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<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008>We had serious aggression problems with
3-1/2 year old Solo after we got him from HCBR and seriously contemplated
putting him down. He's our fifth Basset and we've never had one with an
aggression problem. We were really perplexed by his behavior and decided
that's probably why he was abandoned. After the last episode, my husband
was so distraught he almost took Solo up to the vet and had him put down.
We couldn't risk the wellbeing of our granddaughters or anyone else for that
matter; instead, we decided to give him another chance and enlisted the
help of an animal behaviorist. This lady is no quack - she knows her
stuff. She has a Masters Degree in Animal Behavior. She said Solo
was <EM>resourse guarding</EM> which can be anything from food
to toys, or wherever he chooses to sleep. He bit my husband three
times, drawing blood each time. It always occurred while he was sleeping
or if he was moved from the place where he was sleeping. At that time he
was allowed to sleep anywhere he felt like it whether it be on our bed, the
furniture, or someone's lap who happened to be sitting down. We soon
learned all of that was wrong, wrong, wrong! Off the furniture, out of
one's lap and off the bed. We bought him a small doggy bed for the floor
close to where my husband sits on the couch and when it's time for us to go
to bed, he goes to the doggy bed provided for him in the garage. We
have a storeroom/workshop that's heated and air coditioned so it's real cushy
for him! He barks and barks to get out but we're told to ignore it
and he soon stops. If he barks in the morning, we ignore him and he soon
stops and we let him out when it's convenient for US not him.
</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008>The Behaviorist also told us not to play any
games with him that would cause him to become aggressive - like tugging on a
toy or wrestling - nothing to get him too excited, and we changed his
diet to a higher quality of food so he wasn't getting too many carbs.
</SPAN><SPAN class=661242720-10072008>A couple times a day, we're supposed to
take just a couple of minutes and have hiim sit, stay and reward him with a
treat when it does it right. We're also supposed to teach him DOWN,
but we haven't been too successful with that yet!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008>Anyway, all of this is to teach the dog who
the alpha is, </SPAN><SPAN class=661242720-10072008>who the leader of the pack
is and isn't. When feediong, the first bite of food must be hand
fed from him and if there are any other dogs in the house, they must be fed
first. All of this is working and he has made great
progress. It just takes time. We warn all visitors not
to disturb him when he's sleeping just to be on the safe side! And we
explain to children who visit not to tease or torment him. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008> If you absolutely can't handle her
aggression, find someone in rescue who can deal with her appropriately and try
another Basset - they're such wonderful dogs!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=661242720-10072008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=1>Nancy J. Rife</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left>
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