Can anyone come up with any ideas for us to try, i have thought about maybe a behaviourist but dont know where to start really we live in slough and need maybe a recomendation especially as he is a bull terrier, Thanks love carol v

well whats the problem

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Keep Dreaming Smudge! HAHAHA

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Hi carol you have posted several threads that are connected i think but seperating your questions on different threads get confussing to read as this one doesnt really explain what you want help about unless you search for the other thread with the origional problem , lol hope this helps as people wont be able to respond very easily ,
Andrea

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Oh right, now I see! Would be better kept to one thread!

I'm sorry i am a complete novice to this sort of thing, i dont know how im supposed to inform people i typed in on my first thread what the problem was and didnt get any replys so i did a second one and then i read what the administrator said about just saying hello or i need help, he said to type in part of what the problem was so i did, i have had a couple of replys in my personel email box, i have responded to those, silver fox and jenny olly have helped me.
Anyway i have an english bull terrier called samson who was attackd by a pit bull the dog just jumped a fence and landed on my dogs back who then tried to bite him, samson retaliated and gripped the dog by the neck and shook him we could not get samson to let go, it was horrific for all concerned.

Since then we have been nervous everytime we see a dog off lead and especially as samson reacts by making a strange screeching high pitched bark and pulls furiously to get to it. I know we are making matters worse for our dog by being nervous but we are concerned if he bites another dog even in retaliation we could lose him. We have muzzled him when out but everyone avoids you then so he still does not get to greet. carol v

Ahh ok i see , you can make matters worse if your not carefull and your dog will be picking up on your nervs , Is he normally a friendly dog where other dogs are concerned . If he is its amazing how tollerant they can be and wont be holding a grudge against all dog kind because of this one act . If on the other hand he isnt dog friendly then you will need to keep him on lead at all times to safeguard you and him from future confruntations , I have read about dogs behaviour on a lead and basicly while you have him on it he has lost his choice of running away if something scares him , and so often through no other choice the dog will resort to agresion other dogs also see the lead as a red rag so to speak . You need to get his trust in you again so starting at home make sure he is confident that you are boss and then when your out with him he will trust your judgement and be less likely to react in a bad way , I can highly recomend a book caled the dog listener by Jan Fennell it gives you an amazing insight to a dogs way of thinking from being in a pack ( your family ) and making sure he knows his place and is well behaved .
I think as for your walks with him its safe to say that you know your dog best and so if you have good controll of him and he comes no questions asked then give it a go let him off but find a quiet park and do it for a short period of time then put him back on the lead , dont panic at the sight of another dog he will become protective of you and may become wary of the approching dog , i think its not wise to assume all dogs off lead are friendly but most dog owners if they are sensible will not have thier dog loose if its not friendly anyway .
Hope this helps a bit
Andrea

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Thankyou Andrea for your reply, i have had a lot of info and tips and will definatley try to be more confident when out with samson, my husband tends to walk samson and i walk millie our jack russell, samson is so strong i can not manage him, he pulls like a train. When samson is in the home he is so responsive to treats he will follow commands and listens really well but once we are outside he seems to cop a deaf'n. so frustrating, we take treats and have done since he was a pup but he just seems to have a mind of his own. I have always had dogs but only Jack russels and i have never had a problem with training but samson is a different story. We love him to death he is such a character and now understand why bull terriers owners say once you have had one you will stick with this breed, its true, the book you said to get i will definatley buy, and i also thought i would tell you about the behaviourist i have been in touch with he is very expensive but has a certificate of advanced canine communication, he says he was trained by Jan Fennell . So i am seriously considering it. we will try some of your tips first, thanks again will keep you informed, Carol v

Nooooo! Not Jan fennel! eek:

Sorry but i think the woman and her principles are rubbish!

A good behaviourist, isn't interested in the money, and advanced canine communtication? Im sure he's probably great im cynical but there are some very unscrupulous people out there and you are in a delicate situation with your dog.

I'll PM you

Each to thier own what works for one doesnt always work for someone else . And everyone is entitled to make thier own mind up about what training methods they use . You cant poo poo something if either you havnt tried it or have seen it work .

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