Aggression much better, everything else worse!

[loren Kristunas]

I posted a few days ago about Sage, who's aggression was getting better but her fear worse. Her fear is getting even worse. She is usually great in obedience class, confident, happy, has not aggressed in months, even when other dogs get in her face. Today a big Newfoundland jumped on her and she panicked, got really fearful, then some dogs started barking and she tried to run to the car and really panicked, wouldn't listen, took about 15 minutes to get her back into gear and then she was still fearful. She isn't listening to commands she used to have rock solid, I've started her on clicker trianing and even on this she is really hesitant and cautious. What colud be going on. Sometimes she seems happier and better adjusted than ever, but more and more she is the very shy, cautious canine we first adopted. The aggression is gone but why is all this other stuff coming back? I have been really working with keeping distance(I didn't in obedience class but never had to before), counter conditioning and systematic desensitization. Any thoughts?

 

[Doberluv]

Why on earth did that Newfoundland's owner allow that dog to jump on yours? I don't blame your dog one bit for being fearful when something like that happens. There is nothing abnormal about your dog reacting that way. Her "aggression" is probably not aggression, but a defense mechanism. Just keep doing what you're doing, desensatizing from distance when you can and giving her confidence building games...tug of war, let her win. Your positive training methods will really help. Give her some time and experience and I think she'll get less shy. She may not have had enough socializing as a pup, before you adopted her and she may never be totally confident, but I think she'll get better. (I'd give that Newfie's owner a piece of my mind) That probably set your dog back a bit, but with the way you're handling her.....so nicely, she will come along.

 

[loren Kristunas]

Gosh, thanks for the vote of confidence, I was feeling really bad that I didn't watch for and protect her somehow, I really think she is trusting me now which is why she is aggressing less. I felt like I let her down. I don't really think it was the other owners fault. It was before the class started and both dogs were in down stays, we were talking to eachother a few feet apart, and the Newfoundland just bounded up and jumped on her suddenly, I think to play,it was friendly but terrified Sage. We got them apart as soon as it happened. It's just that she was so skitish after that, and today for the first time in a long time she snapped at another dog while we were walking, so I think we've had a setback, but hopefully one that can be remedied. Even before this incident her fear level has been higher again, just really cautious and hesitant about eveything. She really goes through stages. She seems like she trusts us more and more, she follows me everywhere now, but doesn't trust the world yet.

 

[Doberluv]

Oh...I see. Well, be careful she doesn't get overwhelmed and maybe find a dog or two that is her size and plays gently to build her back up again. Oh....one other hint: When she acts fearful or shy, don't make a fuss over her. That attention is like a reward for that reaction she has. It's better to act like it's no big deal and praise when she is not acting all shy. Just take it slow and easy. Good luck at class. And remember, dogs don't like all dogs. There is no reason for us to expect them to. They're from pack animals and what is familiar is what they like. Newcomers are not often welcome. So we should be careful with our dogs around other dogs. I know I have to be with Lyric. But the pups need to all learn to be use to seeing dogs around and to act mannerly and be relatively comfortable when they see another dog.