I have posted on this board before about an English Springer Spaniel dog (Bailey) we acquired from an ex shooting lodge that was closing down. It was obvious from Bailey's behaviour at the onset that the pack had been cruelly treat and that beatings and rough handling were the norm for all dogs there regardless of age and size. The lodge was ran by two males who were seen by us to handle them roughly. Bailey appeared to settle in quite well and although quite nervous eventually preferred been in the house rather than outside hiding under the bench, and adapted to family life. He was nervous of males that came into the house and would bark and run around then hide near my legs or furniture, grumbling to himself.
In October we went away on holiday leaving him with a family friend who owned a bitch from the same pack of dogs, but unfortunately Bailey escaped from the house and went missing for nigh on three weeks. During this time we bought another English Springer Spaniel pup who is now 13 weeks old. We had always planned to have two and wanted a black and white one, so when we saw some advertised in the local paper at a price we could afford, we bought him - Luca. I did not expect to see Bailey again as all our efforts to find him in the first couple of weeks proved futile. By a miracle though Bailey appeared at a local school and hung around there for a week which gave the Headteacher the chance to realise he was a stray and ring the authorities, They contacted us and we were told that many an attempt was made to catch him through that week but it was impossible to get near him as he bolted. He had been living underneath some prefab buildings all the time he was there and getting scraps of food off the workmen based there. I eventually managed to catch Bailey and brought him home. Luckily after recovering from sore paws, hunger and tiredness he took to the pup exceptionally well and they have become the best of friends who will willingly share each others space.
I have noticed though a marked change in Baileys behaviour when he goes out for a walk and it is one that has concerned me greatly. He walks off the lead and will respond to been called back and walk to heel, but he is developing a habit of barking and displaying signs of aggression if he sees a male, with or without another dog. He will charge at the man and bark and snap but he has yet to do any damage, he refuses to come back when called till the man is gone. I have more control over Bailey than my husband has and he has now refused to take him out again in case he does bite someone. I on the other hand, are desperate to solve the problem as I want Bailey to have a good life from now on after his awful start.
On the occassions that Bailey has behaved like this we have been out with my young daughter and the pup. I have seen Bailey protect the pup from a dog that appeared at the back gate whilst the pup was in the garden. He ran outside and chased Luca onto the step then ran down the garden barking at the gate and jumping about. During this time one eye was kept firmly on the pup as if to make sure that he was still on the doorstep.
I did notice on Baileys return home from his adventure that he had a rather nasty wound that looked like a dog bite around his front leg, thankfully it has healed now.
I am at a loss as to how to stop this kind of behaviour as I am not sure whether Bailey is been protective or aggressive.
Anybody got any ideas?
Sorry this post is so long but I felt you may need to know the full background before been able to give any advice.
Any comments or thoughts on this matter are greatly appreciated.
Thank you

your never going to know what happened to him while he was missing---but it looks like its made things a lot worse, you'll have to hope time will help, but as he didnt like men too much in the first place. --you might never get him out of it, if not it might pay you to either keep him on a flexi, or have him muzzled, as it might get worse as he matures, ---good luck with him/

I think you are going to have to keep him on a lead until you have this problem sorted, or let him run off lead somewhere he is not going to meet anyone. Allowing him to charge up to people is only going to make the problem worse. If he's on a lead you have more control over the situation right from the start and you then have more chance of preventing the behaviour. Your best bet for getting this problem sorted is probably a behaviourist, who can assess whats happening and help you and him to cope better.
Sorry for not giving advice on training him out of this but I really think a behaviourist would be better able to assess him. Your Vet should be able to recommend an APDT registered one.

Good Luck
Dill

Hi,

Ive been there, be it rescue or otherwise.

You must give him every chance. Is he okay otherwise?

With dogs?

People?

A springer can be diffficult to take on.

You are probably his last chance.

If he gets on with your pup I would keep him, deal with his problems, If your other half can't cope then it will be up to you.

Have you got other commitments??

I wish you luck I hope he turns out OK!

D4wn

Poor Bailey :( Thank you for taking him on. Firstly as others have said, please consider seriously having him muzzled when you take him out - make sure you introduce it carefully - before meal times is often best - just lay it beside his bowl for a few days and praise and reward him when he interacts (sniffs?) it. Then you can move on to encourage him to put his nose into it (don't fasten it at this stage) and again reward and praise...... At each opportunity encourage him to go a little further (but don't push him further than he's happy with). You should be able to fasten it around his neck eventually - keep rewarding him. Please also make sure it's a basket type muzzle you use, as the fabric/mesh type are only designed for short term use (such as vets exam) and don't allow panting or drinking. When he's muzzled it's probably best to keep him on a flexi lead (attached to a harness, NOT a flat collar - too much potential for neck injury with a flat collar :( ) to prevent him getting caught up in undergrowth........
This is all 'short term' solution - in the long term you should aim at getting a referal from your vet to a member of the UKRCB, APBC or APDT (with an interest in behaviour, not an 'ordinary APDT trainer) so they can observe your dog and help you with a behavioral program suitable for the root cause of his agression. Please also ask your vet to give him a thorough check over, as many agression problems are caused by physical problems.....