What is the best therepy for a deaf protective australian cattle dog?
Topics: Dog Breeds | 2 Comments »By admin | March 1, 2010
Australian cattle dogs are protective by nature but my pooch was also hit by a car and is deaf.
What this means is she is extremely cuddly and sweet around people and animals she knows but does a complete 180 around certain people and other dogs. I bring her to the dog-park, with muzzle, and she will play with all the other dogs without incident until one comes close to me and she goes crazy. She’ll do the same with people that try and pet her when she doesn’t want to be petted but sometimes the signs aren’t so clear between the two.
My question is this – I know I need to watch her closely to avoid incidents but would like seek help to see if there are ways of training it out of her.
One person has told me to try getting her on some meds (but she is calm 95% of the time).
Another suggested a dog psychic.
Any other advice?
Posted by froghoppergal on 03.01.10 9:39 pm
Wow, well there are many things you can do. I take my australian cattle dog to dog training. There is also a type of dog school online that helps pooches with their confedence, manners and the way the react with people. Try looking on google or yahoo. If it doesnt show anything you like, ask a vet near you that you trust. Remember, she may be scared part of the time too. Work with her on being a dream owner. We all want are dream dog, but think how a dog may want a dream owner. A dog is never wrong. It may be scared or even confused but you have to be there for them to look up to. I hope that the people on yahoo can help you too!!!!
Posted by realdusi on 03.01.10 10:10 pm
Well I’m pleased to see that you have already taken steps to prevent your aussie from hurting someone else. I’ve done a little bit of research (links below), and have come up with a little bit of insight to your problem.
1) Very common problem with working dogs (and aussies in general)
2) Meds won’t work but a low protein diet might help (protein = fuel; too much = high energy dog)
3) As far as pet psychics go, while I wish I could believe in them, I don’t.
Aussies are working dogs, they were bred to work and constantly need a job to do. Also, they are herding dogs, so their mentality is to consitently herd and gaurd the flock of sheep which they consider to be their pack. Right now, you are her flock of sheep. What you are going to need is lots of practice, and lots of training.
I am a firm believer in the Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) training method (link below). This is a way to make obedience part of your daily routine as well as to enforce to the dog that you are pack leader. What this will also do for your aussie is to give her a job. With NILIF, her job will be to please you; She does nothing until told what to do by you the pack leader. Once you firmly establish yourself as pack leader and give your aussie a job you can start working with her slowly to curb her main problem which is overprotective aggression.
I recomend a group training class (try an AKC certified training class, or one that will help you test for Canine Good Citizen – none of those lame Petsmart classes). This will help her learn in a high stress environment that involve other people and other dogs being close to her human. Once she has the basics down pat (Sit, stand, down, stay, come, leave it, and watch me) you can work on her with the help of a traniner or friend. With her heeling or staying, have someone slowly approach you. Have her stay and watch you, if her eyes stray from you tell her to leave it. Correct her if she is aggressive or looks away, but praise her if she does good. Keeping working on it until someone can come up to you and shake your hand or hug you with out your aussie going nuts.