Help With Aggressive Newf!

[blaue_augen]

I would not recommend a waist belt attachment or skijoring belt for anyone with a bad back. Actually I would not recommend it for anyone that does not already have reasonable control over their dog. Newfs are far too strong and they could seriously injure an inexperienced handler using a leash tethered to their waist.

You probably already know this but our trainer taught us to hold the leash as follows:
Put you thumb through the loop of the leash and let the leash fall over your palm. Wrap you 4 fingers around the leash. With your second hand, grasp the leash just below your first hand. So basically, the leash is running through both hands (stacked on top of each other) and the tip of the leash comes out at the top with your thumb through the loop. Your thumb is the only part through the loop and the leash is not wrapped around you in any way.
Bend your elbows and hold your hands against your midsection. This uses all of your core muscles when the dog pulls. If your arms are extended out you lose a lot of control and strength.
The benefit to this over a waist belt is that that if you need to let go, you can quickly. An average dog can easily pull 10 times his own weight, so a small 100 lb newf can easily pull 1000 pounds. (If the dog is fit and trained to pull, they can pull 15 times their own weight). So if our dogs really wanted they could pull any of us down the street. I have terrible visions of your powerful and determined dog pulling you head over heals across the road.

I hope you can get this figure out! We don't want you getting hurt!

 

[R Taft]

I would recommend BAT Training. Here is a link to the website: http://functionalrewards.com/

Behavior Adjustment Training, or BAT, rehabilitates dog reactivity by looking at why the dog is reactive and helping him or her meet his needs in other ways. In a nutshell, BAT is a dog-friendly application of ‘functional analysis’ that gives the dogs a chance to learn to control their own comfort level through peaceful means. It’s very empowering to your dog, in a good way.

The video explains the principle behind the training using a fearful/shy dog. The method works with aggressive dogs. The trick is being able to read your dog and reward them by removing the trigger before they react. It does work.











I would not recommend a waist belt attachment or skijoring belt for anyone with a bad back. Actually I would not recommend it for anyone that does not already have reasonable control over their dog. Newfs are far too strong and they could seriously injure an inexperienced handler using a leash tethered to their waist.

I sent her the BAT training method book to help Shell, I thought it would help a lot

 

[Milliejb]

How is it going Lisa??? Training helping??

 

[pecanpiepatti]

Also, if you can have someone act the way we're taught to if an agressive, or even stray dog approaches - saw it work at the lake like a charm - loose dog decided to come swimmig w/all the newfies and one of the ladies started waving her arms yelling "NO!" as loudly as possible and the dog turned tail and ran off! But keep him on the leash while doing!

 

[sendchocolate]

I use a Gentle Leader and love it. I know someone who swears by this one: Sens-A-tion harness http://www.amazon.com/SENSE-ation-No-Pull-Dog-Harness-Medium/dp/B0013JYDF0

You have gotten really good advice. The only thing I would add is to train in the house, first. Does he sit, stand, lie down, stay? Practice those, and then practice them outside, as well. When you see a distraction coming from far off, immediately put him into a sit, or even a down. Stand in front of him, blocking the distraction and have HIGH VALUE treats (warm hot dog, cheese, chunks of ham...stuff he never gets, except in this instance) tell him, "Watch me!" and "Leave It," or some such, just whatever you say, be consistent. When a cyclist goes by us, I always bring Poppy in close, put her in a sit and hold her leash close to her collar. She is not reactive, but once she tried to go towards the bike, surprising us both. So I anticipate when she is passing something... other dogs (she may pull because she wants to play) families, whatever. It just takes time.
I have slight arthritis in my hands and the flat leashes are hard for me to hold. I use this. Soft Lines They are soft, and big enough for my hands to hold onto. They have really wide ones, which I LOVE. They also personalize the leads, which could come in handy if he slips your grasp and takes off. Maybe that might help you.