Rosie n Max

 

Hi
Where did you buy him from, was he socialised properly, from a proper breeder? Not a puppy farm? if he was from a reputable source has something happened to him to trigger this behaviour? Perhaps you need professional help from a dog therapist.

 

Getting a second dog when the first has such bad behaviour really isn't a good idea. The second dog is quite likely to copy the first. Aggression is unusual in Cavvies, even if it is fear-based which it could well be if he wasn't well socialised. Also, he's unlikely to broaden friendship with Rosie to include unknown, strange dogs. You shouldn't waste time, get professional help before he bites someone else who insists on reporting him..

 

Try a front-leading harness instead of a choke-chain. Mekuti, Kumfipet and Xtra dog are all amazing.

It's pretty aversive for a dog to be walked in a choke chain, and the likelihood is that when he's on walks it's tightening as the object he's scared of approaches. Therefore he's getting a double-whammy; there's a scary thing and his lead tightens around his neck. In training terms this would be the same as attempting to teach a human not to be scared of spiders by slapping their wrist every time they see a spider - it's not going to help their fear problems. Adding something unpleasant to an already stressful situation can actually lead to a dog's behaviour becoming worse, since they begin to associate walks (and scary things on walks) with an additional unpleasant sensation of a tightening lead - thus they become more fearful and potentially more aggressive.

With a front leading harness the lead attaches to the dog's chest, so they have nothing to pull against. Nothing tightens unpleasantly, and they give very good control over a dog even if they're a puller.

 

The love n'kisses are nice. But it won't accomplish anything in dealing with his current antisocial behaviour.

What is VERY likely to happen, however, that your male will detest other dogs and strangers even MORE. Why? Well, he didn't like them anyhow and now he has his own female to protect. The combination of the 2 is likely to further augment his aggression, not reduce it. I mean anything is possible...but the odds are not good. At all.

I wouldn't normally say this but you asked for input: if those were my dogs, I would return the pup to the breeder, explaining that I made a mistake and that need to focus on my older dog to address HIS issues before the pup copies him.

Because at the moment you are on track to end up with TWO antisocial dogs, not merely one. Taking TWO dogs out who hate other dogs, having TWO unfriendly dogs in the house is A LOT harder than having one. Not just twice as hard, but REALLY difficult.

If you can't bring yourself to relinquish the pup - not even for her, or your oyher dog's sake - please seek qualified professional help immediatly. If you would let people know where abouts you live, maybe a member can help in suggesting a competent behaviourist.

 

With regards to the growlyness/barking/nipping... this isn't exactly normal for Cav's. (I own a Cav x ). They are sensitive dogs and can have lingering consequences from bad encounters, but normally the consequence is "flight" - ie. running away or avoiding the thing that they don't like. For some reason your dog seems to have chosen a more active method of defense; does he have a dodgy past? E.g undersocialised, neglected, or a history of aversive training methods?

I think you'd benefit from getting your dog a vet-check just to rule out medical causes of his growling/barking/nipping. In particular, some dogs become grumpy when they have issues with their thyroid, eyesight, hearing or are in pain. If your dog is healthy then your vet can refer you to a reputable dog behaviourist (which is not the same as a trainer. Trainers train, whereas behaviourists deal with behavioural issues). Behaviourists are typically covered on pet insurance, if you have it.

 

I would ditch the choke chain asap. Most aggression is fear based, causing him pain and/or discomfort every time he reacts is going to do nothing to change the way he feels about other dogs. At best you'll simply suppress his noisy warnings and make it more likely that he'll go straight for the bite.

Nor would I be forcing him and the pup to share valuable resources such as food and your lap, you're more likely to trigger an issue than prevent one that way.

I would honestly suggest getting a thorough vet check done and if that's all clear a referral to a reputable behaviourist.

 

I have always had cavs, I have an ex breeder from a puppy farm that obviously had no socialisation and had an awful life. I have had her 5 years and she is much much better but still very very nervous and scared of things but I have never ever heard her even growl (she does bark at noises and men ) even in very scary situation she has never been aggressive, that's why I think you need a vet or therapist to see him. Cavaliers are never ever nasty, there must be an underlying cause.

 

Any dog can have behavioural issues, Cavaliers included.

 

It sounds very possible that his problems could be due to lack of confidence and nervousness and anxiety around people and other dogs especially as you say he was cowering at times by the end of the class. Dogs will often bark growl and lunge in defence especially if they are on lead and stuck in a situation or faced with another dog to try to make them go away and leave them alone, as they have no other alternative, so although he appears aggressive for aggressions sake it could well be out of stress and anxiety.

If it is and it sounds quite possible, then using things like choke chains can actually make the problem worse still. All it will teach and instill in him is that something more unpleasant happens when people or other dogs approach. I deffinately wouldn't use any other spray collars, sprays or things like pet correctors either for the same reason. With quite a high incidence of things like syringomyelia and chiari like malformation and things like episodic falling syndrome as well as heart problems in the breed especially in some lines I wouldn't want to use any tight collars especially not a choke chain on the breed. In fact any breed, choke chains have been proven to cause problems and damage to dogs necks and throats ocular problems and all sorts.
Probably more so in a more delicate small breed.

Avoid Choke Chains at all Costs!

What you need to do is slow introductions to people, other dogs and situations and use training where he gains a positive experience of being around them and rewarded when he doesn't react. Starting with distances he is comfortable with at first and then slowly decreasing the distance to the triggers.

When a new dog is introduced on another existing dogs patch its not unusual for the exisiting dog to totally ignore and want nothing to do with the new one at first, or some will growl or airsnap in the early days, its just a way of ensuring that the new pup or dog is going to give them space and not bug the life out of them. A way of establishing boundaries. Once boundaries are in place and the older dogs happy the new one is going to give them some peace and space when they want it, then you usually start to see them doing things like laying together, and finally invite the new one to play.

It may be an idea to get in a trainer or behaviourist to assess him properly and help overcome the problems in the correct way.

CAPBT - COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers or Welcome to APDT - Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK

I would check to see if there are trainers and behaviourists in your area, speak to a few, ask about not only written qualifications but also proven practical experiences and successes with the sort of problems you are having.