re: Aggressive hunting labs to other labs.

It was a 1 inch piece of hard copper, it has 2 dents in it.

quote:

---

You aren't going to take aggression out with electricity. You've got a dog that isn't wired correctly and that's just how he is.

---

Almost (yes, I'm the one who downvoted you). Electricity isn't gonna do it, maybe. But it isn't "just how he is" because its only a dog, and you can create an entirely new dog out of a 5 year old lab if you want.

It'll take a few trips to the blind but it can be done. I think (a) he needs to learn ASAP that his value to your dad is sitting in that damn box until your dad releases him, and then he goes and picks up ducks, then sits in that goddamn box again. (b) is he needs to learn ASAP how to act like a gentleman, even if he isn't one.

(a) is easy, we've all done it (I'll admit my experience is far more obedience then water dog, but I've dealt with enough water dogs to know he can still learn that fundamental fact).

(b) might take a shock collar (my default is no adverse training, but with a 5 year old dog, especially a lab, I'll readily admit you'll likely need adverse training). You and your dad and everyone else around needs to ring his bell when he's aggressive towards other dogs. PLUS, and this is important, DO NOT let him pick up ducks after he does that BS. Picking up ducks is his life, it's what he was bred for. You keep him clipped in after he shows his arse and he'll learn right quick to not throw teeth at the other dog.

So, a firm hand is likely needed, but the SECONDARY lesson (of being stuck in that goddamn box while the other dog is picking up ducks) is just as important.

quote:

---

other dogs have a hard time swinging a pipe.

Either let the other hunting dogs and him brawl it out or put Cujo out to pasture. If they fight it out, the hierarchy will be established

---

No. That's not it. If you think a 5 year old labrador can't become an entirely new dog in a short time, you are just wrong.

Hierarchy generally is not an issue with new dogs in a duck blind. The dogs change every hunt and they are on opposite sides of the blind and don't hang out together, so their relative status in the pack over time doesn't matter. With your theory, he has to fight it out every time someone brings a new dog. No, that is not practicable and not the right approach.

This dog needs to learn, and be trained, that Dad is God and that the dog is an angel who picks up ducks, the rest of the world be damned. He's not a herding breed so he's not intelligent, but he's a labrador which is eminently trainable. This dog will learn his job and learn to look to Dad as a god if you do it right, and if you do it right the dog won't give 2 shits about the other dog.

Again, don't tolerate the dog throwing teeth at the other dog. When he starts that shite get him down, get him on his back, be loud and negative and it'll stop. Trust me. Then exploit that he is a labrador, and let him pick up ducks. Your dad will have a brand new dog in short order.

Again, as I've noted numerous times, I almost always train up from puppies so it's easy. But a year or so ago I got an 8 year old German Shepherd Dog with food aggression, dog aggression, not housebroken, etc, and everyone who knows him will say he is a 180 degree different dog today. It can be done, just do it.

edited to say I spend a ton of hours every year with lots of new dogs in the duck blind, and the best dogs are our farm dogs who simply do not give a shite about the new, visiting dog but just want to sit in the box and pick up ducks after we shoot them.

Dog aggressive does not mean he'll bite people. He may never be able to be taken around other dogs, but he could make a fine family pet. I had one do that.

I repectfully disagree. The dogs we use at the farm are just used for picking up ducks (and geese and dove). It's all they do and all they know. When they are taken out their runs, they go straight to the truck or 4 wheeler, in the field they aren't playing around with each other but run straight to the blind and get in their box. They don't know that they could be doing other things and they don't give 2 shits about other dogs.

I wasn't clear, he needs to be corrected immediately when aggressive to another dog, no doubt. But he also needs to be reprogrammed, almost brainwashed, that his sole purpose and all he does is stay by dad and pick up his birds. Having that mind set makes him far less interested in or worried about other dogs.

Not to derail the thread, but I'd love to have a Catahoula/Border Collie mix. Most of my experience is with owning and training Border Collies, and I bet that combination has the intelligence of the Border Collie, the personality and size of the Catahoula, and just a huge amount of energy.

Any pics of your dog?