Lashing out when excited

divadexie · #1 17-01-11, 05:02 PM

Due to reasons beyond my control, Mackie isn't getting as much excercise as he should be.

This causes him to get overly hyper and excited!

Yesterday when we were going in my friends car he lashed out at her staffy. Then he nipped towards (not at) me when I grabbed his collar.

Then he lashed out at her again when we got to the 'secure' dog area and while I was trying to ask my friends mum to remove the dog til Macke burned off some energy, he kept racing past and yelping and biting the dog.
She then removed the dog and he ran about like mental.. to the point where I would have been comfortable bringing the other dog in, but she was too scared to bring her dog back in.
So when he was put back on the lead and realise we were going in the car again he lashed out at her again and nearly bit my leg.

He doesn't get to run around with my dogs because he can jump my 4ft fence so he has to go in the 20ft square run.
But I had a toy in the kitchen just now and when he got excited he started yelping and lashing out at my two dogs.

He does this stupid thing on walks where if he gets excited he strains at the lead and just goes yapyapyapyapyapyapyapyap and the only thing that work is sudenly pulling him the other way. It took me about 20 minues to walk the couple hundred yards back to the car because of this.

I want to be able to let him run with my dogs when the 50ft lunge arives, but Dixie will attack back if he lashes out at her, and when my friends dog did this it almost turned into a full blown fight had my friend not grabbed his collar (stupid I know but it was fine, this time).

Taking him out a walk first does not help, he was just back from a walk when he did it in the kitchen.

Also when he plays with my dogs he starts trying to hump them and well he will get told off by them but then he needs yelled at from me because he starts biting!!

heelp

Sassysmum · #2 17-01-11, 05:23 PM

Couple of things, to me it sounds like he has no frustration or arousal control what so ever

When dogs become hyped and we grab or try to prevent them from doing something they become frustrated and redirect their frustration on to us.

Obviously if he is not getting enough done with him on a daily basis physically and mentally this will increase the chance of unacceptable behaviour.

If for any reason I could not provide my dogs with enough physical exercise I would at least increase the mental stimulation that they got.

Do you bowl feed your dog? If yes, try using his food to your advantage and make him work for it. You could scatter some food in the garden or his exercise area, kong feed, use treat balls, hide food anything that makes him work for it and use his brain. Train him using his meal food as reward.
WHAT diet is your dog on? Some foods can increase behaviour problems as well as energy levels. Colourants and additives in food as well as too higher protein level can all contribute towards this type of behaviour.

Has he been vet checked, could be a thyroid problem? I'd get bloods done. Is his behaviour worse at a particular time of day? Could be sugar levels! Again, bllod test could help.

ANY time you see his arousal levels increasing it would be advisable to give him a time out, get his attention, put him back on lead if he is off lead and start gaining control and doing a bit of training etc. The less he is allowed to become over the top and enjoy his adrenalin rush the less he will expect to reach that point.

Hope this helps x

divadexie · #3 17-01-11, 05:32 PM

He will only eat food from the bowl, or from me. I tried scattering it in the dog pen but he just wasn't interested! He has food aggression towards my two dogs so I hand feed him as well as giving them a few bits to get him to calm down while eating around them.
He isn't interested in the treat ball or the kong either! lol

He was on bakers when he came to me last friday. I decided Id rather deal with a bit of an upset tum that feet that sh1te but his tummy was fine. He is now on skinners hypoallergenic, what my staffy cross has because of his allergies. Mixed with chappie occasionally.

It doesnt happen at any particular time of the day, just when something exiting is happening, like the other dogs are playing, or he is going a walk or in the car.

The secure area I thought I could let him off the lead, he managed to escape and with having 2 young children I am finding it hard to walk him far enough to tire him out.
When he goes mental on a walk I stand still for a bit to see if he stops, and if he does we carry on, if not then I turn the other way, walk him that way for a bit and try again.

He's not mine though, Im fostering him.

Nanny Ogg · #4 17-01-11, 07:23 PM

Can you hire a dog walker to give him a good long walk once a day/a few times a week/whatever? Sounds like he's got too much energy.

A lot of my customers are in a similar sort of situation (too busy to tire their dog out!), and an experienced walker would be able to help with the excitement levels.

Just be up front with the walker about his issues before you start. I've had a few customers try to hide issues, and it just makes life a lot harder when it comes to the walks. I'm just like if I know about the issues, I can try to mitigate them!!

divadexie · #5 17-01-11, 08:28 PM

There isn't any dog walkers here except me. It's just not that sought after in our wee town! Lol.
If I can find somewhere that is actually secure to let him off the lead, I think he will be alot easier to manage, its just proving very hard!

Nanny Ogg · #6 18-01-11, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divadexie

There isn't any dog walkers here except me. It's just not that sought after in our wee town! Lol.
If I can find somewhere that is actually secure to let him off the lead, I think he will be alot easier to manage, its just proving very hard!

Tennis courts tend to be a good place to start.

divadexie · #7 18-01-11, 08:42 PM

They are locked unfortunately

The 50ft lunge arrived today, and I have been given a 30ft aswell and my friend came with me to give him some exercise, tied him to a tree with a bungee lead in the middle and was practicing recall, he enjoyed it.

Mazz · #8 18-01-11, 11:02 PM

Could you please tell me where you got your bungee from,as our little one is not getting recall,ever since she caught site of other dogs,bolted and suddenly lost intrest in us and her toys.Hope it works for your rescue,and well done for opening your heart and home to him.
Mazz

divadexie · #9 19-01-11, 10:27 PM

Its acually an Ezydog lead.
But, you can buy just an extesion for the lead what doesn't have a handle it just has a ring at one end and a clip at the other.

His doing much better on the lunge, as we now have a 50, 30 and a 15ft he is having more space.
Tomorrow we are going to take him on the field that has nothing to tangle on, and if he goes to bolt to the end of the lead, let go. Because he does come back about 70% of the time.

divadexie · #10 19-01-11, 10:31 PM

We have this lead in red, borrowed off a friend
EzyDog Cujo Lead 40" & 25" Various Colours FREE POSTAGE on eBay (end time 24-Jan-11 13:34:25 GMT)

But I had planned on buying this
EzyDog Cujo Extension Lead 40" & 24"variousFREE POSTAGE on eBay (end time 24-Jan-11 14:23:02 GMT)
good price too