Attacking puppies.

I am after some advice for a friend of mine who is quite frankly getting to her wits end with her Jack Russell. He is about 15-18 months old and has recently been agressive with puppies. In her words he goes in for the kill. She then grabs hold of him and holds him down, which I personally do not agree with, and it is obviously not working. He was himself attacked by a unneutered cavalier spaniel recently. She is probably going to put a muzzle on him.

He walks with a fair few dogs, and seems ok. He did have a couple of confrontations with my dog, a Cairn, but that has stopped now and they basically ignore each other most of the time. He is not her only dog.
Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

How is he getting the opportunity to be aggressive towards puppies? surely if he is aggressive he should be kept on a lead at all times.

If this dog is indeed "going in for the kill" he should be muzzled as well. You friend needs help from a qualified behaviourist ASAP.

Thanks for quick reply labradork.
Agree with you.
Personally I have not seen him attack a puppy. I have said that maybe he should be walked on a lead, and I know she now has a muzzle for him.

She is a fan of the dog whisperer!

Can anyone recommend a good animal behaviourist in East Berkshire. Trouble is she is a pensioner and does not have a great deal of spare income! (Not a good excuse I know, when you have dogs , but she does realise that she needs some help and advice).

The problem is, a muzzle won't stop the attack. It won't stop the mental damage done to the dog that is attacked. It won't even necessarily stop her dog from injuring another dog. My dog is horrible with other dogs and is on a harness and long line as well as being muzzled. It gives him a bit of freedom to sniff and do doggy things without him being able to approach other dogs and attack them.

Please make sure it's a basket type muzzle she has for him and NOT one of the fabric ones that holds the mouth shut, they aren't suitable for exercising a dog in as they don't allow it to pant. Plus the dog can still nip with their front teeth while wearing those ones.

Thanks Sarah

The muzzle is definitely a basket type. I shall pass all this information onto my friend when I next see her.

Agree about the trauma dogs feel when they get attacked. Trouble is so many people think that all dogs should be off leads.

My Cairn can be difficult sometimes, and does spend lots of time on a lead, particularly if larger dogs are around and are bouncing over to see him, usually with their owners over the other side of the field saying its okay he or she is friendly, don't think that mine might not be!

Hmmm - probably needs to get a behaviourist to see what is happening.

If a puppy comes bowling over to my JRT, if you didn't know any better you would say she is going in for the kill as it looks as though she has it by the throat and is very vocal.

However, she has never done any harm and the puppy will often approach a bit more sensibly afterwards totally untraumatised.

Please remind your friend that if she continues to allow her dog off lead, and he injures another dog, then her dog WILL be at risk of being put to sleep. It will only take one formal complaint from another dog owner.

She MUST keep this dog on a lead. It is unfair and absurd to give this dog any chance to 'rehearse' this behaviour. Also she needs help from an experienced trainer.

Highly unlikely. I've reported peoples dogs and I know other people who have reported other peoples dogs -- authorities are generally not interested in dog on dog incidents. I have never heard of a dog being put to sleep for injuring another, as presumably this would have to go through the courts to be legally sanctioned.

Sarah Whitehead specialises in aggression.

She is in Berks

http://cleverdogcompany.com/dog-and-...iour-help.html

It depends. I know of two cases where witnesses saw dogs bite other dogs, and there were repercussions.

Also maybe if the OP warns her friend that her own dog is at risk should this aggression continue, it might have an effect, hopefully and at least convince her to keep her dog on a lead.