Chester aggression issues in South America

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torres4664
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Chester aggression issues in South America

Post by torres4664 »

I live in Quito-Ecuador with my 18 months old beige Chow Chow named Chester.
Chester has lived with my wife and me since he was about a month old (maybe that is why he had some separation issues and loves to ride with us in the car). We have taken him to the beach (8 hours drive) and other road trips he really enjoys. He usually goes to the park everyday and I walk him unleashed for about 1 hour. He doesn´t confront people or other dogs and for the most part ignores them all.
When he was 6 months showed signs of aggression against an older golden retriever we had at a country family house. He also showed some aggression towards people that touched his food, etc. but not all the time and not against me or my wife.
Chester is our first dog as a couple and we both have limited experience with dog training and issues from our former single lives. Chester is well socialised since we put him on dog training with other dogs, etc. Chester did not show major aggression signs besides trying to protect my wife from other dogs at the park and grudging at some people randomly from inside the car. We used to take Chester to the park together until my wife got pregnant so I started doing it on my own.
One day about 3 months ago we had some relatives visiting and staying with us for a few days, I took Chester to the park and when we came back, out of nowhere apparently, Chester attacked and bit many times our cleaning lady (she used to take him walking to the park and knew him well). I had to intervene and grabbed him at the fauces to pull him out. He was really angry and his breathing was heavy. I isolated him and took our maid to the emergency room, etc. The trainer told me maybe that was not the ideal way to break him apart and should have been a bit more violent to show him it was not acceptable behaviour.
We took Chester to the same training center he went for basic training and spoke to a dog trainer about changing conducts, etc. We started to discipline him and for the most part it worked. He started to be a bit more affectionate to us and we were more strict on giving him obedience orders, don´t let him walk into doors before us, etc.
Two weeks ago we spoke to the dog trainer and he said everything was going well and he thought Chester was fully recovered.
My first child was born two weeks ago, we introduced Chester to the baby and apparently he ignored him but showed some indifference towards my wife since she was with the baby the whole time. I tried to give him the same attention as before.
We had some visits living in our home for a couple weeks and Chester only comes home on weekends from his training center. A few days ago he had another biting incident with one of the relatives that was staying with us. Apparently out of nowhere he started attacking her. This time I hit him and separated him from the victim with my hand and Chester did not try to attack again but was kind of surprised and then happy to see me.
I took him to the training center again and today I spoke with the trainer and he said is surprised to see Chester showed some aggression issues with him as well. It is like he went backwards with the whole treatment and change of conduct therapy.
I am concerned since I have a child at home now and Chester is kind of unpredictable. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Enrique
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Rory's Dad
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Re: Chester aggression issues in South America

Post by Rory's Dad »

Forgive me if I read this wrong, but I believe you posted that chester is at the training center the majority of the time and comes home on weekends...regardless of whether this is temporary or not, I think this is the root of your problem. Imagine being sent away and coming into a location where everything has changed. there are new, strange persons in that space. there is a person that is monopolizing the time of one of your people. with such an unfamiliar situation, you go to defend your person and then get hit for your efforts.

I have heard a similar story many times. Perhaps Chows do not adapt well to changes in a family dynamic. I have only had dogs that are introduced to an existing structure, but have been told about dogs that have been owned by a single person who then gets married and has children. The change is difficult for the dog to adapt to. In this case, it sounds like the dog is being boarded to accommodate the change, and while I understand the logic, I think it is adding to the problem.

Even the earlier issue, "I took Chester to the park and when we came back, out of nowhere apparently" sounds as if the dog wasn't properly supervised. Whenever I have people at my home I personally introduce them. I have treats available for my guests to give the dogs, and assure them that this person is "OK". As the household head, it will always be me and not someone else.

Another item to take away from this is "Chester did not show major aggression signs besides trying to protect my wife". Your dog clearly views your wife as part of the pack and is looking to make sure she is OK. Finally, I find the advice of the trainer to be more violent in your corrective discipline to be offensive. This is clearly someone that has no experience with Chows. In my opinion that is exactly the opposite way to correct unwanted behavior.
torres4664
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Re: Chester aggression issues in South America

Post by torres4664 »

Thanks a lot for your input and comments. They are much appreciated.
The 2 people that Chester has bitten knew him well and were properly introduced. Apparently he respected both people but attacked them without much notice.
Sorry I if misrepresented the dog trainer advise. He has never suggested me to be violent towards Chester. He suggested we should be more ¨firm¨when giving orders, etc. The trainer only uses positive reinforcement while trying to change Chester behaviour. Apparently it was working well for Chester until this past weekend. Anyhow, if there is anything good to take from the last bitting incident is that Chester quickly responded to my order to stop and afterwards when introduced again to see the person that he bit, he showed no aggression and kind of avoided visual contact although it was right next to her.
I asked the trainer about Chester being away on weekdays and home on weekends and we are evaluating the situation.
Thanks again for your time on this and any other suggestions are welcome.
Best regards,
Enrique
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maikinda
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Re: Chester aggression issues in South America

Post by maikinda »

Have you had your vet examine Chester? I would have a complete blood panel done as well as thyroid.

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Pinoy51
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Re: Chester aggression issues in South America

Post by Pinoy51 »

Hi Enrique,
I'm sorry to hear about your problems with Chester.
I have one point to make, dogs and specially Chows are not attacking out of nowhere. There is always a trigger and there are early signs of aggression before the actual biting starts.
It is very important in my view that the work with Chester is happening in your house and not away in a training center. I also believe that changes are contributing to the issues.
I agree with the firmness and leadership towards Chester. A dominant, unsupervised Chow is always potentially dangerous to strangers, human and animals alike. There is no amount of training that can counter that.
Only if he is convinced that there is leadership provided and his environment is safe for him and his pack, he will relax and just observe whoever is not known to him.
If he starts biting people he already knew and even walked him, there must be other triggers or changes he does not accept.
To have him checked by a vet is also a good idea as any form of pain can make him very irretable and un-predicatable as well. But this biting is ususally triggered by being touched and the touch is inflicting some pain.
Please avoid being to harsh with him, it will make things worse if you and your wife are becoming afraid of him and treating him very different. He needs calm, assertive leadership and as little changes as possible in his environment.
Good luck with finding what's wrong with Chester or the people around him.
Best regards
Pinoy51
torres4664
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Re: Chester aggression issues in South America

Post by torres4664 »

Thanks Pinoy51 for your comments, much appreciated.
I will have the suggested blood tests and thyroid done for Chester. Apparently there is nothing wrong with him from our last visit to the vet.
Chester´s trainer called today and explained to me that he spoke to 4 other dog specialists in Ecuador, Argentina and France and they all agreed that Chester will always be unpredictable and there is no way to guarantee he will ever change his behaviour. Apparently he will try to attack the weakest in the pack without much warning. He said that in terms of securing my family´s safety (wife and baby especially) Chester can no longer live with us. He suggested making Chester a guardian dog at a ranch or farm or putting him to sleep (I am not even considering that!).
Any advice or suggestions are welcome. I don´t want to give up on Chester but my family safety is also a priority for me. Nonetheless, I think the main priority here is to give Chester a happy life if possible.
Does anybody think a Chow chow rescue center would be a good place for Chester?
Regards,
E
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