How do you discipline an abused rescue dog?

**Cream Soda** · 2013-03-12 10:47

He was meant to be a stepping stone for Pitts to get ready for their actual fights.

in b4 shitstorm

**hey** · 2013-03-12 10:47

Does it suck, sure, but it was the only thing that worked for my pup.

The only thing you tried that worked, anyway.

**shepardG** · 2013-03-12 11:06

Sorry, didn't mean to imply anything, let me clarify. I tried verbal, I tried "spankings", I tried treats to establish positive habits with healthy rewards, I tried pet smart obidence training, but at the time getting him in a "pit" full of other dogs freaked him the fuck out. I tried having him around one or two other dogs. You name it i tried it. Maybe you're a better dog whisper than I, hey, but if you ever want to hang out with me and Capone (my dog) just say the word.
I'm not the smartest guy on these forums but I have enough common sense not to adopt a dog just to beat it. Sometimes the cure hurts unfortunately.
Just dropped 6k on the fucker after he blew his knee out. Took 2weeks of leave to take care of him, and it sucked. I would just buy a punching bag for 200 bucks if that's what I was after.

**Odin'sLaw** · 2013-03-12 11:10

Originally Posted by shepardG

but if you ever want to hang out with me and Capone (my dog) just say the word..

i wanna! that's an epic name for a dog

**shepardG** · 2013-03-12 11:13

I have an open door crash clause for any BGr. No alarm clock needed, that's capones job

**TacoTaru** · 2013-03-12 11:15

I usually wake up with my face next to a sleeping dogs face since my German Shepherd likes to share the pillow with me when I sleep on the couch. My other dogs likes to snuggle up too with her muzzle right by your chin when she sleeps if you let her. inb4 I lose an eye in my sleep to my dogs having a nightmare.

**zoobernut** · 2013-03-12 11:30

Originally Posted by shepardG

Different levels of abuse I guess, my dog was a practice dog. He was meant to be a stepping stone for Pitts to get ready for their actual fights.

I love my dog but smacking him in the muzzle or shoving his face in piss and "loudly scolding him" when he's seen much worse for the first 2 years of his life did not work. Does it suck, sure, but it was the only thing that worked for my pup.
Once that dominance was established it was like night and day. I say lay down, no hesitation, no matter what is going on. He needs to shit/ piss he nuzzles my arm and stares me down till I get up. Etc. etc.

Whatever I say I have a feeling folks are gonna hang me out to dry. So I'll limp my chastised ass back to the hole I crawled out of.
Sorry bout your friends face, was he wearing any cologne? dog dreaming? Prior history of angst between them?
My friends have a border collie mix, that had strange incidents similar to this. Wonder if it might be the breads temperament.

Folks will do this rightly so. Treating your dog the way you did may have worked but that doesn't mean it was the right way to do it. Comparing a domesticated dog to wolves is just laughable. The social structure of a pack is important but dogs do not relate the same way that adult wolves do. There are lots of ways to assert your dominance over a dog without beating them. Simple things like walking out of doors first when you open doors. Making them sit for their food before giving it to them and other feeding related things, stare at them in the eyes until they voluntarily look away or you push their muzzle down so they can't see you anymore etc.

**Abandon** · 2013-03-12 11:39

it worked for his dog. what you did worked for your dog. get the fuck over it, you're not gonna win him over.

**zoobernut** · 2013-03-12 11:43

Originally Posted by Abandon

it worked for his dog. what you did worked for your dog. get the fuck over it, you're not gonna win him over.

I said in my post it worked for his dog. I didn't say it doesn't work sometimes. That doesn't make it the right thing to do or mean that he isn't an idiot for doing it that way. Crack works for some people but that doesn't mean it is a good idea to do crack.

And hey welcome to the internet, where even if it isn't going to change someones opinion or behavior it still feels good to call them an idiot for being an idiot.

**shepardG** · 2013-03-12 11:46

Yeah, zoo I wished things would have been different, but they weren't I knew the risks when I adopted him, and it got to the point were all avenues were exhausted and it was either give up on him or beat him into submission.
It was like night and day, and I have literarily not had to raise a hand to him in almost 3-4 years. The cat beats his ass on a daily though. Shit is hilarious.

