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Dog Aggression with a 6 month old Golden Retriever

Usually when I’m writing blog posts I’m generally looking for a positive, even if there isn’t a big positive I use the phrase “always find a positive from a negative”.  Today unfortunately was a little different.

I initially met India the 6 month old Golden Retriever in February when she attended my dog obedience classes.  At that time she was headstrong, but willing to learn.  One of the biggest issues I had to overcome was training the family.  Whilst they wanted a well behaved dog they were over loving India and sacrificing command structure.  Today I met again with India and her owners after we’d discussed a few worrying behaviour problems over the phone.

Immediately as they let India out of their vehicle it was evident they’ve done very little follow on training from my classes.  Asking how much time do you allow for training a day, the answer was very little.  After an initial discussion we started correcting lead control but when I held and walked India she started to stop and become stubborn.  Then from nowhere she aggressively attacked.  Even though she knows me, has trained confidently in a class 1-2-1 with me she wasn’t for being walked unless on her terms.  It was at that point her owners explained about her doing this to them.  Also at the age of 14 weeks she’d spent 2 days with a trainer who said he’d correct her fear or people and dogs by placing her in with 6 working spaniels, unfortunately when they collected her she was cowering and nervous.

Whilst India is only 6 months she is communicating the only way she know through bark and bite.  After further assessment and discussion it was agreed she’d spend time in residence to work on socialisation and positive rehabilitation.

India is a beautiful dog that experienced huge negative at a young age, but it’s nothing that can’t be corrected and we will correct.