The wee sociopath is confounding trainers far and wide. It’s 3.5 months now and sadly he’s regressed severely over the last week. To the point that he was snarling and growling the entire time I walked him last Saturday morning. Over my shift that night something flipped it his brain and he decided I’m not so bad as he was friendly and happy to see me when I got home.
His reactivity and aggression are just as high as ever, although the bite level has dropped as he doesn’t latch on anymore (level 4 bite); so that’s an improvement. I spent most of last week looking for a shelter or other options besides behavioural euthanasia (realistically that’s the only option as no shelter will take such a reactive/aggressive dog) as he was refusing to work with me and was getting more reactive by the day. Since he’s still trying though I won’t give up on him and we’ll keep plugging away. At least I’m completely desensitized to being chomped at this point. Now that he’s working with me again the first priority is getting him muzzle trained. The most logical explanation for his behaviour I’ve heard is that his anxiety around the new situation living with a stranger, combined with frustration over training/structure compared to his old life has jacked his stress up to the point where his aggression was becoming decentralized and everything was a threat. I’ve kinda given up looking for a trainer as both so far have increased his issues more then resolve them, I’m talking to the vet about short term meds to help him relax to make it easier to work together. For now we’re back to square one more or less, except he calms down in 10-15 mins at most instead of taking half a day to cool his tits after flipping out.
On the plus side I’m counting it as a win that I got him to roll over for belly rubs before he finished his human score card as he’s officially got all the limbs now (most a couple times over). Now to figure out a new contest between the sociopath and the masochist…
You’re always on my mind , not an easy task you’ve got, specially when the end could be (for him). I would make some THC oil and give him good doses , better have a stoner dog than an aggressive one, he may like it and transform his character as it does with us in a peaceful way, knowing what other alternative he may have it doesn’t sound that bad …
He’s still the least abusive room mate out of the last 4 or 5 (mostly alcoholics w/2 PTSD & BPD cases as icing on top); so comparatively he’s lovely to live with.
It was frustrating talking to his owners last week when I was thinking we had run out of road as they told me his issues got worse after being bullied by a German Sheppard in a dog walking group they use to go to but didnt think it was relevant to mention. I assume the mark under his right eye is from a dog bite at this point which they are either embarrassed to mention or don’t see the relevance. They also made a comment about “why’s he so mad, he was always pretty happy with us”; ignoring the fact they gave him up as they couldn’t handle him, didn’t recognize his leash aggression, downplayed his resource guarding and weren’t honest or upfront when finding him a new home. They wanted to take him back and give him to their brother in law, saying they’ve lived together before. Previously they said they tried rehoming him with family but he bite them and that wasn’t an option. I said unless there was a commitment to hire a behaviourist and work with them until they’re satisfied, I didn’t think it was safe. I’ve told them outright that it doesn’t feel responsible as they didn’t have the skills to raise him properly and still aren’t acknowledging the severity of his issues or accepting responsibility for it. I’m sure they think I’m an asshole, like many many people do, but all that matters is what’s best for Chompy McGrowlyFace as he’s the main victim in all this (my limbs are more like innocent bystanders lol)
Professionals who’ve worked with him have all said the same thing, he’s showing extreme aggression due to fear based reactivity. Blaming the dog for “mental issues” ignores the context of his life and abuse he’s gone through. Considering he’s still going through a traumatic experience in his mind, how can you jump to the conclusion he’s had enough time to get over it?
Which is why most people shouldn’t take reactive/aggressive dogs as they take a lot of patience and specific skills to work with to recondition their issues. What this experience has taught me is how little most people actually understand dogs, including the two trainers I’ve used so far who’s recommendations were counter productive and created new triggers. Dogs bite if they aren’t socialized and taught how to behave or as a protection at the extreme of being physically abused. Maki definitely wasn’t properly socialized and no one knows what he’s gone through as he’s be rehomed multiple times, seeing his original owners in between which adds another layer of trauma. They blamed him for his aggression without acknowledging how they failed to train him. Which is why I took him; no one recognized his issues or was consciously addressing them but then blamed him once he got triggered. That’s unethical and immature, I’ve made mistakes with Maki and triggered him causing him to bite me but I at least acknowledge that, accept responsibility for my part and don’t take the easy road of blaming him for things outside his control. Probably half the times I’ve triggered him are because his owners failed to tell me what his triggers were as they didn’t have enough experience to recognize them as issues. How can you blame the dog for the shitty things his owners did because they didn’t have the experience and bought a very challenging breed as their first dogs?
My only commitment is to do what’s best for hum, I was ready to put him down last week based on his refusal to continue working and growing aggression as that would have been the humane thing to do for him and the responsible thing to do to protect anyone else from getting hurt. Now that’s he’s working with me again and showing less aggression or fear on a daily basis, it’s only logical to keep working with him since he’s still trying to work with me. I wasn’t afraid of him when he was biting and latching onto me and dangling off my limbs (level 4 bites), so I’m not worried about losing any fingers or toes now that his bite severity with me is dropping. That suggests that he’s bonded enough with me that even when triggered part of his brain doesnt see me as a threat. Especially as I’ve simply taken to wearing foot and hand protection when needed to keep myself safe. Having dealt with an aggressive/reactive 115lbs German Sheppard, a 30lbs fox-dog is easy to handle despite his high reactivity because his size limits how much damage he can do. By focusing on the issues instead of my reaction to them, I’ve got him starting to growl more instead of jumping straight to violence. As he was likely conditioned as a puppy not to growl/snarl, he hasn’t known how to communicate he’s not happy; so teaching him to growl before getting triggered is progress. The more I ditch traditional method based on dominance based conditioning, the more positively he responds and easier it is to work together.
I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I had 3 dogs, but lost one recently.
I mostly post my cats in this thread - Cats of OG let’s see those kitty pics
But it doesn’t matter where you post pics of your animal friends really
I think you will find many people around here are just animal lovers period.
Lord Charles Grey, looks… Regal
We also have a Blue/Grey from the Humaine Society, She abstains…
Funny how finnicky cats can be to one another
Gunner simply Belongs
Indeed! He is called Lord Charles for a reason He is regal AF. My girl says the way he sits makes it seem like he is British royalty …and he sort of raises his nose at you when he looks.
I can’t stand their territorial pissings, but thats the nature of animals. Too bad so many humans who claim to not be animals act this way.
It’s been a tough read going thru this thread knowing that eventually I’d come to this post. I am so sorry @Floyd , cancer truly is a bitter devourer.
In time you’ll find another baby that needs you. Sammy had such a blessed life with you and your family, the love was very evident! Glad you got the extra years together.
Hopeful for a bright new beginning at the right time with the next fur baby.
, not an easy task you’ve got, specially when the end could be 
(for him). I would make some THC oil and give him good doses 
, better have a stoner dog than an aggressive one, he may like it and transform his character as it does with us in a peaceful way, knowing what other alternative he may have it doesn’t sound that bad … 
…and he sort of raises his nose at you when he looks.
