We saw a wonderful lady today, recommended by DP.
This is the second behaviorist we have seen, the first thought Billy was being dominant and we had to ban him from furniture, ignore him when we come home etc etc .
However today this lady doesn't believe in the dominance/pack theory with humans and doesn't believe Billy is being dominant or boisterous, the exact opposite.
She said Billy is "stressed" and she could clearly see this by watching his behavior during the 2 hr session. She said he is clearly not a happy dog and his behavior isn't really normal and his aggression is his coping mechanism of dealing with what's stressing him out. He's not trying to be boisterous, but he's wary of people. Why? she's not sure, it could be just his genetic make up (like some humans get stressed out over little things) but he's not a settled dog as he should be
She watched him as he approached her and said he is not sure and wasn't trusting of her, even at the end of the session when she had given him treats and played with him
For the next 6 weeks I have to make him work more, to keep his mind occupied leaving him less time to focus on the things that stress him out, hopefully resulting in less anxiety and less aggression but it's no guarantee.
We already do find it games etc and clicker anyway -which she seemed quite happy about - so to increase this I have to put his food bowl away and from now on each meal has to be worked for. So one meal will be hidden around the house, another will be in his Kong, another in his treat ball etc etc so it's more interesting and fun rather than just 30 seconds with his head stuck in his bowl.
He is only ever aggressive when he is stroked so now we have to pretend Billy is surrounded by a bubble, and no one is to enter his bubble and respect his own space , so now no stroking to enable him to have the space he is craving at the moment. This is what I follow anyway since he bit me, I NEVER stroke him unless I have called him over and he happily comes over clearly wanting to be stroked. We now have to apply this rule to everyone, visitors, family, friends. Hopefully billy will settle when he is confident that no one is gonna invade his space and he may become less stressed out like he is now but only time will tell.
Castration isn't recommended - hooray!! horrar!!!
I feel much better now, she talked so much sense and seemed happy with what i have done with him so far to ease his aggression. I feel better to have discussed my opinions about Billy with someone else who can see it face to face also and for once someone who agrees with me that he is a wary dog not a naughty boisterous thing.
He is booked in at the vets as she also said there is a chance he may be suffering from mild epilepsy
(He's had a petite Mal before - triggered by food - the same thing that now triggers his aggression)
She also spent some time clicker training and lead walking with him . I have never seen anyone else walk with Billy and I know I am biased but my god he is beautiful
. He walks so beautifully, kind of like a horse when it gallops and lifts its feet up off the ground, his coat is so shiny and he has such a darling face. I never realised how beautfill he actually was until today
We had this session at dogs trust Merseyside, WOW what a wonderful place for dogs, although there was a sign in the window that they cannot accept any more dogs for the next few weeks as they are full to bursting. Probably full of unwanted xmas pressies
