help with aggressive bitches

[albravo2]

I need some advice.

I have two bloodhound/lab sisters. Same litter, about 3.5 years old. Wonderful, gentle, and friendly family dogs but I've been having increasing problems when they encounter other dogs when we are out hiking.

Riley is the smaller, about 65 lbs. She was the runt of the litter. Dallas is about 75 lbs. Since they were puppies I've spent quite a bit of time trying to train them but, to be honest, it hasn't resulted in obedient dogs. I'm not sure if they are headstrong hounds or if the pack instinct is too strong but I've never been able to reach a comfortable level of strict obedience. They will come when I call and sit when I say sit, but if they get on the scent of something all bets are off.

Like any healthy, happy dog they love to run off leash and we try to get them out for an hour every day.

About a year ago Riley started to feel the need to see if she could dominate every dog from slightly bigger to much smaller. No blood, just a lot of snarling and chomping around the neck. Dog owners don't take kindly to their dog being bullied and I quickly got tired of apologizing for her behaviour and put a muzzle on. I hated watching her suffer with a muzzle but for a few months she quit going after other dogs and all was good.

Then, she started going after other dogs even with her muzzle. Bad, but at least people were pretty decent because they felt I was doing what I could to make sure nobody got hurt and it was only happening intermittently.

Now, Dallas has joined the bully gang and she is now either first to attack or second. Still no blood or fur, but lots of awful growling and snapping. Other dog owners are rightfully pissed and I've gotten to the point where I loathe taking them out.

Does anybody have any suggestions? Is this type of aggression fixable or am I going to have to keep them on leash? Walk them separately? Maybe, but that will take a big chunk of time every day.

I figure a muzzle for Dallas is the next step but two dogs with muzzles can still terrorize other dogs and I really don't enjoy being that guy with the bitchy bitches.

Any advice appreciated.

[Rackem]

What is your reaction when they bully other dogs? I have a several great books on rehabilitating aggressive dogs, if you would like to borrow them.

I love Karen Pryor, really recommend it: Click to Calm, Healing the Aggressive dog, http://www.amazon.com/Click-Calm-Hea...der_B008510I5S

Aggression in dogs by Brenda Aloft, awesome reference

[Rackem]

When I was working with aggressive dogs, I would muzzle for safety, and have them conditioned to the clicker training style. I taught the dogs to IGNORE other dogs completely.

So if another dog was approaching, I would put the aggressive dog in a down stay, and give the "focus" command, which meant looking me in the face steadily. I would practice sits, downs, heels all the while correcting any attention paid to the other dog.

At first you will have to do it one dog at a time, and it helps to have a friend with a calm dog friendly dog to do the exercises with.

[russm]

I'd say keep them muzzled and on a leash, you could be setting yourself up for trouble if they decide to do a number on another dog.

[Sofa King]

I'd say keep them muzzled and on a leash, you could be setting yourself up for trouble if they decide to do a number on another dog.

ditto on this.
I wouldn't hesitate to throttle them if they attacked my dog.

[russm]

ditto on this.
I wouldn't hesitate to throttle them if they attacked my dog.

Had several dogs come at me and my dads dog when I was walking her before, a good solid boot seems to repel an off leash dog fairly well.

[adriaticum]

I think the important thing for any dog is to understand the word "NO" (some repercussion coming if you don't stop).
Also using the leash correctly to communicate with the dog.
Do your dogs stop and look at you when you say NO?
If the answer is a sound Yes, then you have tools. If the answer is NO or a shaky YES then you have to work on that.
My dogs are 20 pounders so I don't have the bite factor, but they will stop whatever they are doing when I say NO. Even when they play they will stop.
Lot of people communicate their displeasure with the dogs by using words.
They grab the dog by the head, get close, look them in the eyes and say "bad boy, you can't do that, stop doing that, bad boy"!
Since dogs don't understand English if you take the words away all you are left with is owner petting the dog and getting in it's intimate space, which says "I love you" = good dog.
With dogs, talk little, act a lot. Next time you have this problem try not to say anything and show the dog with your body language that you mean business if they don't stop. Advance into their space and go forward, make the dog step back until they stop and calm down.
When my dogs do something I don't want them to do I go after them like I am going to crush them if they don't listen.
You don't even have to touch the dog they read your body language.
And always finish your action.
I am of opinion that with dogs you have to sweat the small stuff and you can't let the dog win any battle of the wills.
None. Even if it's about that chicken bone on the road it wants, he can't have it.
This is life and death sometimes. You always follow through.
Every time my poodle would bark when he was a puppy I would tell him to stop and I would get up in the middle of the night to force him to stop. Now he doesn't bark and I need that because I live in a condo.
Sometimes dogs go through phases and you have to watch out if you are trying to correct something that is going to go away anyway.
You can't allow the excitement around other dogs to escalate. Before he starts to get excited and when you see that the dog is focused on another dog you break it. You can distract him with food or play.
I find some dogs, especially large dogs, when you jerk the leash quickly to the side they pay attention.
You can try ecollar, they work well for most dogs.
Good luck!

[Sofa King]

Had several dogs come at me and my dads dog when I was walking her before, a good solid boot seems to repel an off leash dog fairly well.

backed up by a light-weight club and then my folding knife if need be.
any dog that's even remotely aggressive should be muzzled in public, hell, they shouldn't even be in public.
it's one thing to allow them to play rough with each other at home, but that should not be happening out in the public.

[adriaticum]

backed up by a light-weight club and then my folding knife if need be.
any dog that's even remotely aggressive should be muzzled in public, hell, they shouldn't even be in public.
it's one thing to allow them to play rough with each other at home, but that should not be happening out in the public.

I'm all for repelling aggressive dogs, but are you able to tell aggression from play?
Many people are not.
Naturally, I would protect my dogs with any means at my disposal but we have to be careful.

[Sofa King]

I'm all for repelling aggressive dogs, but are you able to tell aggression from play?
Many people are not.
Naturally, I would protect my dogs with any means at my disposal but we have to be careful.

two dogs coming at mine and gnawing at it's throat is too aggressive, period.