Aggressive dog

[Guest Anonymous]

I thought maybe one or some of you guys could tell me why my dog does this.

Ok this is about Dandy. She is a Heeler/Aussie mix. Whenever I am around her and I pick up a cat or one of the dogs or puppies she will start jumping on me and trying to attack them. She also bites me sometimes. If I just say the word cat she starts looking around for a cat and she will chase them and sometimes attack them. I am afraid she is going to hurt one bad one day. She is fine with them if I ignore them. The only dog she won't attack that I pick up is Ricochet because he will put her in her place. What should I do?

We have two different yards and the cats stay in the front and the dogs in the back. So she is only around the cats if I'm there with her.

[Shannon_C]

Your dog is jumping up because she is jealous of you giving the cat and pup attention and not her.....to stop this you must play the role leader showing her that your the boss and that she must wait her turn for fuss.
What i suggest everytime she does this is to say (NO) firmly to her and move away, you might have to work on this as she wont respond straight away and will just think its a game....you can also try distracting her with a favourite toy.
But what i don't recommend is using the phrase (CATS) this is encouraging her to chase and attack them which is and can be dangerous if ever she were to catch one, not only the cats would get bitten but also could die of shock being chased....they are sensitive animals!

Your dog should be allowing the cats to pick on her not the other way round :D

[Guest Anonymous]

Thanks Shannon! She is actually very good with the cats unless I talk to them or pick them up. I can be standing right next to her and the cats and she won't touch them unless I start saying something to them. Then she starts trying to attack them. I usually pet her first before the cats or puppies but she still gets jealous. I will try what you said though.

[Shannon_C]

My dogs are good with the cats when they are just walking around the house but if i pick one up.....you can see the look on there faces, especially the Bullmastiff which he sometimes comes over to have a look and sniff....then he usually goes and lies down.....but this is only because he knows who his master is. If i allowed him to do as he pleased like chasing the cats etc, it would become a big problem and could get out of hand.
So it is up to you the OWNER to show your dog who is TOPDOG in the house and that is not her.
She will learn in time but you have to be firm and have lots of patience for this to work.....shouting or screaming wont help the dog it will probably cause fear or aggression, so a calm voice is needed but at the same time being firm if she disabeys you.

GOOD LUCK!

[Guest Anonymous]

Yes it is probably going to be difficult at first. This dog was abused when I got her so if I yell at her or say no she takes off and hides. I try to avoid saying no when she is doing that to the cats. I just ignore her but she still goes after them. I'll try the toy. Maybe a kong where I can stick some treats in it. That is probably the best thing.

[Shannon_C]

I am sorry to hear that.

You could give her one or two Kongs filled with her favorite tasty treats....this will keep her occupied for a few hours or more, you can also take her for a long walk twice a day morning and night to tire her out so that when she comes back she will want to do nothing else but sleep :)
when she is awake try to distract her with things as much as you can, this will help her confidence also giving her plenty of love, play a game of hide and seek or hide her toys to find....but dont let her get bored.
When you want to pick the cat or pup up, try and do it without her noticing like when she is asleep.

GOOD LUCK!

[Guest Anonymous]

Majik napisał(a):

Whenever I am around her and I pick up a cat or one of the dogs or puppies she will start jumping on me and trying to attack them. She also bites me sometimes.

I think the best way to deal with this is to train an incompatable behavior. IOW, work with her on something like having a GREAT sit and stay. Once she's solid on that you should be able to pick up one of your dogs/cat and simply tell her to sit and stay. That would serve two purposes. It'll stop her from jumping up since she can't sit and jump at the same time but, more importantly, it will let her know (without a lot of yelling) that you're the boss and the boss is telling her that she needs to sit and stay.

Nipping or biting should never be tollerated from any dog, no matter what the size.

[Guest Anonymous]

Maybe what I can do is teach her to sit stay or down stay. She knows sit and down so it shouldn't be very hard. Then when she does give her a kong with treats in it. Hopefully that will work. Thanks Nancy and Shannon.

Shannon I like your BullMastiff underneath your name! :D Very beautiful dog.

[Shannon_C]

Thankyou Majik.

I literally had to lie down on the floor to take that one.....his eyes glancing across the room, is telling me (Oh no not again) lol

Thanks Nancy. something i forgot to mention..the sit and stay!

Majik when you get her to sit, hold a treat in your hand holding it out towards her nose...let her sniff but dont let her have it, then move your hand upwards and over her head....she will follow the treat with her eyes as she is doing this, (at the same time say SIT) her bottom will lower to the floor..when she does this let her have the treat then praise her well.
Do the same to get her to lie down.....same again with the treat...but this time lower your hand down to the floor, she should follow it......as she does you will notice her elbows touching the floor to lie down, when this happens...again give her the treat and praise her well.
With the stay command....hold out your hand straight out, palm facing towards her and say STAY, when she stays for a few minutes.....walk over to her keep using the phrase STAY.....stand in front of her then let her have the treat given with plenty of praise.