encouraging_angels1 said:
mY dOG, she is impossible ot get the flee collar on!
I have to push her into a corner or water pipe and push her against the wall while I gewt the flee collar on because if I don't and try to do it away form the wall she will start to try and bite me!
DOes anyonew have nay other ideas?
Sorry if I have responded a bit late I didn't see this until now.
It sound like your dog does not view you as pack leader. In consequence she does not trust you to make the decision whether or not she will wear something around the neck. Handling the dogs neck is a sign of dominance, without first establishing that you are alpha your bound to have problems.
Before I move on I suppose I should tell you that I have studied dog behavior and taught training classes for 4-H kids for 6 years, and have trained my own GSDs for 10. In a rural area no less, so aggression and unruliness are common cases for me.
Also I suggest you stop the attempted bites as soon as possible, this behavior will turn towards others if not stopped, she may not hold back next time, most dogs don't miss unless its just a warning.
Ok I'll tell you how I would approach the situation, but without seeing the behavior for myself it is difficult to put a specific plan of action for the dog, but when dealing with aggresion every case I've dealt with has to do with dog and owner misinterpreting each others roles and behaviors.
Start by evaluating and changing behaviors seen as submisive to the dog. Like...
Serving the dog its food, meaning the dog generally eats first and the dog does not have to wait to stick her head in the bowl, or you simply fill it whether the dog is present or not. The dog needs to wait, you should eat first even if its just a cracker or chip as you carry the bowl to her, also the dog must recognize that you own the food, as if you had hunted it down and killed it, meaning only when you set it down and walk away from the bowl can the dog start in. You don't have to teach commands or obedience, simply block her way by standing in front of her don't let her move in until she stops trying to go around and looks to you instead, then walk away, she'll know it her turn then.
When entering or returning to an area/room giving attention immediately to the dog, no matter what kind of attention it is, the dog interprets this as your way of showing that she has a higher ranking than you. When you enter a room/area always ignore the dog for a few minutes,when the dog is obviously calm and not pleading for attention in some way then you call the dog to you, alphas should not have to move toward lower ranking pack members, when summoned (however it is you do it) they come.
Also your mere presence and body language can tip a dog off to whether you hold the position of alpha or not.
I'm not sure how often you walk/exercise can ask what your routine is with your dog?
Anyway you should make sure she's had a good walk before trying to put on the collar. Does she have problems with all collars or just the flea collar?
Ok I realize that didn't have much to do with the putting on the flea collar but changing things like that will help tremendously. And now on to the flea collar. To prepare you may just want to carry the flea collar around for a while, so the dog does not see the appearance of the flea collar as a sign something will happen, also pet the dog with the flea collar in the other hand, then walk away a few times.
1- enter the room as if nothing is going on, DO NOT I repeat DO NOT even think about the coming event, the dog needs to feel that nothing bad is going on
2- sit down a pray for a little while, this has always helps.
3- when you are ready call the dog to you
4- if the dog has no problem with other collars first put on a different collar, and attach a leash, then you wont have to corner her
5- visualize that it will go smoothly pray some more
6- move the dog so its side is facing you, if you are face to face with the dog this is seen as a challenge sometimes not always but we don't want any chances of misinterpretation.
7- pause for second make sure your dog is still calm if you dog elevates to anticipation or exitedness wait for her to calm down, she will trust nothing if she is not calm.
8- if you have a leash make sure you have it but do not put tension on it, if not make sure you have a towel or pillow ready
9- if you can get her to lie down on her side, this is not only a calm position but a submissive position. You may want to kneel next to her but make sure you are not looming over her.
10- when she submits to this position reward her with affection but only when it is obvious she realizes she can't move.
11- with the flea collar in your hand reach toward the dog as if to pet it, so not to fast, not too slow, nice easy calm pace. this entire time you exude a calm peace and it must not be a cover, dogs see through covers, and will not trust you if you aren't calm.
12- if the dog tries to bite she must be disciplined, this why its easier with a leash, put her head back down and use your other hand to take her legs out from under her if she stood or repositioned on to her stomach, you wont hurt her. if you don't have the leash it will be much more difficult you'll have to use the pillow or towel to protect yourself as you try to reposition her. in either case she is not allowed to lift her head untill she submits to being put in the position again.
13- hopefully she did not try to bite if she did you may want leave the room and start at step 1 all over again but you could probably get away with starting at 7 again.
14- after succesfully buckling the collar you may reward with a treat, affection or a toy but you MUST NOT excite her, this process is to be left calm, there is a time to be excited and a time to be calm. If you excite her she may forget all she's learned or try to regain her dominance.
That is probably the longest post ever, but most of the time I do half hour or hour long sessions with small groups and their dogs so I always have a lot to say on the subject.
I also realize that I gave you a lot to read and you may not have experience or you may have been trained differently just PM me and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible if you have questions, concerns, or want to know in more detail reasoning behind certain steps.
I can also give you suggested reading if you like, many of my methods are derived from books, but perfected by experience.
P.S. I don't use flea collars I use Advantage, or simply use a flea comb and soapy water. Also dogs with weakened immune systems are more prone to fleas so vitamin supplements might also help.
I will pray for you and your dog
May God grant your dog full trust in you, so you may care for it as the loving owner you are
j/k