**shepardG** · 2013-03-12 11:58

Would you rather I put him down for not being able to fit into my world? Or maybe I should have completely altered my world to work around his. Should I have "returned him?" I was his 7th fucking family, he didn't have any chances left. Thanks for calling me an idiot though. It's nice to see you understand everything about all dogs and every situation that's ever occurred with said dogs.

**Lyrai** · 2013-03-12 12:03

A lot of good advice in this thread (Positive reinforcement training, etc.) And that's what I use as a professional trainer. But first rule of working with animals, THEY ARE ANIMALS. A dog might be domesticated, but it is still an animal with teeth, and instinct often takes over. The first thing I learned is staying out of the bite zone, as many professional trainers have lost lips, cheeks, and consequently, jobs, because of acting irresponsibly.

I don't encourage "dominance downs" aka Caesar Milan pinning or alpha rolls, as it's not something for someone inexperienced, and it's also not based on canine psychology. Submissive dogs will naturally roll onto their back for a Dominant dog, a Dominant dog will never roll another dog over and pin it down to show dominance. If you do this to the wrong dog, it will very quickly react with a defensive bite.

Border collies have a VERY high prey drive, which is why they're good as herding dogs. Their instincts are on overdrive, and it sounds like that's what took place. They're very reactive to a situation, and it sounds like it was a defensive bite as the dog woke up. There's a HUGE difference between an "obedience" issue, and a "behavioral" issue. This is not an issue of obedience.

The best advice I can give to anyone in a situation with a dog like that, is to talk to their vet and ask for a Canine Behaviorist. They usually have additional degrees in Canine or Animal Psychology, and work more with those specific types of issues. That, combined with working WITH a trainer, not just reading things online, can make strides towards solving common issues. I would rather work with someone for free to see them keep a dog in a good environment, than let a dog go back to a shelter or into bad hands.

**zoobernut** · 2013-03-12 12:33

Originally Posted by shepardG

Would you rather I put him down for not being able to fit into my world? Or maybe I should have completely altered my world to work around his. Should I have "returned him?" I was his 7th fucking family, he didn't have any chances left. Thanks for calling me an idiot though. It's nice to see you understand everything about all dogs and every situation that's ever occurred with said dogs.

That was more of a response to Abandon than to continue to make snide comments towards you. I said my piece in my first post on this subject. I think it is commendable that you gave the dog a chance and in the end were able to keep him and provide him a good home. I do not think that doing what you did was ok though. I do not know the whole situation so I don't know how far you went but in my experience people will often think they exhausted all possibilities when they truly haven't they just can't see the ones remaining. Calling you out for making a mistake with your dog doesn't mean I am calling your a horrible person. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone does things in their lives that are less than optimal. There are a lot of times where these mistakes or less than optimal behaviors end up working out like in your case. I think you got lucky. I am glad you got lucky with your dog it is really easy for a dog to be permanently damaged from abuse, it really doesn't take much and they will cower and act defensive around people for the rest of their lives.

**Ksandra** · 2013-03-12 12:38

Originally Posted by shepardG

You name it i tried it.

Did you try taking it to a professional?

**hey** · 2013-03-12 12:46

Originally Posted by Ksandra

Did you try taking it to a professional?

What part of pet smart obidence training was unclear!?

**Melena** · 2013-03-12 12:49

Originally Posted by hey

What part of pet smart obidence training was unclear!?

Pet smart is professional?

**zoobernut** · 2013-03-12 12:53

Originally Posted by hey

What part of pet smart obidence training was unclear!?

There are dog trainers that specialize in problem cases. I assume that is what Ksandra meant. Petsmart and Petco trainers are great for most dogs and puppies though.

**Ksandra** · 2013-03-12 12:58

Ya there are trainers who are specifically for abused dogs.

**hey** · 2013-03-12 12:59

Originally Posted by Melena

Pet smart is professional?

That was the joke, as indicated by the "!?".

**Rocl** · 2013-03-12 14:01

Originally Posted by Byrthnoth

Or, you know, he could just let sleeping dogs lie.

how didn't this thread end here? i mean it's fucking perfect c'mon.

that said i kiss my dog on the nose all the time while it's sleeping and wake it up and i'm fine

i have to ask is your friend black cuz i hear dogs are irrationally racist

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