I have a terrier dog who is 4 years old! He used to be perfect with dogs but now he has started attacking them!
When hes off his lead he will stand and watchit a couple of times then run over and attackit!
I dont let him off the lead anymore!
On his lead he just growls alot and tries to get to it!
My mum wont pay for a dog trainer or anyone to help so i really need help!

Anyone please help! Any infomation! Thanks!

Here are some books that will help:
Fight! by Jean Donaldson
The Dog Aggression Workbook by James O`Heare
The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson.

I would also recommend you find a good (uses positive methods not Cesar Milan ones) dog training club and seek advice there. Clubs are not expensive.

Keep him on lead so he can't attack other dogs - you could use a long line to give him some more freedom to play but still maintain some control - I'd also muzzle him when around other strange dogs for now.

If using a muzzle take time to get him used to it - lots of treats and praise - get him used to it in the house before wearing it out.

If you can find a local class to help then brilliant

The books recommended are great, although nothing is quite like having someone there to talk you through everything.

I would work out how close to another dog is comfortable for him.
Is 10 metres OK? Does he ignore the other dog at this distance - if so reward for calm behaviour - move a little closer if he gets his heckles up move away and reward for calm behaviour. Do this until you can gradually get closer to another dog.
Do you know anyone who will happily be a stooge for you?

When passing other dogs do so in a wide arch to give him plenty of room - make it wide enough for him to be comfortable and reward calm behaviour.

If you can use a stooge in this situation as well.

I would really recommend classes I can't stress that enough - with out someone seeing and assessing the dog and how you are around him it's very difficult to offer any advice.
Something has triggered this behaviour - and with out identifying that and resolving the issue any advice given could be redundent or misdirected and cause more problems than it solves.

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Do you know if anything could have triggered this behaviour? Has he been introduced to alot of new dogs recently? Or been attacked himself?

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Good luck with your reading and training. The problem is he could get himself into all sorts of trouble with a large dog if he shows aggression to it, so hopefully you'll find an answer in the books mentioned above.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Thanks for help i will try.

Also. He is ok with dogs if he has smelled them on me before its just meeting new dogs. He used to go for walks with dogs all the with dogs.Recently hes been aloud on the beds and chairs e.c.t hes started getting aggresive. He doesnt go on the beds and chaires anymore and its helped a bit but not much. Hes been jumped on by excited dogs a few times but never attacked.

[QUOTE=mad_dog_dance;1896788]Thanks for help i will try.

Also. He is ok with dogs if he has smelled them on me before its just meeting new dogs. He used to go for walks with dogs all the with dogs.Recently hes been aloud on the beds and chairs e.c.t hes started getting aggresive. He doesnt go on the beds and chaires anymore and its helped a bit but not much. Hes been jumped on by excited dogs a few times but never attacked.[/QUOTE

I'd make him work for everything he gets in order to gain his respect again. Mine have to look in my eyes before being fed, sit at the door before being let out and never go anywhere in front of me - they have to earn everything they get, doesn't mean I don't love them to bits though.

Have you read this NILIF page?
Nothing in Life is Free Gaining control of your dog humanely

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Ok i will try that to thanks

i read all 9 posts, but saw nothing that mentioned if he's neutered?
if he is intact, i'd get him desexed ASAP - i don't know about where U are,
but here in the USA, there are many subsidized and even free S/N options.

Terrierrrists are highly-reactive [meaning thin-skinned and easily excited] and males are often prone to same-sex
and/or just plain dog-aggro, or the milder dog-reactive, behaviors.
many terrierrrs LOVE to fight - the arousal, the displays,
the growls, barks and snarls, snarking, biting, it's a huge thrill.

conditioning to a basket-muzzle -
YouTube - Jean Donaldson gets conditioned emotional response while fitting Gentle Leader
[this is a headcollar, but its the SAME process]

YouTube - Muzzle Training

i would suggest a wire basket-muzzle - he can still pant, drink [from a BUCKET - he has to plunge it,
he cannot dip the end in + drink] or eat tidbits fed thru the bars.
don't use a groomers muzzle, tube muzzle, or anything that holds his MOUTH shut -
he must be able to open his mouth easily and pant, it's not safe to use a fabric-muzzle.

calmatives can also help -
Pet Forums Community - View Single Post - dog body-language - and why it matters so much...
they reduce his reactivity by raising his tolerance [threshold].

FEARFULDOGS.com is excellent, and their page on triggers + thresholds is full of good tips.
happy training,
- terry

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

He has been nuetered. And he has only recently started attacking dogs, somtimes hes fine but others he isnt so i dont take the chance anymore.

Thanks