Aggressive Huntaway.

redcoo235 · Feb 18, 2018

Have young (9 months) Huntaway. Had from a pup, brought up in family house with two young girls till about 5 months then out to a kennel in the yard with open run so always able to be outside seeing everyone going about. Great nature with me and the family, keen on the sheep and so far not a grip in him and showing fair bit of potential. He will stand in the mornings on the feed passage and let the cows clean him up.

Last six weeks or so has become extremely aggressive to any strangers that come onto the farm. Never thought much about it when he started as was just a bit of barking. Now pretty sure he would bite if he got out of his run, hair stands up on his back and look a real nasty bugger.

He is still has a great nature with the family but not sure how we can sort him out. Never had this problem before as our dogs have always been able to run about the doors without any worry. Realise that it must be something to do with protecting his territory. Any ideas what might cause this or any tips? TIA

milkloss · Feb 18, 2018

Has he still got ‘nads?

redcoo235 · Feb 18, 2018

Yes, still entire.

Sheep135 · Feb 18, 2018

redcoo235 said:
Have young (9 months) Huntaway. Had from a pup, brought up in family house with two young girls till about 5 months then out to a kennel in the yard with open run so always able to be outside seeing everyone going about. Great nature with me and the family, keen on the sheep and so far not a grip in him and showing fair bit of potential. He will stand in the mornings on the feed passage and let the cows clean him up.

Last six weeks or so has become extremely aggressive to any strangers that come onto the farm. Never thought much about it when he started as was just a bit of barking. Now pretty sure he would bite if he got out of his run, hair stands up on his back and look a real nasty bugger.

He is still has a great nature with the family but not sure how we can sort him out. Never had this problem before as our dogs have always been able to run about the doors without any worry. Realise that it must be something to do with protecting his territory. Any ideas what might cause this or any tips? TIA

I had the same thing happens year ago to a young Welsh dog, mentioned it to our vet who asked their dog behaviour specialist but they came back with nothing. I bought a muzzle and one day when he went to bite somebody I caught hold of him gave him the biggest bollocking of his life, shut him in his kennel for 3 days and he came out a different dog, hasn't bit anybody in 7 years.

milkloss · Feb 18, 2018

Not had any experience with a huntaway but had a dobe that needed to be cut, first dog we ever did. The age seems about right, any excessive marking and that sort of thing? Our Doberman didn’t show aggression to people but was getting edgy with other dogs and had an obsession with marking, so much so that a friend very experienced with all sorts of dogs suggested it was making his life a misery. Very different dog now, still likes p1ssing on every post but not as agitated over it.

Other than that it’s down to character I suspect. The problem with runs is that, especially with strangers, they never get to greet anyone. Anyone that goes past be it postie or whatever is fair game and it only gets worse.

redcoo235 · Feb 18, 2018

For a huntaway he is very quiet until he get around sheep and even then we are almost got him on the off switch. Have wondered about the run as this is the first dog we have put in a run. Our collies always are just left on a chain when we are not about, most of the time they are just sitting at the front door and left to go about. Problem with this lad is turn your back for a minute and he has the nearest sheep gathered up for you.

Dry Rot · Feb 18, 2018

Mine are taught "Leave!" and the clouds open and a thunderbolt descends if they don't! That is an extension of the "Down" command and I try to install that while they are still young enough to learn.

TWhist has hit the nail on the head. But I teach this as a routine in planned sessions rather than immediately after an incident when upset and angry. Control is quite important with German shepherds trained in protection!

jemski · Feb 19, 2018

My huntaway barks at everyone she sees on the farm (footpath runs past the house). She looks big and intimidating and her hackles sometimes go up but she wouldn't bite - it's all hot air. She's actually quite a wuss but don't tell the pikeys that!

GenuineRisk · Feb 19, 2018

My bitch is like Jemski’s - great dog to have loose in yards during day as she’ll let me know who is about and behind the gates onto lane, will bark with hackles up etc but as soon as she actually gets to meet a person, is very friendly - too much so really, as she can be pushy for attention.

I find they are very sensitive to correction - I’d set up a situation and if any aggression whatsoever appeared with someone coming on to farm,he’d be decked ie, on ground with me pinning him down and a very firm No being growled into his face,,.. and back into kennel as suggest above, definitely would castrate too. If he’s good at his work he’s worth the extra effort from you, the second, however, if any dog of mine showed aggression to family or friends, it would be a one way trip to vets.

Dave6170 · Feb 19, 2018

Take his nuts off and show him whos the boss

Dry Rot · Feb 19, 2018

Dave6170 said:
Take his nuts off and show him whos the boss

......agreed, but that shouldn't require harsh tratment (more than once). Dog training is 99% kindness and 1% cruelty.

I tell novices here that dog training is sometimes like dealing with the Mafia. Nobody sleeps with the fishes...but that's because they know they might do if they don't return favours!

It's called 'respect'. I've never had a dog castrated, so I wouldn't know about that.

Dave6170 · Feb 19, 2018

Dry Rot said:
......agreed, but that shouldn't require harsh tratment (more than once). Dog training is 99% kindness and 1% cruelty.

I tell novices here that dog training is sometimes like dealing with the Mafia. Nobody sleeps with the fishes...but that's because they know they might do if they don't return favours! It's called 'respect'. I've never had a dog castrated, so I wouldn't know about that.

How do you stop your dogs running off at the first smell of a bitch in heat?

Alicecow · Feb 19, 2018

Vicki_Ann · Feb 19, 2018

It's likely to be based on fear and a lack of confidence, and this may well stem from him being in a run and not being allowed to check out strangers and decide they're not that scary.

