I'm having a problem with a 4 yr old Australian cattle dog that when ever my girl friend tries to be near me he attacks her. When she first walks into the house he is fine with her and even runs up to her for some attention, but as the night goes on his attitude changes towards her. He gets to the point as to where he will sit there staring at her to make sure she doesn't move. If she does start to move anywhere in my direction even if it’s to get something to drink but she has to pass by me he tries to attack her. Anyone other then her and he is fine so it’s hard for me to find any specific topics on this behavior. Need help I don't even know where to begin on treating this problem.

Just a little more info on this. I have had this dog since he was 8 weeks old and we did do obedience training when he was younger. My girlfriend doesn't live with me, but does come over 2 or 3 times a week.

Humm . . . . . I'm no expert but here we go!!!
Your dog might be jelase toward her because he thinks he is the only 1 alowed to get that close. Or he is trying to protect you . . . . . . . . I don't have a solution but maybe someone else does . . . . . . . I hope it helped some . . . . . have a great day & good luck with your dog!!!!

~Kats

I love Australian Cattle Dogs <3

And I think your best bet would be to contact an animal behaviorist, because attacking (I assume you mean biting?) is not acceptable behavior. I would also consider some more training, perhaps a dog sport (Ex, Agility, Rally, Obedience, Flyball)

Best of luck

Yes when I say attack I do mean biting. I have been looking at animal behavoirist, but how do you know which one is the best? I do give him regular exercise and have seen that days he is really tired his attitude is even worse towards her as far as it takes even less movement on her part to set him off. I've tried getting her to do more of the corrective actions when she is there but she doesn't see its her role to do that. I believe she is a little scared since she did tell me in the begining of our relationship that she was bitten when she was younger. Even her mother has mentioned she is supprised how well she is doing with the dog since she would never go up near one.

Your girlfriend's fear is not at all going to help the situation.

I would go by word of mouth as far as a dog behaviorist goes. I would maybe even see a couple different ones, see what they see, what they reccomend, and find out what works. You could also ask your vet, your groomer, your trainer, or doggie daycare; they may be able to reccomend someone to you either through word they're heard or something like that.

Your girlfriend should attend the sessions with the behaviorist as well.

I have heard Australian cattle dogs are a strange breed. I think I heard they are a 1 person type of dog.
Your dog sees you as the master and thinks it is second in command and your girlfriend is third. This is due to her not taking part in obedience training. Also due to her being afraid.
Maybe your friend needs to feed your dog more often? Give treats?
Also buy a book about the breed!

This is very similar to the problem I'm having with my 1 year old pointer mix except that he attacks me. He does the same thing where he stares at me a lot before he attacks me. He doesn't attack my husband. I'm the one who walks the dog and does most of the feeding and even training. I'm not scared of him even though he bites hard. He's great on walks. He will sit, lie down, etc immediately after attacking.

I'm convinced the answer lies in the staring and I don't know wether to block his stares or stare back at him in a challenge. Ignoring him doesn't stop him from staring at me. He will attack me from several feet away when he decides to attack. I've been to one behaviorist and am going to another soon. My vet thinks he's very dominant and I should try a shock collar but I don't want to do that yet.

Also, when I play with him outside he will give up the game (usually fetch or soccer) and start play biting me really hard. If I ignore him he will try to knock me over or pull me off balance so I usually wind up going inside and leaving him out. Like I say, he's great on walks.

Excuse me bocch but how can you say that one breed is "strange" and "a one man dog"?

And what is that supposed to mean? Strange? I could just as easily say Poodles or Labs are "strange". Whoever you heard that from needs a smack. Because it is ridiculous to say that about any breed at all. This is one dog having a problem, not all of one breed.

Like your girlfriend ackxx09, my dog greets me enthusiastically and yet only attacks me. It isn't a bite in response to a challenge either, its an attack somewhat out of nowhere, and if he doesn't get his afternoon nap, he's more likely to attack, similar to your dog with the walk. He isn't a cattle dog so its 2 dogs of different breeds with a similar problem.

