It's called FEAR AGGRESSION.
It's towards people (and trash bags....and bikes...and potted plants...and boxes...). I stopped trying to figure out what went wrong about 2 months ago. It's too much to think about and not enough information. I tried all different types of training techniques and ways of desensitizing him to that which he fears. None of which worked. None besides putting his muzzle on and telling everyone to ignore him.
I always wanted a dog to call my own since I was a child. One that I trained myself. One I can bring everywhere with me. I guess the world has a way of giving you what you "want" by giving you the worst case scenario and throwing you into it head first. I hate the looks I get when I take him out with his muzzle and backpack on. I hate that I can't let him meet all my friends and family and show them how great of a dog he really is. He is the smartest dog I have ever been around. He is also one of the weirdest looking dogs I have ever seen. When he is in my room he is just like a regular dog. That is what I want people to see. So, I decided to make a blog showcasing his accomplishments. I want to show people that dogs like Debo need people understand them and not discard them. So, this is a blog about my spooked little doggy named Debo.
Reading your post, I feel like I'm reading my own story. I raised Hunter from a 6-week-old puppy, and have always made it my top priority for him to be a happy, healthy, and well-balanced dog. I brought him everywhere with me, socialized him in all situations with lots of people and experiences. People assume he must have been abused or had some kind of horrible trauma to make him not trust strangers, but there was nothing like that...somewhere along the line he just turned out this way, like it was a hard-wired part of his personality that I couldn't alter no matter what I tried.
ReplyDeleteIt's validating to read your story and know that I'm not the only one struggling with this kind of fear-aggressive dog. I look forward to hearing more about Debo :)
It sucks really bad sometimes. When I have had him around people with his muzzle on they ask me if he was abused or if he came from the pound. He wasn't and he wasn't. He is just this way for seemingly no reason. At home though he is just this energetic dog with so much personality. I made this blog though in hopes people like me with dogs like debo would feel the way this has made you feel. Like were not alone because I feel crazy sometimes because everyone elses dogs are normal. It isn't our faults though. I am happy there are people like me out there who would accept a dog being that way and still give him or her a good life. Good luck Hunter!
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