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by Tawny68 on 30 October 2012 - 00:10
I recently had a trainer suggest I use an ear pinch on my rescued GSD when he guards me. He can get a little agressive when people approach me and the trainer wants me to grab his collar bring it up and pinch his ear between the links. (I'd have to trade him prong for a choke chain)
Now way way back when I first got into dogs I know that I was taught to use an ear pinch to train a retrieve. That was with all the foundation work through the koehler methord of training too. I've never heard of using it with an agressive dog before. Plus my rescue, Taz has never had an prior training before I got him out of the shelter. I've taught him sit/down/stay/come with luring and treats. I am a little afraid that using an ear pinch is just going to get him to redirect on to me.
Any suggestions or advice from people with experience using these training methods? I can give more information on Taz and myself if that would help.
Taz - 4 year old GSD, dropped off at the shelter as a stray. I have owned him for four months. I have trained dogs in obedience and agility and done a few titles on my dogs. I have mostly owned Golden Retrievers and one GSD mix. None of them have been as hard or smart as Taz haha.
Now way way back when I first got into dogs I know that I was taught to use an ear pinch to train a retrieve. That was with all the foundation work through the koehler methord of training too. I've never heard of using it with an agressive dog before. Plus my rescue, Taz has never had an prior training before I got him out of the shelter. I've taught him sit/down/stay/come with luring and treats. I am a little afraid that using an ear pinch is just going to get him to redirect on to me.
Any suggestions or advice from people with experience using these training methods? I can give more information on Taz and myself if that would help.
Taz - 4 year old GSD, dropped off at the shelter as a stray. I have owned him for four months. I have trained dogs in obedience and agility and done a few titles on my dogs. I have mostly owned Golden Retrievers and one GSD mix. None of them have been as hard or smart as Taz haha.
by Elkoorr on 30 October 2012 - 00:10
Yes, he could very well redirect towards you, or it can make the issue worse. You need to figure out why he acts like that. Sometimes its just the sense of you being actual uncomfortable with the person approaching you, or you are uncomfortable because you dont trust your dog related to past experiences. There is a reason that he is guarding you.
Have you tried dropping the leash completely? How is he acting then? I have had a similar problem. For me it helped that I told the person not to approach me, but me approaching them first, until I had myself better in control (sounds funny, I know...LOL) and put more trust in my dog. It took some time, but we got there.
Have you tried dropping the leash completely? How is he acting then? I have had a similar problem. For me it helped that I told the person not to approach me, but me approaching them first, until I had myself better in control (sounds funny, I know...LOL) and put more trust in my dog. It took some time, but we got there.
by Slamdunc on 30 October 2012 - 01:10
I would absolutely not use an ear pinch for an aggressive dog.
by Nans gsd on 30 October 2012 - 02:10
Nope, I would not use an ear pinch either; has to be another way. What is making him react? What and why is he being aggressive? That is what I would want to find out first; then proceed with a plan. BOL Nan
by Keith Grossman on 30 October 2012 - 02:10
Listen to Jim (Slamdunc); bad idea.
by howlk9 on 30 October 2012 - 02:10
I would not use an ear pinch on an aggro dog, nor the trainer who would suggest it.
Advice above is correct: figure out what is triggering the behavior and start to correct that.
Advice above is correct: figure out what is triggering the behavior and start to correct that.
by BlackthornGSD on 30 October 2012 - 03:10
That seems like a Very BadTM idea.
I've heard of some very good results from using the vibrate feature on an electric collar for interupting some types of reactive aggression.
I've heard of some very good results from using the vibrate feature on an electric collar for interupting some types of reactive aggression.
by Mindhunt on 30 October 2012 - 06:10
How about finding out what is motivating the behavior first.
Bad idea to use an ear pinch. Also he will pick up on your movements of pulling his collar up to get his ear in the pinch (no matter how fast or smooth you are, it takes a few seconds and to dogs, feeling or seeing a few millimeters of movement is like a neon sign). He then could get aggressive if you reach for his collar for something benign like attaching a leash because to him, you reaching for his collar = pain. (My trainer friend had a heck of a time retraining a malmute that reaching for the collar is not a bad thing, he had his ear pinched in prong once too often for misbehaving).
You said he was rescued, do you know what your dog's previous situation was? The reason I ask is I have a male GSD that was rescued from a very abusive home. He was 6 months old and the day we got him, my husband walked up to me and gave me a bear hug lifting me off my feet. This dog jumped up and bit him on the leg. We were stunned, thankfully it was just a pinch and no skin was broken. After some digging, we found out that the previous owner not only abused this dog pretty regularly, but abused his wife as well. It took some time to work through his wanting to protect me from men with lots of postive experiences. He still doesn't like it when we hug and will whine and put his head between us, but nothing aggressive.
Bad idea to use an ear pinch. Also he will pick up on your movements of pulling his collar up to get his ear in the pinch (no matter how fast or smooth you are, it takes a few seconds and to dogs, feeling or seeing a few millimeters of movement is like a neon sign). He then could get aggressive if you reach for his collar for something benign like attaching a leash because to him, you reaching for his collar = pain. (My trainer friend had a heck of a time retraining a malmute that reaching for the collar is not a bad thing, he had his ear pinched in prong once too often for misbehaving).
You said he was rescued, do you know what your dog's previous situation was? The reason I ask is I have a male GSD that was rescued from a very abusive home. He was 6 months old and the day we got him, my husband walked up to me and gave me a bear hug lifting me off my feet. This dog jumped up and bit him on the leg. We were stunned, thankfully it was just a pinch and no skin was broken. After some digging, we found out that the previous owner not only abused this dog pretty regularly, but abused his wife as well. It took some time to work through his wanting to protect me from men with lots of postive experiences. He still doesn't like it when we hug and will whine and put his head between us, but nothing aggressive.
by LadyFrost on 30 October 2012 - 12:10
Now, i am not suggesting that you don't discover what is why or how...but in time of need when u must stop what ever is going on I suggest pinch/ grab the skin/muscle where it connects between hind leg and belly, index and middle finger on the inside thumb on the outside....it worked for all of my dogs, when we pass very aggressive dogs on hikes that are lunging and growling at us sometimes firm yank of a chain is not enough to break my dogs "zoom" so quick grab on a soft spot gets them to snap out of it very quickly...males react better to it, not sure if its more sensitive spot on them but it works every time....
by michael49 on 30 October 2012 - 12:10
The above advice sounds like a guaranteed way to get bit. Ladyfrost I'm not saying the method didn't work for you, but I wouldn't advise other peope to do it. All dogs don't react the same way. Michael
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