Expert: Jannie Balliett - 5/24/2010

Question
We adopted 2 yr old Lily last year that had been in several shelters, foster homes had been taken away as an early pup, bred for puppies and held down while she was bitten by another dog.  She is very well behaved, considering all, except that she is unpredictable when it comes to people.  As an example, she was recently in Florida with us for 7 weeks, and for no reason she turned around and lunged after someone.  She has snapped at numerous people.  We have taken her to a personal dog trainer and pet psychiatrist where she has made remarkable improvements in many areas except for this aggression.  She has been with my husband almost 24x7 as he is retired - he has done everything he can think of and that we have been advised to do.  My husband is almost ready to give her back - we have had her for 9 months.  HELP.

Answer
First, she is abused. She is mistrusting of people. And second, dogs should not be disposable, and she has been disposed of too many times..

You committed to her when you adopted her, so stick with it and help her. I realize you are trying by having her take classes and being examined, but there is always residual damage that will remain on an abused animal.

She is distrusting people, and I'm sure some people remind her of her abuser(s), therefore, she reacts.

This will always be the case. So, all you can do is to modify her behavior to not react, and remain calm.

She is also insecure by being disposed of too many homes and too many people- as anyone would be insecure.

Think of her as a small child that has been passed from one foster home to another and never known real love and security, then you can understand how she is feeling and why she acts as she does.

Keep her on a leash at all times when not at home. Do not allow her to be free outside of the home.

If all she is doing is lunching at people, and not all people, and showing aggression at certain people, then it is the people that trigger her memories.

When out and about, and she is leashed, the moment she becomes aggressive, pull her leash by tightening and shortening it, so she knows you or whomever is holding the leash, is in control and that she is not displaying good behavior. Focus her attention away from the cause of her aggression by using any technique you choose. Such as talking to her in a calm, soothing voice, using certain words that you have chosen to use on such occasion. Such as "calm, friends, calm." Something to trigger the behavior you want. You will of course need to turn her away from the cause of aggression by leading her leash around away from the person.

Maybe carry treats with you, and as soon as you see her body language change, do as I stated above, and give her a treat for a distraction.

Also, to establish that you or your husband is the alpha of her and the pack (you, your husband, and her) try this technique.

For 2 weeks; take her food dish and set it on the counter or table where she can see, and have her sit before you. Place a couple of cookies or crackers on the table behind the food dish. Pick one up and eat it without looking at her. When finished, tell her "okay, eat" and set the food dish down for her to eat.

What this is, is the pack leader- alpha does in the wild, like a wolf. The alpha eats first, and all he or she wants (usually a male though) and then when finished, gives the pack permission to eat what is left over.

So, she is seeing you take a cookie or cracker "out" of her food dish (it will look that way to her) and eat. She will wait for your "permission" to eat when you- the alpha- is finished.

Also, when she is aggression, and away from home as well, lay her down on her side in a submissive fashion. She has to be in a submissive position, Alphas make the others submit. Have you ever seen a dog lay and stick one leg up as allowing you to examine him? This is being submissive and allowing you to do what you want.