Female vs. Female aggressiveness - Page 1

She's always tried to skirmish upon meeting a strange female but until we were attacked while walking (she was leashed and at heel) by a loose pit bull she was controllable. Now she wants a piece of any female dog that approaches. I'm working to stop things before they start but a loose dog is not easy to run off while I'm trying to keep her calm and attentive to my commands. She has even started to bark at any strangers who approach. She doesn't go after them if they stay calm but that's not easy for them. I'm able to control it and that part is getting better. With regard to the other dogs, I've started taking her to the local boarding kennel and walking her in the aisle. She smiles at the boys but needs corrective action when we pass the girls. I need some more ideas. With regard to her temperament, she is calm, very submissive and well obdience trained. How do I post her picture here?

Sadly it may only take one bad experience for this to happen.  Your dogs view is get them before they get her.  Also Female on female agression is the worst combo.  Jeese, I just see how female people are with other females, not always the best.  I am sure you already know all of this.

The advise I would give is first off is try just giving her a break from this exposure, give her the chance to forget the experience.  If you choose not to give he ra break, or mabey you already have and she is still very agressive keep the following in mind.  Monitor closely your own feelings and stress/tension.  I would bet that as you and her near the female dogs you are stressed yourself.  Your dog WILL pick up on your stress she can smell it.  YOur stress will make it worse.  You may need an experienced handler, who can remain mentally neutral, to handle her in these situations.

Also I would consider just teaching her to play, accept treats or something fun in the presence of the other famales that are kenneled.  This will relax both of you.  In a different setting teach her a strong down stay, then a strong down stay with distractions.  Eventually a down stay in front of a kenneled female quickly followed by play betewwn you two where she is not focused on the other dog and totally focused on you.  You may not be able to do this 3 feet from the other dog in the beginning.  Her proximity may need to be 10 or 15 feet away.  I personally would not start this with close proximity she she is unable to do it, or your handeling skills are not really good.

This should be done with the help of someone who knows their stuff, that is the trainer.

Thanks for your comments. She's doing better little by little. Been doing essentially what you have suggested. The Pit Bull attack naturally had me tense even though I know better. she's my first GSD. I'm 75 and have been training versatile hunting dogs (the Drahthaar) for many years but haven't been the victim of an attack and was wondering if one of the fine folks here had anything that might help. The play you mentioned is something I hadn't tried but will today at the boarding kennel. I've also been bringing her as close as possible when walking to fenced barking dogs and she is paying less attention each day. She's the Grand Daughter of Rikkor Von Bad-Boll 1998 and 1999 Sieger. She's neutered. I've run out of energy to deal with having more dogs.

Also (and you may already know this) keep in mind that if you take it slow or too slow you will not mess anything up, go too fast and you will loose progress that you  have made.

I also sugest owners playing tug in the presence of decoys for dogs that take the work too seriously.  PP work that is.  The state of mind may still be agressive if face to face with another female.  However the desired state of mind (in my opinion for this dog) is that she is confident enough to ignore the other dog, totally.  State of mind is "I see you there, but you are too unimportant and not threat enough for me to pay you any mind".  This state of mind is more confidence minded than "I want to kill the other B###H" and yet it is not avoidance.


I think tug play would be the best type of play.  Teaching to hold eye contact may not be a bad idea down the road
 

find a competent behaviorist

my male was more dog aloof untill we where attacked by a pit and it grabbed his leg. after that my male would get down right nasty when a nother male came around. so i sat his happy butt in petsmart with a prong collar and treats. at first he was bein crazy so he had some strong corrections it took him probably 30 mins and then he didnt care if other dogs where walking right becide him and since then he was fine. but every dog is different. some wouldent agree with my method but all behaviorists told me neuter him right away. well that Wasent going to happen lol.

 also my female shepherd she has never had a bad experence with another dog or anything but when she is playing or loose she will fight with another female if the female challanges her males can do what they please but females nope. with her i just keep her focus on me and i know if she starts strutting around and i say something she difuses instantly and comes over to me so i havent bothered with working on it with her as most dogs we are around are male.

Neuter ? LOL Like that is going to help that. 

To the OP you had a dog that already had some issues with insecurity, as you described to begin with. Now, some stupid dog has frosted the cake and decorated it for you nicely.

Now you are stuck with the dog that cannot be trusted thanks to that. I would go and find a trainer that does group training and ask if you can sit way way off to the side and have him help you teach your dog that no matter what she wants to do, she needs to do what YOU want her to do.

All I have is harsh methods, sorry, I am sure that some on here have some fancy new stuff.  I do know that life is easier if she knows her OB very very well.

Yep, their definately is a sub group in the dog community that think that all you have to do is to take the dog to the old choppin block to fix behaviors.

yep jeff i use what i use because it works for me. i tryed some of the new stuff and my dogs looked at me like i was stupid. so back to what i know. and yep most people who met my male wanted to buy him this lady wanted to take his pride away lol..... i think i did laugh in her face and walk away.

I had the same issue, and I'll tell you now it's very difficult to fix and more often becomes a matter ofmanaging the issue.

I did the classes, the behaviorists, even putting the dog in a muzzle and letting is run with various other dogs ; my wife is a dog walker. All helped a little bit, but it remains an underlying issue.

Actually Jeff has said something sensible, which I used. When I see another another dog I walk towards it if its on a lead and I give my bitch a job to do i.e. heel and watch me like schutzhund healing. If she breaches the command then there will be a clear consequence, when we walk past and there are no issues then the ball is dropped/thrown or food/praise given.

This is papering over the cracks in all honesty, but it works. I honestly believe this is a very difficult issue to resolve.

Ronin