Aggression

Paco's Story

Hi, I'm Paco.  As a young Huskiweiller, I had a pretty normal life.  I have loving humans who tried to do what was best for me.  They took me to training classes.  I got to be around other dogs and learn good manners.  Then, when I was seven months old, on a pleasant stroll around the neighborhood with my human and her brother-in-law, minding our own business, two little yip-yap dogs came running at us yippin' and yappin', and yippin' and yappin'.  Never having looked in the mirror before, I thought they were going to kill us.  I tried to defend us, but the humans struggled to pull me away.  The "gentle leader" I was wearing cinched tightly around my snout.  My front paws came off the ground.  And the yipping and yapping continued.  And the humans were screaming.  "Get your dog!"  "Oh, my dog won't hurt you." " Call your dog!" "Oh, my dog won't hurt you."

Well, guess what!  Your dog sure hurt Paco!  For two years, poor Paco has been scared to death of other dogs.  And to make sure they don't come near him, he shows them just how mean he can be.

Once Paco showed aggression in class, he was kicked out.  To put it very nicely, they weren't interested in helping Paco anymore.

Paco's human found another trainer.  He was nice and wanted to help Paco, but Paco had to take sedatives and wear a muzzle.  After five months, there was no change in Paco.

Finally, Paco said to me, "Aaron, you know me.  You understand me.  I don't need drugs.  I don't need hot dogs.  I hate my 'gentle leader'.  I hate my muzzle.  They both remind me of when those little yip-yaps attacked me and I was never able to defend myself.  Show me that I don't have to be afraid of other dogs."

So, we started doing things our own way.  It's slow going, 'cause we don't have a psychology center with a pack of therapists yet. So, we meet only dogs whose humans are willing to take on the challenge.

Our first friend, Zuma, we don't have a picture of, and I don't think her human get's home from work to make it to the park before dark right now.  But here are the others we've met so far.

Click on the underlined links below the pictures to see more of our experiences.