My husband wears glasses and with the staring, I wonder if that is relevant. If he starts staring I tie him to a piece of furniture where he is so he can't attack which is a band aid. I've tried wearing sunglasses and blocking his stares with a magazine, both reduce his staring but I'm not sure if they would stop an attack. Dogs don't have good eyesight for stationary objects so if I'm watching TV, he might think I'm staring at him or my husband or just being generally aggressive. I can't figure it out. I've read that dogs can't really see the old TV's and he doesn't seem to understand what I'm looking at when I watch. Maybe its time to upgrade our TV.

If you find the solution, please post it here.

I'm not the one with the dog vs girlfriend problems..

woops, sorry! I meant gchild.

I totally agree with you on the breed thing tho.

The Cattle Dog's loyalty and protective instincts make it a self-appointed guardian to the Stockman, his herd and his property. Whilst naturally suspicious of strangers. Stockman means owner/handler/trainer. Usually translates into this dog is a great 1 person dog and possibly is not good with other dogs in the house.
I have heard that if you are single and have no other pets (and the time to play with dog) that this dog is a good dog.
If you live with another person or have another dog further research might have been needed before making the cattle dog a second pet.
I recommend buying books to learn about cattle dog behavior. Investing and participating in dog obedience classes might need be considered as well.

What is with you and this "breed" thing?

Studying the breed is NOT going to solve this problem. This is a problem with a single dog, having a problem with a single person/situation.
This is a matter that needs to be solved with an animal behaviorist or trainer.
Sure, maybe there is some truth in saying that this is a breed which is said to have certain characteristics; such as nipping, not being good with children and other animals, and perhaps even being a one man dog. But tell me, where is this a proven thing that every Cattle Dog is assured to have these traits? It isn't. Knowing these things aren't going to help solve the problem; they MIGHT help you put the blame on something other than yourself, but when it comes down to it it is often the owner causing the problems to the dog. The dog is a dog, not just a breed, and the problem needs to be treated as such.

quote:

What is with you and this "breed" thing?

Studying the breed is NOT going to solve this problem. This is a problem with a single dog, having a problem with a single person/situation.
This is a matter that needs to be solved with an animal behaviorist or trainer.
Sure, maybe there is some truth in saying that this is a breed which is said to have certain characteristics; such as nipping, not being good with children and other animals, and perhaps even being a one man dog. But tell me, where is this a proven thing that every Cattle Dog is assured to have these traits? It isn't. Knowing these things aren't going to help solve the problem; they MIGHT help you put the blame on something other than yourself, but when it comes down to it it is often the owner causing the problems to the dog. The dog is a dog, not just a breed, and the problem needs to be treated as such.

It is very funny to me that you criticized statements found on the AKC website.
It is very funny that you criticize my recommendation on reading up on the breed of this dog.

Oh I'm sorry, does the AKC website know everything about every dog? Because if it does, then lets worship the AKC website shall we?

If you read what I said, I had written THERE MAY BE SOME TRUTH IN WHAT YOU SAID, but saying the problem is happening because the dog is an ACD is ridiculous. Period. Even if it DID contribute to it, how would that solve the problem? So what, you say "Oh, my dog attacks my girlfriend because he's an ACD, and according to the AKC website, this is in his nature .. Problem solved .." I don't think so.

Now, this is not helping the original poster on here; so lets stop this. You can lean back on your AKC information and that's that.

As for the OP, I would serisouly consider a dog behaviorist - or a new girlfriend. (Just kidding..) Best of luck to you, in any event.

My dog is not attacking me at all now so we'll see. The staring thing is the key and also that it seems to happen when watching TV, at least I'm guessing you're both watching TV when she gets up to get a drink. I've talked to several behaviorists and dog trainers and they all give the same answer no matter what the problem. If its a clicker type they want the dog to earn everything it gets with a sit. If its an old fashioned trainer they want to do a leash correction or an electronic zap every time the dog looks aggressive. Then there's the down-stay types and the treat for everything types. Dogs have been domesticated for 14,000 years so all the methods work for training your dog. This doesn't seem to be a training problem but more of a miscommunication between species.

