Handler Aggression

[Jag]

thanks virginia, my dog knows her limits and what is allowed and what isn't.
she knows what I tolerate and when not to cross lines, because we've been through that fun challenging stage.
we're excited to trial hopefully this year! thanks.

[aweaver]

Since most of my previous experience is working with shelter dogs that previously experienced all levels of mis-handling, I have dealt with many dogs with "handler aggression". When a dog is truly dominant, there are very few people willing and able to handle those dogs and many of them (even sport dogs, not just pets) end up being euthanized.

I currently own a male who clearly was mis-handled before I got him and becomes aggressive out of fear (with known triggers). I handle it two ways. First, I am very careful about who I have around my dog as he will not tolerate the person who wants to get too personal with him and I have acted as his body guard in the past. If someone wants to “pet the puppy”, my very tolerant female gets the job! Second, when he has a melt-down (which almost always consists of noise and not actual "action"), I do pin him down until he calms down. This works for him specifically and might make another dog worse. He is the type of dog who takes well to someone else clearly taking charge and over the time I have had him, he is able to successfully handle more and more "uncomfortable" situations. That said, he is not the first dog I have rehabilitated and I don't recommend it for a first-time owner!

I have seen sport dogs with handler aggression and the ones I have known long enough to see the progression have all been from unfair handling, either a handler not stopping a behavior before it has gone so far that they need to get in the fist fight mentioned earlier, or more typically with a handler who has over-corrected a dog and the dog has had enough!

I have an 8 month-old puppy who has re-directed to my leg when being frustrated over not being able to get the tug and I do stop her with a verbal correction. As I told one of my club members, I like her drive, but she needs to understand that I am NOT the one to bite. I am very careful to not over-correct her and the small “uh uh” that I give her does get the point across, although I am sure that it may take a few tries before I extinguish the behavior. I can absolutely see that if I do not address this now, we will end up with an issue. She is a much different bitch than my previous competition dog, who would have never thought to bite me, but we do need to be a team and you don’t bite your teammates!

Alissa

[Anne Conroy]

I can't figure out how to reply specifically -- so sorry about that -- anyway -- the supression collar or what leerberg calls a DDG -- you must have the clip as the idea is that there is no sliding -- that is, the pressure from the collar is felt immediately. It is NOT to be jerked.

Also, the comments around your dog biting you -- I think that there are times when a dog redirects to a handler because of handler error. The handler attracts the dog (usually NOT on purpose!!) -- You ought not fault the dog for this. Handle better.

There are also dogs that are a bit naughtly about biting -- and it is purposeful and LEARNED. Again, this is the handler fault.

I guess where I am headed is that one should be very careful with always or never statements around what should be allowed as it all depends on development, training and temperment. If you have taught the dog socially UNacceptable behaviors OR you place the dog in a situation where there drive forces a certain response -- you need to examine your training.


ac

[rosamburg]

The problem with that type of the DD collar whether it is in leather or nylon is the possibility of a dog that starts to fight can twist it when it is being hung up for handler aggression. I saw this occur at a club I was at before the club I am at now. There was a big powerful GSD that had handler aggression issues. He was being hung up for a few seconds after going after the handler and he started to fight it and spun 360 degrees a couple of times. They almost lost the dog. This of course was an extreme dog. If that same collar is made from 3/16"steel cable it eliminates that possibility. It also clamps quicker and releases quicker, making it possible to use as a correction also, similar to a choke.

I have never needed to do it to my dogs but have seen it done with some extreme handler aggressive dogs that would not otherwise be able to be handled except by a vet with a needle.

[osirisdobermanns]

I was just talking to a helper about this and we were discussing (WHY) dogs do it. His Dog bit him the other day because he was trying to challenge him but was being "corrected with E-collar Nics.

I have not seen this in my dobermanns but they aren't over the top drivey either. My female has Med-High Prey and Defense drive. My male has prey drive and no fight drive he's like stupid marmaduke.

I have had these types of dogs in the Mals, American Bulldogs, and GSD's I've either trained, taken care of, fostered or owned.

I guess I just haven't been around such high drive, temperament dobes yet.

I'm 4'10 so frankly I won't tolerate it for the most part. I have and need a Protection dog not a dog that will bite me just because it is in "Drive" and needs to redirect its aggression. My Girl gets fired up very easily but as my service dog too I can NOT allow her to bite when she wants to bite. from my personal experience my dobermanns think things out before they act on it. My Experience with other breeds is they will Bite when you say bite or if they have the opportunity too. That is what that dog lives for.. My Dobermanns live for my praise and affection I believe. Sure my dog Enjoys working and loves bite work. But I would not tolerate her biting me when Fired up during training or not. Since I have done suit, and leg bites with her She will sometimes redirect to the leg with NO bite sleeve or protection. Which is dangerous for a Schutzhund Helper but is what We want in Personal Protection. Also If someone is "playing" with my girl I always say not to run as she will have a hard time not "catching " them.

Around kids I trust my Dobes I did not trust my Mals around kids even me and I was about 8 years old when I was introduced to dogs that were only (working dogs) not pets like my uncle said I had.

since then I have met only a few mals and gsds that I consider Clear headed and would trust around other animals and children.

If I was a full blown working handler that had tons of experience and could handle a dog with such high drives that alot of these dogs that are handler aggressive than then I'd tolerate it.

Right now in my life, I like my dogs to not eat me .. I'm not yet 22

;D