Monthly dog dosing will close measles gap
Requiring that all dogs on sheep farms be treated every four weeks for sheep measles is a significant step in reducing the impact of the parasite, says Dan Lynch.
It’s not the pup’s fault. When something like that happens at an early age it can go one of two ways: either the pup becomes shy and timid around other dogs, or the opposite can happen; it becomes aggressive in order to protect itself.
Then there are dogs born with a dominant nature. Watch any litter of pups and you will see potential leaders emerging.
A few years ago I was given a young Heading bitch, Joe. She was a nice type and well bred but she had two problems. She would eye and handle sheep beautifully but if one tried to bolt away she would fly in, grab it, and not let go. Luckily she’d only done it on a few occasions and it hadn’t developed into a full blown addiction.
That was easily solved; she just needed to be taught that was unacceptable behaviour and I never saw her bite again. I demonstrate my kind method for teaching dogs confidence, without biting, at my training days (see panel).
Joe’s other issue was she wanted to be top bitch the very day she joined the pack. How do I handle dogs that show signs of aggression over other dogs?
It is vital that any undesirable behaviour in dogs is quickly curtailed at the first sign so that a habit isn’t formed. Consistency is vital. Every time the dog does the misdemeanour there must be consequences, or the dog will get mixed messages and be confused. How can it learn if you allow it to do something several times then chastise it out of the blue when it has been allowed to get away with it previously?
The very first time Joe raised her hackles and growled at another one of my dogs, I caught her, lay her on the ground as described in my last column, and lightly straddled her so there was no way she could get up. Then I called over the other dogs, making sure her victim was there.
It was important for them to stand over her and at the same time I had her by the throat and gently choked her. Before you leap to the phone to complain to the editor or me about animal cruelty, I stress the word gently, and please read the rest of this article. If you still don’t get it then, please don’t bother us because you never will: “please”, “thank you” and tit bits aren’t the way to train working farm dogs, or any other dog for that matter.
In the wild, dogs fight, targeting the throat. There is the dominant male and the dominant bitch and other members of the pack submit to them. If they don’t, there will be a fight. Puncture wounds, blood, hair loss, even fatal injuries result.
Allowing your dogs to fight can be expensive – vet bills aren’t cheap.
Being the leader I forced her into a submissive position, and by calling over the other dogs to stand over her it gave the message that “you are no higher in rank than them”. I did this every time she showed any form of aggression and after a few such lessons the aggressive behaviour was cured and peace prevailed, with not a drop of blood lost.
• Anna Holland is teaching people dog training, for more information www.annaholland.co.nz, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., ph 07 2170101