You say the dog greets her enthusiastically so I think the dog recognizes her as part of the pack which means different rules apply to her than strangers. I think your dog is trying to stop her from the aggressive staring (dog's interpretation) when she's watching TV. Remember 2 things, how different dog's eyesight is from ours and how they're designed to communicate through body language. The solution would be to get the dog to lie behind her when watching TV so he can't see her staring at the TV. My dog no longer lies in the living room but lies on his dog bed in the kitchen and I'm having no more problems.

I hope that helps. Your problem certainly is helping me figure out mine.

Username=acdxx was wondering if there is some sentiment with the topic and your username?
Gee, knocking the AKC. Also knocking the use of books when researching the breed of the dog you own or intend to own.
You shoot down logical recommendations. I really can not get over you knocking down the research part. That sets off a red flag to me....
I did look up the ACD rescue sites. I did notice what 90% of the owners mentioned.
I also have to disagree with one of your statements. Dogs were bred for a particular purpose. Each breed of dog has been bred with certain traits to enhance their abilities. It is in the history of most breeds. Weather you choose to accept this fact is a different story.

Okay bocch, I don't know why you're bothering with this. Its obvious by your comments that you really know what you're talking about and have been training dogs for awhile. You don't have to defend your comments, they stand alone as great advice. If someone else has a different opinion, your advice is still great advice.

Seeing as this is a really silly conversation - I won't get too riled up.

But whatever red flag you're talking about is a little moronic. I think you need to step down off your high horse, and realize this is an opinionated forum. There is no need for you to act like you're on a throne seeing who's doing wrong here.

And I also wish to add in; Did you fully read what I said? I did not say you were absolutely wrong in all that you said, I said (pointing this out again for the second time) that there may be some truth in what you said - or do you just like to be involved in arguments? Needless to say, I was a little snappy to begin with, since this is after-all "my" breed (my absolute favorite breed, I mean), and I was a bit quick to get defensive.

I was thinking about what both of us said, and true, dogs were bred for a purpose, but they are first and foremost: dogs. Then comes breed. I do not think that this problem was a breed related problem. I could be right, I could be wrong. But that's the thing, it is my opinion, and yes you have yours - which could also be right or could also be wrong. In the end, I appologize for anything I said that may have been offensive, as I am really not a confrontational person, and hope to keep things civil and peaceful and what not.

Thanks.

I'm noticing more, my husband massages our dog when he puts his front in his lap and is in what looks like to me a dominant body posture (ears forward, tail up). I have asked him not to let the dog jump up in his lap anymore. When he does that the dog has a smug expression when he looks at me and will lock eyes with me. I think this is where he gets his beta status.

Cesar Millan only gives affection when a dog is in a calm submissive state but he is an expert at reading dog body language and I am not. I can't tell when a dog is in a calm submissive state.

Another thing I have noticed is to not look at the dog when I am walking around and the dog is standing in the way as dogs do, but to look above him. When avoiding eye contact with a dog, looking way above him seems to be key.

I am a huge, and I mean huge, fan of Cesar Millan.

I agree with most everything he says - not all, but most.

When I read the first paragraph of what you wrote I was going to say something that he says. Cesar usually doesn't allow for this "jumping onto the lap" behavior, as it is more often than not a dominating gesture.

Now whether or not this is correct, I don't know, but it seems to help for those he helps (but that's TV so..)

Good luck with your dog though, hopefully everything balances out and your dog will learn that he is not alpha in the pack!

I don't know if anyone else has said this so...

ACD's are not a 1 person only type dog. I've had one, I know. I've also done a lot of research on them. And he might be smelling your girlfriend's fear, even if she isn't showing any. IF smelled, he will take any advantage he can take. Keep trying to get her to correct him. Or atleast help her know that he will not bite her if she shows dominance (they can smell that too). The same with you. You should be the one to correct him also b/c if you felt threaten, you should be doing that, not him.

Hope it helps!!

I don't know if anyone suggested this or not, but I would suggest a crate for night. You said that he goes up to her when she gets there and gets love from her and everything. I say when you see him start staring at her (before you guys go to bed), but him on a tie down here is a website that describes a tie-down
http://www.wagsandwiggles.com/tiedown.shtml
I hope this helps.