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Hi all! My husband and I have two dachsies who we got through rescue.
Nellie is a 3.5 year old red brindle female rescued from a puppy mill. She was kept outside in a wire mesh cage 24/7 and had 3 litters before she was 2 years old. Luckily, a reputable breeder stumbled upon her and talked the mill owner into selling her, and then the breeder reported the mill to animal welfare, who came in and seized the rest of the dogs. She was VERY skittish and timid when we first got her, and it took months before she would allow anyone but my husband and I to touch her without her shaking. We thought another dog might do her some good, so we started searching for a companion dachsie who gets along with cats (we have 4 rescue cats as well).
That's how we found Blue. Blue is a blue and tan double dapple who was born deaf and has limited vision due to subluxated pupils (problems that can happen in double dapples). He's the happiest little dog I've ever encountered though, and you'd never know he has any sort of handicap. He's wonderful with Nellie and has really helped her learn to "act like a dog." She plays and runs now and isn't terrified when new people come over since she has him by her side.
Now for the problem. Blue is fine with Nellie, fine with the cats, fine with my in-laws two Labs, fine with two dachsie friends who've come to our house...but you get him in public and he goes nuts and tries to bite any other dog he sees (I guess we should be happy he was neglected and only has 3 teeth left in his mouth!). We took him to dog beach here in San Diego and ended up having to carry him since he was trying to wrench out of his collar to go run after dogs three times his size barking and snarling. We thought "okay, he's deaf and large dogs running up might startle him and his reaction is fear aggression" so we took him to Petsmart to walk around with other dogs in a more controlled environment. Same thing though...we saw two other dachsies there and slowly walked up to them. They were happy, tails wagging, but once Blue got within two feet he started growling and pulling. We're not sure what to do, or even if there is anything to do with a 7 year old male who was just recently neutered. Perhaps he's just going to be aggressive in environments he's not 100% comfortable in? Any ideas?

Katie

>>Hi all! My husband and I have two dachsies who we got through rescue.
>>Nellie is a 3.5 year old red brindle female rescued from a puppy mill. She was kept outside in a wire mesh cage 24/7 and had 3 litters before she was 2 years old. Luckily, a reputable breeder stumbled upon her and talked the mill owner into selling her, and then the breeder reported the mill to animal welfare, who came in and seized the rest of the dogs. She was VERY skittish and timid when we first got her, and it took months before she would allow anyone but my husband and I to touch her without her shaking. We thought another dog might do her some good, so we started searching for a companion dachsie who gets along with cats (we have 4 rescue cats as well).
>>That's how we found Blue. Blue is a blue and tan double dapple who was born deaf and has limited vision due to subluxated pupils (problems that can happen in double dapples). He's the happiest little dog I've ever encountered though, and you'd never know he has any sort of handicap. He's wonderful with Nellie and has really helped her learn to "act like a dog." She plays and runs now and isn't terrified when new people come over since she has him by her side.
>>Now for the problem. Blue is fine with Nellie, fine with the cats, fine with my in-laws two Labs, fine with two dachsie friends who've come to our house...but you get him in public and he goes nuts and tries to bite any other dog he sees (I guess we should be happy he was neglected and only has 3 teeth left in his mouth!). We took him to dog beach here in San Diego and ended up having to carry him since he was trying to wrench out of his collar to go run after dogs three times his size barking and snarling. We thought "okay, he's deaf and large dogs running up might startle him and his reaction is fear aggression" so we took him to Petsmart to walk around with other dogs in a more controlled environment. Same thing though...we saw two other dachsies there and slowly walked up to them. They were happy, tails wagging, but once Blue got within two feet he started growling and pulling. We're not sure what to do, or even if there is anything to do with a 7 year old male who was just recently neutered. Perhaps he's just going to be aggressive in environments he's not 100% comfortable in? Any ideas?
>>
>>Katie
>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You may need some expert help in person to work through it if you want to continue taking him to public places. One way to start working on it, though, is to keep him back from the action at a distance where he can stay calm, and reward him for calmness. Teach him to give you eye contact using treats (Dachshunds are absolutely hypnotized by food!), and only get closer to the other dogs as he is able, over a long series of sessions, to stay calm.

With a Dachshund a head halter probably isn't safe due to the spinal issues, but you could use a muzzle (one that allows him to take treats) to keep him calmer and yourself less worried while working on this.

Deborah Wood's book "Help for Your Shy Dog" could be a great help--shyness and aggression tend to be two sides of the same coin.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Thanks for the input! He certainly didn't appear shy when he first met Nellie. He ran right up tail wagging and sniffed her with no growling or signs of aggression at all. The same was true when two other dachshunds (male and female) came to our house. Perhaps he's "shy" and uncomfortable in new surroundings in public and that's why he reacts with the aggression. We're going to take him back to the dog beach on a weekday, when there are very few dogs there and we'll be able to work with him without so many distractions. Ultimately we don't want to bribe him with treats (he's a little on the chunky side already and we're working on his weight) but I can see using those to start to keep his attention...which can be difficult with a deaf dog.

Katie

It sounds to me like he is uncomfortable in busy situations. Working with in on the beach like you are saying, with fewer distractions may work. Also, if you have folks with a pretty friendly dog that would understand what you are trying to do with him, if they could bring their dog around yours, but not too close, to let him know that it is safe, that might help. When it comes to treats, have you tried raw carrots? Alot of dogs like bites of raw carrots and they are a treat that can be given and not worried about.

Good luck!

Melody

>>Thanks for the input! He certainly didn't appear shy when he first met Nellie. He ran right up tail wagging and sniffed her with no growling or signs of aggression at all. The same was true when two other dachshunds (male and female) came to our house. Perhaps he's "shy" and uncomfortable in new surroundings in public and that's why he reacts with the aggression. We're going to take him back to the dog beach on a weekday, when there are very few dogs there and we'll be able to work with him without so many distractions. Ultimately we don't want to bribe him with treats (he's a little on the chunky side already and we're working on his weight) but I can see using those to start to keep his attention...which can be difficult with a deaf dog.
>>
>>Katie

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Some dogs are aggressive out of a "gameness" that just drives them to beat up on other creatures for no reason. Others are aggressive because they get an adrenaline rush out of attacking, and that adrenaline is addictive. But most aggressive dogs think the other dog or person is a potential threat, and are attacking before they can be attacked. In other words, there is a foundation of fear underneath the aggression. It would take an expert in person working with the dog to make a diagnosis, not something we can do online. But whatever the cause, the behavior modification is basically the same--teach him to do an alternate behavior instead, and teach it very solidly. Food is the best way to start. Use his dinner. Let him work for it. Use miniscule pieces. Dachshunds, like most hounds, are incredibly easy to motivate with food. Once you've established the behavior (several months, perhaps), you might be able to switch to a toy reward instead. But food is your best bet to start. I didn't want to train with food, either. But I've learned. It works, and for certain things it is not only more humane than other methods, but in the long run necessary to save the dog's life.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com