Can someone offer some advice?

I'm in an online discussion elsewhere concerning a pack of free-roaming dogs who act aggressively towards a certain (apparently mild) dog when he is being walked past their territory (we live in Taiwan - many strays).

The owner wants to throw rocks at the strays and hit them with sticks in order to protect his dog. I am trying to explain that this would just raise the level of excitement, which could prove dangerous. I'm trying to advise remaining calm and assertive and showing confident posturing and body language, while also preventing his dog from engaging the pack.

Is this right? And how could he do this most effectively? Should the owner stand his ground or ignore the pack and keep walking?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. (Calling the dogcathers would be a short-term solution, as more dogs would soon move in).

Thanks!

Sean

This was a wonderful reminder of what to do with a new dog! I decided to add a dog from the shelter as a valentine present~ (a new type of rescue experience for me). The best show I have seen outside of the ones where Cesar introduces a dog from the outside to his pack at the old dog psychology center is the Dogs on Parole episode! But that system of introducing the calmest dog to the new dog after a walk works every time I have tried it!!!!

Sean, no advice but we can share expereinces and what Cesar has done in his shows. One thing I have learned is how important our expectations are in triggering something happening with our and the other loose dogs! This has been the hardest thing for me to master because the fist thing that happens as a rule, for me, is that I flash into irritation that people would let their dogs run free. (So therefore I am already expecting and looking for a fight/problems and they get it and so does my dog).

Just in the last few shows, Cesar also really brought home, how if people would just let the dogs sniff each other - most of the time the other loose dogs would move on. I also remember him emphasizing to keep the backend presented to the on-coming dog, to NOT let them meet head to head to reduce escalation of energy. What I remember most of all, is how critically important awareness of my (your energy is) because THAT is going to be the most likely place the triggering behavior is going to come from!

Anne, Lightning fast intervention, the moment the behavior has started is the key I have seen most in Cesar's solutions. To redirect the dog's attention from what ever it is fixated on to yourself immediately is what he has demonstrated over and over!

The challenge I see, for you, is two fold: first, the behavior has already escalated into agression, which if it becomes public, can result in quarentine or possibly death to the dog. (In most places, if you go to a doctor if he knows it is a bite by your dog, he is required by law to report it to animal control who then takes action). Second, it seems to me that both of you have now an expectation of a behavior which will be fulfilled because - it has already succeeded in his getting his way!

Of course the most correct thing to do is to find a professional who understands and supports Cesar's way to get help making the immediate changes you need to have happen.

For me - my attitude is that if I make the problem with MY behavior reactions and choices, then I need to solve it, because no professional is going to be around when I (which I could make that bigger letter I - g) trigger the behavior!

So what I have done, is I paid $85.00 to get up to my shoulder bite-proof gloves, available at many pet supply stores) and I hold the dog down until he shifts the energy and becomes calm/submissive. I have not had to do this more then two or three times ever with any dog to change the behavior.

Over and over, Cesar says, the dog must not win, to change the behavior successfully!

Loved the show last night Cesar on Calvin............thanks so much for all you do! God Bless!!!!!!

I am always impressed whenever you help out such dogs that are fearful. Sometimes I wish I had the mind of a dog just so I can get past my social phobia as easily as Calvin seemed to have been.

I hope things go well for the family and thank you for letting the dog get to know you on his own terms. :D

i need a little advise for introducing a new dog to our pack. we have an 11 year old lab a 5year old dauchund a 2year old dauchund and we just got a 6month old rot/dane mix he is very pushy with us and the other dogs. we walk him a few times a week and he has learned some basic obediance. his main fault is he play bites alot and has not learned it will not be tolerated. we tried correcting him with a newspaper and tried the pretend bite to the neck he just thinks you are playing.if you get angry with him he just barks and wants to play. can anyone help,or is this something we just have to keep working with him and hope it gets better as he gets older. all our other dogs are very respectfull of us and seem very adjusted to there place in the house and he is just all over the place. i love watching the dog whisperer and have fallowed several of his ideas for my dogs. i just feel at a loss sometimes with this pup. he recently had a bout with parvo and we almost lost him, it broke my heart. i dont want to give up on him but would like to know if anyone has had this kind of situation and maybe can help he is my problem child and i wanna help him adjust properly. thank you in advance for any help.

Thank you C.J. for your kind and helpful response. It truly is appreciated.