He needs socialisation. At this young age he is hitting adolescence and I have to say most male dogs become a little ropey in their 'teens'. Testosterone is actually a stabilising hormone for an adolescent male dog and I have previously ruined one of my dogs' confidence forever by castrating him when he lost his confidence and really needed those hormones to help him through.

I would let him out when you are about to supervise a bit and use lots of positive reinforcement (you can even drop a handful of his food/treats when new people arrive to distract him and give him a positive association. A baskerville (basket type muzzle) can be very useful to protect everyone and make strangers more confident around him. If he barks and gets upset when people look at/approach/try to stoke him, then make sure he is ignored by newcomers onto the farm but is allowed to go to them, sniff them, and then retreat again. He may never be a 'friendly' dog who wants to be greeted and stroked by all and sundry (which is okay, I don't particularly want to get too friendly with people I have never met before either

).

I would avoid confrontational training methods (hitting, pinning etc) personally as a dog low in confidence may resort to snapping or even biting if they feel they have no choice.

My collie 'pup' (now 3) went through a terrible stage, he was recovering from being run over by a vehicle and going through his teens at the same time. For a short time he would definitely have bitten given the chance when he was in pain and scared and we used a baskerville and avoided confrontation at all costs. I didn't castrate him knowing what it did to my previous dog, and Troy is now a sweet, quiet and friendly 3 year old (still with his bits) who I can take anywhere (pub/towns) and he is relaxed when he meets new people.

I am not against castration in dogs, but I am against castration in adolescent male dogs showing signs they are lacking in confidence as it can send them in the wrong direction. Adolescent male dogs are unlikely to be dominant, more usually they are just scared and unsure and their 'go-to' strategy is to scare off whatever is upsetting them.

redcoo235 · Feb 19, 2018

Have moved him out of the run to a quieter bit of the farm to ovoid stress of seeing stranger for now and going to try 15min morning and night with a bit of positive association, bugger has eaten have a bag of treats already this morning! Will give him a few weeks and try and introduce some new people and see how he gets on.

Vicki_Ann · Feb 19, 2018

Sounds like you are on it

Hopefully he will increase in confidence and you will reap the rewards in the next few months. When these things are addressed quickly, often it's not such a huge deal as when it becomes more 'set' in older dogs who have never learnt strangers aren't scary.

You may need to take out shares in treats for a while

For a food-driven dog though, they make all the difference

milkloss · Feb 19, 2018

Vicki_Ann said:
It's likely to be based on fear and a lack of confidence, and this may well stem from him being in a run and not being allowed to check out strangers and decide they're not that scary.

He needs socialisation. At this young age he is hitting adolescence and I have to say most male dogs become a little ropey in their 'teens'. Testosterone is actually a stabilising hormone for an adolescent male dog and I have previously ruined one of my dogs' confidence forever by castrating him when he lost his confidence and really needed those hormones to help him through.

I would let him out when you are about to supervise a bit and use lots of positive reinforcement (you can even drop a handful of his food/treats when new people arrive to distract him and give him a positive association. A baskerville (basket type muzzle) can be very useful to protect everyone and make strangers more confident around him. If he barks and gets upset when people look at/approach/try to stoke him, then make sure he is ignored by newcomers onto the farm but is allowed to go to them, sniff them, and then retreat again. He may never be a 'friendly' dog who wants to be greeted and stroked by all and sundry (which is okay, I don't particularly want to get too friendly with people I have never met before either ).

I would avoid confrontational training methods (hitting, pinning etc) personally as a dog low in confidence may resort to snapping or even biting if they feel they have no choice.

My collie 'pup' (now 3) went through a terrible stage, he was recovering from being run over by a vehicle and going through his teens at the same time. For a short time he would definitely have bitten given the chance when he was in pain and scared and we used a baskerville and avoided confrontation at all costs. I didn't castrate him knowing what it did to my previous dog, and Troy is now a sweet, quiet and friendly 3 year old (still with his bits) who I can take anywhere (pub/towns) and he is relaxed when he meets new people.

I am not against castration in dogs, but I am against castration in adolescent male dogs showing signs they are lacking in confidence as it can send them in the wrong direction. Adolescent male dogs are unlikely to be dominant, more usually they are just scared and unsure and their 'go-to' strategy is to scare off whatever is upsetting them.

Good post. I agree the timing of castration is important and different breeds mature at different ages. Do it too late and the habits are set, do it too early and you end up with a permanent puppy lacking in confidence.

Old Shep · Feb 19, 2018

Your decision to move him sounds like the right idea. Its a common misconception that dogs like to see whats happening around them - this can make them fearful, especially if strangers are coming towards them and they have no hiding place or escape route - what's left but to stand your ground? If in a run they need a box to hide and feel secure in, often being in a stable or outbuilding is kinder than a run ( but I don't like them chained up).

Dry Rot · Feb 19, 2018

Dave6170 said:
How do you stop your dogs running off at the first smell of a bitch in heat?

I've kept a LOT of dogs over the last 65 years and never had one run off after bitches in heat, probably because I believe working dogs should be kept locked up or chained up unless working or under supervision. If you let dogs run around loose and out of control, what do you expect?

Dry Rot · Feb 19, 2018

Visitors, and especially the postie, are the classic encouragement to cause a dog to appear aggressive. The dog also feels safer in it's own territory. Posties arrives, dog barks, postie goes away. So the dog has 'won'. That is how police dogs are trained to attack. The 'helper' behaves in an aggressive manner, the dog barks, and the helper runs away appearing to be afraid.

Although my dogs are trained in man work, they are not aggressive towards the postie (although they do tell me he's arrived!) because I make sure to introduce them to him/her.

I've posted this video before. The dog is 18 months old and in training. Watch what happens at the end of he video when I introduce the dog to the 'helper'. Same dog in the still picture below.

Aggressive Huntaway.

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