Tigger got the all clear for normal activity levels on Friday--- so that means HELLO, TRAINER!
While Tigger as under HW lockdown, I decided to get a trainer to help me deal with Tigger's dog aggression. I think that Molly probably fed some of that aggression, but due to his lack of socialization he had his own issues I need to deal with. But I also knew that it had to be dealt with the minute he got an all clear- and it didn't happen a moment too soon: Last Friday, as we were paying our last vet bill at the back counter at the vet's office, another exam room door opened and out came a pit bull and a Boston terrier! The pitbull started growling and Tig bowed up at the pitbull! And he didn't stop there! He squirmed out of his collar and I had to tackle him to the ground. Thank dog the vet shut the door in the nick of time!

The dog trainer's idea is not to force Tigger into a certain behavior, but to encourage Tigger into the correct behavior, to learn to accept the new dog and feel like he is accepting the dog on his terms. By teaching him that nothing will happen should teach him the 'good' way to meet a new dog and show healthy interest, vs. just wanting to attack. This is done by bringing in a bait dog at a distance, when Tigger barks the 'bait' dog stays at a certain point, when Tigger stops barking the dog goes away, when he starts barking the dog comes back. Gradually, as the barking recedes, the dog gets closer with the previous spot being the point where the dog retreats when Tigger starts barking. After 1 hour, we got the dogs about 8 feet apart. Tigger exhibited all kinds of behavior and the idea is to encourage healthy interest- not retreating behind me, not attack/nervous behavior, not avoidance.

My sister's super cool lab/pointer mix was to serve as the "bait" dog. He was so fantastic, he just stood there or sat there while poor Tig had a melt down. We will continue the exercise this weekend. Eventually, the idea is to introduce Tig to new dogs in the presence of the dogs that he's met previously.

The good thing is that he thinks I've done some right things already...I just need some training so I can train my dogs! the bad thing is that the dog trainer probably fell into a gold mine when he met me---we have so many issues.

After we work on introductions with Tigger, then we work on Molly and her alpha-ness and then we are going to work on leash walking (which is already pretty good), recalling and other stuff.