Working With Da

[BJean]

I have a 4yo alpha CAO bitch (generally DA)

intent on removing another ASD bitch of mine.

The ASD bitch was only a temporary guest, but it looks as if she will stay for a few more months - I'm not sure when her owners can take her back.

I can seperate them, but bcz the conflict is so intense, very tiring

The CAO bitch is intent on getting to the ASD bitch, to probably kill her.

i have put barbed wire atop of mesh fencing to remove the idea of fence climbing.

I have no expectations or illusuions that they can ever be remotely together, but would like to know if any behaviourists successful with DA can perhaps provide something, to reduce the intensity of intolerance.

I can't think of anything, but you only see your dogs through familiar eyes.

I'm in east vic.

[Guest rhapsodical78]

I have a 4yo alpha CAO bitch (generally DA)

intent on removing another ASD bitch of mine.

The ASD bitch was only a temporary guest, but it looks as if she will stay for a few more months - I'm not sure when her owners can take her back.

I can seperate them, but bcz the conflict is so intense, very tiring

The CAO bitch is intent on getting to the ASD bitch, to probably kill her.

i have put barbed wire atop of mesh fencing to remove the idea of fence climbing.

I have no expectations or illusuions that they can ever be remotely together, but would like to know if any behaviourists successful with DA can perhaps provide something, to reduce the intensity of intolerance.

I can't think of anything, but you only see your dogs through familiar eyes.

I'm in east vic.

I'm interested in the replies to this, because although less intense, I've recently intriduced a pit bull to my house whom my kelpie is intent on attacking. It's trying, to say the least. I don't envy your situation because I imagine your charges can be a little more difficult to control.

[~*Shell*~]

I don't think this is a DIY fix - i'd suggest going to see a behaviourist (or having one come out to you) even though it's expensive. Unfortunately, even with the best precautions, accidents can happen and if one got to the other then you could have a big problem (not to mention vets fees) - I'm not saying it's going to happen but it would be something i would worry about (and i did worry about it when i got Zero and realised he had DA problems).

Can't recommend anyone in vic as I'm based in sydney but I'm sure if you searched the forums you'd find someone who can!

Hope everything works out and your dogs become friends!

[BJean]

Thanks Shell

I should probably point out that I don't expect the DA to be changed, but am looking for ways for it to be less intense. So travelling to a behaviourist would be wasted, as I think anything effective can only be done working with the dogs in their environment

Another dog of mine is DA and doesn't like another young resident male, but they can coexist on the property in their seperate areas outside. Of course if they got near each other, it would be death or serious maim, but one is not obsessed with the other. They might have a growl through the fence line, but one won't then decide to dig a good 2 - 3 metres underground just to actually get to the other dog.

Or try to climb through windows - the alpha girl is very intelligent and uses all her analysing skills to look for possible weak points in the obstacles that prevent her from getting to the ASD.

Edited June 4, 2008 by lilli

[Wobbly]

I don't have any behavioural advice to offer.

But physical separation could work - I'm not sure of your set up, but if that and your finances permit perhaps an enclosure for the visitor akin to the type that is required for dangerous dogs? Large, made of a chain link gauge strong enough to keep the CAO out, with a chain link roof if the CAO climbs and a concrete floor or similar to stop the her digging in. Ensure that the enclosure is not visible, and far enough away from the CAO's yard that she doesn't continually smell or hear the visitor. Other than that, a rehome might be best.

[Aidan]

but would like to know if any behaviourists successful with DA can perhaps provide something, to reduce the intensity of intolerance.

Yeah, sedatives.

Apart from that, good, strong enclosures.

You can use controlled set-ups to train just about any behaviour you want, but making it a permanent change which is generalised to a wide variety of different situations takes considerably more work and would not be practical. Some of those genes were wired with the wrong fuses, right?

[BJean]

I don't have any behavioural advice to offer.

But physical separation could work - I'm not sure of your set up, but if that and your finances permit perhaps an enclosure for the visitor akin to the type that is required for dangerous dogs? Large, made of a chain link gauge strong enough to keep the CAO out, with a chain link roof if the CAO climbs and a concrete floor or similar to stop the her digging in. Ensure that the enclosure is not visible, and far enough away from the CAO's yard that she doesn't continually smell or hear the visitor. Other than that, a rehome might be best.

thanks wobbly we have physical seperation at the moment - but unless i had cyclone fencing and concrete floors et al (as oppsed to paddocks) i wont leave both outside at the same time.

lol have decided that the ASD's stay is not going to be for much longer

[Wobbly]

Yeah probably best to move the ASD on - for your sanity and her safety - a serious CAO proof enclosure is a lot of work and money for a temporary guest, it would only be worthwhile if you were sure you'd have future use for it.

[BJean]

Yeah, sedatives.

:nahnah: lol thought of that, get me at a wrung out moment, and i've considered the permanent kind

Apart from that, good, strong enclosures.

You can use controlled set-ups to train just about any behaviour you want, but making it a permanent change which is generalised to a wide variety of different situations takes considerably more work and would not be practical. Some of those genes were wired with the wrong fuses, right?

i don't think small enclosures are practical, as i can't put other animals in as well - paddocks are the best option with dog proof fencing

certain DA I don't think training / behaviour modification can remove, sometimes DA is part of the whole package -

her genes were wired with the right fuses - she just a kazakhstani tsarina.

ETA:

woops thanks -

realised the orignal solution - ASD's girl stay is now strictly short term

Edited June 5, 2008 by lilli

[Guest pupylv]

lilli

K9 IQ. This guy is a behaviourist that lives in the Melbourne area, he specialises in aggression.

His training, depending on the dog and the owners ability to continue with the techniques, can be correctional based however I have also seen him use more positive based training by changing the dogs emotional status and teaching alternative behaviours. I personally have not needed to use him but I have seen his work and if it helps with your problem it may be worth a try.

Edited June 18, 2008 by pupylv

[Kelpie-i]

K9 IQ 0407058599. This guy is a behaviourist that lives in the Melbourne area, he specialises in aggression.

Pupylv, can you advise who this person is and what kind of technique he uses? Is it correctional (ie. correction based to create avoidance in the dog) or is it more positive based (ie changes the dog's emotional status and teaches alternative behaviours).

Have you used him before and if so, would you give us some details on this?

[corvus]

We went through this sort of thing a few years ago, only it was a whippet cross and a corgi, so considerably more manageable! Even so, we ended up giving up. We got a behaviourist in and he basically said there was not much you can do but manage. The aggression came from a different basis, though.

I guess sometimes dogs just don't like one another. Some breeds don't like anyone. I think there's a point where you have to realise that there's only so much you can ask of your dog (the point you are obviously at).

ETA, sometimes walking dogs together can smooth out a lot of troubles, but I don't think that's going to happen for you. :D

Edited June 13, 2008 by corvus