Re: How to overcome their fear period

Posted by: Linda
Posted on: July 29, 2001 at 15:40:13

In Reply to: Re: How to overcome their fear period
Posted by: Marie Evans
Posted on: July 29, 2001 at 10:35:13

Question:

: : When my JRT was 7 weeks, she got caught under the seat of my car and her collar got caught on a wire. I had to undo her collar to get her out - she was quite distressed. (yes, I know that 7 weeks is too early, but in NZ every Tom, Dick and Harry breed litters, but that's no reason not to buy a puppy and fill up the pound)
: : ..anyway back to my question. Ever since then, Willow gets very very aggressive when we fiddle with her collar. Especially when we have to put it back on her, or put on a gentle leader (needed for heel training). She viciously spits and bites me - enuff to draw blood. I'm afraid if she gets lost and someone tries to read her registration ID, that she'll bite them too and fall under the dog-law. Can you tell me how to teach her to overcome this fear? What steps do I need to take? At the moment, it takes 2-3 brave people to put her collar or gentle lead on with all of us wearing extra thick ski gloves.

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: Hi Patti,

: You don't mention how old Willow is now but regardless with this type of fear aggression you should contact a trainer or behaviorist.

: Anytime you have a dog so fearful it is biting this calls for professional help and that is something we just cannot address on a message board.

: A behavorist should be able to identify the problems, offer some behavior modification and in some instances, working with your vet, may offer a drug to use to, at least temporarily, get your dog's anxiety lowered so any of the exercises they recommend you do with Willow will not end up in a battle.

: As always dogs should be set up to succeed. Please find a behaviorist for your girl. You are right to be concerned this is a very serious problem.

: Good luck to you and Willow,
: Marie

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I would also like to say that even working with a trainer/behaviorst may not help. All puppies have a fear periodsw between the age of 6 to 8 to 9 weeks. This is the main reason that they need to stay with their littermats and mother. When the dog they don't have problems adjusting to things that have happened to them, they basically roll with the flow. This is the time when learned behavior is taught! This is also something that no human can teach and also no human can correct the things that they missed during that period of time.
I wish you good luck and working with a triner/behaviorst may help some but please be aware that it may not help also.
Regards
Linda