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#1
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Resource aggression
Yesterday, at the animal shelter, I met the most resource aggressive dog
of all times. He protected his food, is bedding, and his toys. He growled ferociously, bit at me; and that one point, had his mouth around my arm, just above my watch. At first, I wasn't sure that you should be in the adoption area, but then I realized that is growling would turn most people way and that we would probably not have a bite case on our hands. I spent some time with him and seemed to have made a little bit progress, which I plan to continue today. You might chuckle, when I tell you that the dog was a West Highland Terrier. :-) I usually don't waste my time on little fluffy dogs like this, because there's always someone wanting them, but this little dog needs some grooming and other attention. Believe it or not, he arrived at the shelter with no collar, no tag of course and no microchip. Sometimes, I hope that such unworthy owners don't come looking for their dog. I don't consider his bad behavior to be his fault, but I do hope that I can get him to mellow out some. ___________________ A dog's life is too short; their only fault really. |
#2
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Resource aggression
"Michael A. Ball" wrote in message I usually don't waste my time on little fluffy dogs like this, because there's always someone wanting them, but this little dog needs some grooming and other attention. Believe it or not, he arrived at the shelter with no collar, no tag of course and no microchip. Sometimes, I hope that such unworthy owners don't come looking for their dog. I don't consider his bad behavior to be his fault, but I do hope that I can get him to mellow out some. No matter what progress you make, I would definitely like to see a "no children" note on this dog. Any dog that possessive isn't safe around kids. -- Toni http://www.cearbhaill.com/rules.htm |
#3
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Resource aggression
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 11:01:18 -0400, "Toni" wrote:
No matter what progress you make, I would definitely like to see a "no children" note on this dog. Any dog that possessive isn't safe around kids. I mentioned it to the shelter staff, but had to leave immediately. I'm going to go check to see if it is still in the public area. If it is, I'll suggest the "no kids" note. _______________________ Play with fire! Zildjan drum sticks |
#4
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Resource aggression
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 09:30:45 -0400, Michael A. Ball
wrote: Yesterday, at the animal shelter, I met the most resource aggressive dog of all times. He protected his food, is bedding, and his toys. He growled ferociously, bit at me; and that one point, had his mouth around my arm, just above my watch. That's not unusual in a kennel setting. Where are you working with him, Michael? Inside *his* kennel? Or in a training room? How long has he been there? If possible, get this little guy out of the kennel for a few days and work with him in a more normal, quiet setting (e.g., at your home). I assume he displays some pretty good bite inhibition, if he had his mouth around your arm and yet didn't break skin, right? Or did he? At first, I wasn't sure that you should be in the adoption area, but then I realized that is growling would turn most people way [...] And "growling" appears to be a typical male Westie trait, no? And I would have to assume that being confined to a kennel, with things to "guard," etc., would probably act to encourage even more "growling." Again, take him home with you for a few days. If that produces a big change in his behavior (for the better, of course), you can be pretty certain that his "aggression" is mostly related to being confined, etc. That shouldn't suggest that he may not still require some work, but you'll get a better idea of what his true temperament is. -- Handsome Jack Morrison So much for the "reality based community." Rednecks, White Power, and Blue States: http://andune.blogspot.com/2006/08/r...ue-states.html Five Minutes to Midnight: http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...Y0M2ZiMGFkNGI= Let the Jews Die: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles...e.asp?ID=23822 Fauxtography: http://hotair.com/archives/2006/08/10/fauxtography/ http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...elmet_Guy&only http://www.aish.com/movies/PhotoFraud.asp http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...Pallywood&only Well, *this* certainly isn't good news: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm The Brink of Madness. A familiar place. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...Q4OWMzNDhmMzk= Obsession: Radical Islam’s War with the West (a must-see movie!): http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/ If you don't want your own DVD, you can view the movie he http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...78181614&hl=en It's over an hour long, so make some popcorn, crack open a beer, and take a good, hard look at what's coming. Or...you can keep your head stuck in the sand. |
#5
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Resource aggression
"Michael A. Ball" wrote in message Yesterday, at the animal shelter, I met the most resource aggressive dog of all times. You might chuckle, when I tell you that the dog was a West Highland Terrier. :-) I had a Welsh Terrier in my last good manner class who tended to use his teeth before he'd thought things through. -- William Robb |
#6
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Resource aggression
