(VICT) Re: Aggression towards People
- From: Sheila Styron <sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:15:47 -0600
Dear Sheronda,
The situation you are describing is perhaps one of the most difficult of
all to face as a handler of an assistance dog. This sounds like a case
involving a handler's love for a dog versus this same handler's
responsibility to ensure the public's safety with regard to this
particular dog. I certainly don't claim to know all the details, but it
is all too easy to make excuses for these dogs and to hold out hope that
such problems can be solved and the dog can continue working: handlers
often saying, "But his work is great!" . Dog on dog aggression is a
serious issue, but a dog that has bitten a person without just cause or
is giving off definite signs of potentially biting people represents a
no win prospect for continued service as an assistance dog. Perhaps the
dog is a good dog, but he or she is simply not suited for guide work. I
know this sounds harsh, and perhaps I am misinterpreting the nature of
this dog's behavior. So please consider my words with the understanding
that I believe you are talking about a dog which may be difficult or
impossible for a blind handler to read and therefore for this person to
train, including anyone else for that matter. I am writing this post
because I have been witness to several handlers walking this difficult
line which almost always ends up in retiring the dog, the legal
consequences if the dog bites, not to mention the negative
ramifications for others in our community are indisputable. If you are
interested, I would be happy to speak with you or your friend, and
please excuse my outspokenness if this message is landing somewhere out
in left field.
Sheila Styron, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
816-363-3172
sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sharonda
Greenlaw
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 2:06 PM
To: vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: (VICT) Re: Aggression towards People
Kitty and all,
She has seen this happen mostly towards men; some ladies, but mostly
men. She has said that the dog also reacts when people--whether men or
women--look suspicious. This has not always been an issue, but some of
their environments have been quite stressful.
We have been trying hard to pinpoint times when the aggression seems to
happen mostly. She goes to a church, where te noise is very loud. It
sometimes happens after services. We are going to try and remove the dog
from the loud environment, especially when the noise is high. The
suspicious people? We don't know what to do. The men? I know she has a
husband and am not sure how he acts towards the dog at home. Could his
actions cause a reaction in the dog, when he's not around? You all are
really a blessing. We both are well aware that agression is not a good
trait for any dog, but especially a guide dog. We know that prosecution
could cause this dog to be put down and/or removed from her. We want
this to be prevented. Thank you so very much.
Sharonda
On 2/4/08, The Pawpower Pack <pawpower@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> As a clicker trainer, I find it very frustrating and a bit
> discouraging for list members to be suggesting corrections or any kind
> of forced-based training as a solution to a training problem.
>
> There are many guide dog and or training lists where discussions of
> leash corrections are appropriate. I don't think that a clicker list
> would be that type of environment.
>
> Rox and the Kitchen Bitches
> Bristol, Gracy, Mill'E
> "Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure
> it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of
> existence." ---Mourning Dove [Christine Quintasket] (1888-1936) Salish
> Pawpower@xxxxxxx
> windows messenger: Brisomania@xxxxxxxxxxx
> AIM: brissysgirl
>
>
>
--
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