I attended a McConnell seminar on dog dog aggression a while back & I've read all her books and learned a lot from her. (I'm still a bit choked about the puppies though. Ahem.)
Anyway - I went on a bit of a rant in the comments on her post.
And a few people who came after me indicated my post resonated with them - so maybe there's something there. To sum up: it takes too long & it's managing the handler, not fixing the dog.
Where's that damned magic wand when we need it?
Huh? Why was my picture selected to adorn this post?
I don't get the connection?
I don't get the connection?
3 comments:
I read your comment on her blog, and I can relate.
There certainly are times when you wish that you could just sit down and explain it to the dog, and they'd just 'get it'.
But, trying to find a bright side in it all, I've sure learned a heck of a lot about dogs in this past year and a half:)
I've also learned that I wouldn't adopt another dog without seeing it in a public place amongst strangers and strange dogs. Then at least I would know what I was getting into. Not saying that I would never adopt another reactive dog, just that I would be forewarned:)
Huh. Well I think I may have a reactive dog given the description. But she's a farm dog that never leaves our place. And her job is to be aggressive towards unknown animal (including stray dogs) so her inability to socialize with unknown dogs has never been a problem.
But in thinking about it she can't actually be properly social with any dog but our own "pack". She's quick to accept a new member once she's identified them as part of our pack.
I can't imagine though if we didn't have the acres for her to run or the other dogs for her to play with here at home because there is no feasible way to take her to a dog park or walking path without inviting a mass amount of aggressive response.
I love Patricia's blog. I have tremendous respect for her and her ability to explain things to people that I simply can't (I know what I see, but I can't explain it to people who don't 'see' it).
Your comment is interesting. My 'specialty' is shy/timid dogs who lack confidence so, for me, a "couple year fix" is generally what I expect to walk into. There is no such thing as a quick fix and often there's not even a quick management option. (however, I also find that a dog who's fear issues threaten the safety of people is better off euthanized)
I will freely admit that the way I deal with dogs who react in an excitatory / aggressive manner is far more aggressive than anything you'll ever see Patricia do. I think everybody has to find their own "groove" and run with it.
I definitely understand the frustration people feel with this stuff, though. I would say that for all practical purposes Bailey and I generally disliked each other for the first 2 years after I adopted him. Neither of us was what the other needed (or in my case hoped for). I had an awful lot to learn, and I wouldn't trade the lesson for anything.
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