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 11:01:18 -0400, "Toni" wrote:
[] No matter what progress you make, I would definitely like to see a "no children" note on this dog. Any dog that possessive isn't safe around kids. Small children are seldom a good match for any small terrier, no? -- Handsome Jack Morrison Do you know what happens when bad behavior is reinforced and rewarded? http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2006/08...-disaster.html So much for the "reality based community." Rednecks, White Power, and Blue States: http://andune.blogspot.com/2006/08/r...ue-states.html Five Minutes to Midnight: http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...Y0M2ZiMGFkNGI= Let the Jews Die: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles...e.asp?ID=23822 Fauxtography: http://hotair.com/archives/2006/08/10/fauxtography/ http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...elmet_Guy&only http://www.aish.com/movies/PhotoFraud.asp http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...Pallywood&only Well, *this* certainly isn't good news: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm The Brink of Madness. A familiar place. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...Q4OWMzNDhmMzk= Obsession: Radical Islam’s War with the West (a must-see movie!): http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/ If you don't want your own DVD, you can view the movie he http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...78181614&hl=en It's over an hour long, so make some popcorn, crack open a beer, and take a good, hard look at what's coming. Or...you can keep your head stuck in the sand. |
#7
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Resource aggression
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 13:56:53 -0400, Handsome Jack Morrison
wrote: ...He growled ferociously, bit at me; and that one point, had his mouth around my arm, just above my watch. That's not unusual in a kennel setting. Where are you working with him, Michael? Inside *his* kennel? Or in a training room? How long has he been there? Yes, the kettle setting is a pretty intense environment. I think that is one of the reasons I tend to be lenient, perhaps to lenient,in my interpretation of dog behavior. It's hard for me to take such tiny dogs very seriously. It's only when I remember that some unsuspecting child or adult might not get off so lucky. The dog had been moved from the public viewing area, when I arrived at the shelter today. I'm not sure that I will get to see it again, because I am only a volunteer these days. However, the shelter does let me work with dogs that are considered troubled; so, I do have some hope of seeing it again. Unfortunately, the shelter does not have much space for anything other than storing animals. I will try to find a quiet place to work, if I'm allowed to visit the dog again. In the short time we had together yesterday, I confiscated his food, bedding and toys; I can just imagine what he was thinking about me. Eventually, I was able to hold one of his stories while he chewed on it. I considered that a good, small said. And that is why I have hope that he can be rehabilitated. Since he is a stray, there is no way to know what led them to be like this. He is spent the shelter for about four days; and the public viewing area for about two days. Due to the way that bedding food and toys are placed in the kennels, his aggression could've easily been overlooked by the shelter staff. To be honest, I discovered that quite by accident. If possible, get this little guy out of the kennel for a few days and work with him in a more normal, quiet setting (e.g., at your home). I assume he displays some pretty good bite inhibition, if he had his mouth around your arm and yet didn't break skin, right? Or did he?... And "growling" appears to be a typical male Westie trait, no? And I would have to assume that being confined to a kennel, with things to "guard," etc., would probably act to encourage even more "growling." Again, take him home with you for a few days. If that produces a big change in his behavior (for the better, of course), you can be pretty certain that his "aggression" is mostly related to being confined, etc. That shouldn't suggest that he may not still require some work, but you'll get a better idea of what his true temperament is. I'd love to have him in the privacy of my quarters to work with for a few days, but is just not possible. As for his displaying bite inhibition, I'd have to say that he did a good job. He was nibbling at my fingers so gently that I thought he was playing, but I changed my mind, when he began to growl also. When he had by arming his mouth, I didn't have the feeling that he wanted to hurt me; however, it could be that he had bitten off more than he could chew. :-) No, he did not break the skin. I'm not specifically familiar with Westies, but I do know that terriers are generally quite protective. And that was another reason why I feel some compassion for this dog: because to some extent, he is only doing what comes naturally. A little guidance, discipline and love could really turn this dog around. If I'm not allowed to work with him, he will probably be offered to some rescue group, but he will not be offered for adoption at this shelter. The local shelter works in mysterious ways. They would rather let the dog become someone else's problem, than to let a volunteer work with it. Jack, thanks for that collection of URLs. I'm going to start looking through them right away. _______________________________________ "The greatest thrill is not to kill, but to let live" James Oliver Curwood, author of The Grizzly King |
#8
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Resource aggression
