescue , and its uncontrollable -its spins around jumps in the air and goes nuts when it passes another dog in the garden. I've spoken to him about the dog and basically he just says it's its character and does nothing -well sometimes shouts at it. Last summer he went on holiday and left the dog with a neighbour. The neighbour walked the dog, the first day it went mental -the second day and for two weeks it behaved itself. When the man came back it reverted to being nuts. So what did the neighbour do to 'train' the dog? Well he kept the harness thing on the dog where the lead was attached but also fitted a slip collar -when the dog went mental he used the slip collar, when it behaved he used the harness. The dog owner would not carry on using the slip collar as its 'cruel'...…..apparently.

[ladybirder]

Rocky you must be tearing your hair out at your dog and also the differing answers to your problem on here. Whatever you do do not use a choke chain, I don't know if they are banned but they should be. Now then, if your dog walks and behaves OK when with a trainer then the problem is the owner, as it is with all most if not all unruly dogs. Don't be upset by that. You must be stressed as hell every time you take him out and your dog will feel that coming from you and it will upset him. That has to stop. Have you heard of the Dogfather, a trainer named Graeme Hall? He's on TV currently, Ch5 Tuesdays 8-9pm and is brilliant, please watch him if you can and watch his previous episodes. The best dog trainer going according to the Telegraph for one. You can see him on YouTube as well. Here's link to his website. He's not cheap but he's amazing and if you can afford him, get him to come to your home. If he can't sort it I doubt anyone can (except Aunt Polly LOL).

https://www.dogfather.co.uk/dog-training/



I do hope you persevere and it will come right in the end. Best of luck. xx

[woofgang]

ladybirder, full disclosure, I haven't seen the program but I have seen comments like this from people whose training skills and knowledge I respect. https://www.cbtdogbehaviour.com/dogs-behaving-very-badly-a-review

[ladybirder]

Oh good, it looks as if you agree with me up until I mention Graeme or I'm sure you would have said.
Here's the Telegraph article I mentioned, praising him. Depends who you believe I suppose but I understand why you say what you say after reading your link. Some owners revere Cesar Millan who kicks and punches dogs!
We've probably confused rocky now which is a shame as we both mean well.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/meet-dogfather-man-can-train-dog-age-problem/