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 18:09:28 -0400, Michael A. Ball
wrote: [] Unfortunately, the shelter does not have much space for anything other than storing animals. That's not unusual, but sad nonetheless. I will try to find a quiet place to work, if I'm allowed to visit the dog again. In the short time we had together yesterday, I confiscated his food, bedding and toys; I can just imagine what he was thinking about me. Eventually, I was able to hold one of his stories while he chewed on it. I considered that a good, small said. And that is why I have hope that he can be rehabilitated. Since he is a stray, there is no way to know what led them to be like this. He sounds like a typical Westie who's had to fight to protect his "stuff." [...] As for his displaying bite inhibition, I'd have to say that he did a good job. He was nibbling at my fingers so gently that I thought he was playing, but I changed my mind, when he began to growl also. When he had by arming his mouth, I didn't have the feeling that he wanted to hurt me; however, it could be that he had bitten off more than he could chew. :-) No, he did not break the skin. All good signs, IMO. I hope he makes it. Thanks for working with him, Michael -- Handsome Jack Morrison Do you know what happens when bad behavior is reinforced and rewarded? http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2006/08...-disaster.html So much for the "reality based community." Rednecks, White Power, and Blue States: http://andune.blogspot.com/2006/08/r...ue-states.html Five Minutes to Midnight: http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...Y0M2ZiMGFkNGI= Let the Jews Die: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles...e.asp?ID=23822 Fauxtography: http://hotair.com/archives/2006/08/10/fauxtography/ http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...elmet_Guy&only http://www.aish.com/movies/PhotoFraud.asp http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...Pallywood&only Well, *this* certainly isn't good news: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm The Brink of Madness. A familiar place. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...Q4OWMzNDhmMzk= Obsession: Radical Islam’s War with the West (a must-see movie!): http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/ If you don't want your own DVD, you can view the movie he http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...78181614&hl=en It's over an hour long, so make some popcorn, crack open a beer, and take a good, hard look at what's coming. Or...you can keep your head stuck in the sand. |
#9
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Resource aggression
"Handsome Jack Morrison" wrote in message Small children are seldom a good match for any small terrier, no? Maybe, maybe not. Westies are pretty popular family dogs around here- they are small, white, and energetic. But there is no way I will ever assume that families wandering an animal shelter have any sort of clue about what sort of dog would be a good match. They just go for whatever the kid points at. -- Toni http://www.cearbhaill.com/rules.htm |
#10
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Resource aggression
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 19:51:14 -0400, "Toni" wrote:
"Handsome Jack Morrison" wrote in message Small children are seldom a good match for any small terrier, no? Maybe, maybe not. Westies are pretty popular family dogs around here- they are small, white, and energetic. Small children and small terriers, coupled with novice owners and parents, isn't what I would call an ideal situation. It might even explain why this Westie has found himself at the shelter. But there is no way I will ever assume that families wandering an animal shelter have any sort of clue about what sort of dog would be a good match. They just go for whatever the kid points at. Some do. Some don't. And that's what the shelter's staff is supposed to help out with. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for a shelter's staff to be just as clueless as the families wandering around inside them. -- Handsome Jack Morrison Indeed, those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Historians: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was Overreaction http://thepeoplescube.com/red/viewtopic.php?t=797 Do you know what happens when bad behavior is reinforced and rewarded? http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2006/08...-disaster.html So much for the "reality based community." Rednecks, White Power, and Blue States: http://andune.blogspot.com/2006/08/r...ue-states.html Five Minutes to Midnight: http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...Y0M2ZiMGFkNGI= Let the Jews Die: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles...e.asp?ID=23822 Fauxtography: http://hotair.com/archives/2006/08/10/fauxtography/ http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...elmet_Guy&only http://www.aish.com/movies/PhotoFraud.asp http://littlegreenfootballs.com/webl...Pallywood&only Well, *this* certainly isn't good news: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm The Brink of Madness. A familiar place. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...Q4OWMzNDhmMzk= Obsession: Radical Islam’s War with the West (a must-see movie!): http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/ If you don't want your own DVD, you can view the movie he http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...78181614&hl=en It's over an hour long, so make some popcorn, crack open a beer, and take a good, hard look at what's coming. Or...you can keep your head stuck in the sand. |
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