The post Why Your Dog Doesn’t Come When You Call appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

Many dog owners accidentally destroy their dog’s desire to come when they call. How is that possible? Well, if your dog doesn’t come when you call him you’re probably making any or all of these mistakes:

• calling your dog when you’re angry
• calling your dog when you’re about to do something he doesn’t like (e.g. grooming or bathing)
• calling your dog to put on his leash at the dog park
• calling your dog to put him in a crate or in confinement
• not praising your dog enough
• calling your off-leash dog to come before he is trained

Of course, there’s always a way to teach your dog the re-call without sabotaging the process.

When you let your dog play without his leash, e.g. in the park, be sure to call him often during the whole time.  When he comes back to you, praise him and show him how pleased you are. Then tell him to go back and play again.

In this way you’re  accomplishing two equally important goals: making sure that your dog will come when you call and teaching your dog that coming to you is not necessarily a bad thing but can also be quite rewarding!

If you enjoy watching and learning from videos, then check out Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer site where there are over 100 detailed dog and puppy training videos that cover every dog problem. You’ll also find downloadable audio and video clips and a free dog training Forum. I highly recommend it.

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The post My Dog’s Not Aggressive, He is Just Protective appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

I remember many years ago having a Yorkshire terrier and I actually thought that when he snarled and growled at my friends if they got close to me, was actually cute. Then when my friend’s pitbull made the same sounds and faces when with other dogs, I thought he was aggressive.  Boy did I not understand back then, but that was decades ago and I’m much more dog smart these days. I was wrong in both cases.

Personality, genetics, home environment, socialization, obedience training, and even the current situation your dog is in, can cause aggressive behavior. Don’t buy into breed specific aggression. The fact of the matter is my friend’s dog, the pitbull, was only playing – there was nothing aggressive with his behavior. On the other hand, my Yorkshire terrier’s behavior was actually aggressive, as I would find out years later, after he bit a friend.

Diagnosing dog aggression isn’t always easy. Food and toy aggression can be extremely dangerous, especially where there are children who may accidentaly trigger that aggression. Some of the most common signs of dominant behavior are

• a dog that will block the path of a person or dog
• a dog that puts his head on another dog’s back
• a dog that pushes himself between you and another person (for instance when you are hugging someone)

If you are seeing dominant behavior, you should start to work on training these behaviors out. Oh, by the way intact males have a much higher likelihood of being dominant.

When it comes to fear aggression, this is harder to predict and there are different signs to observe. A defensive aggressive dog’s body language is harder to predict.  A dog that is defensive will actually display body language that’s submissive. Watch out for

• pulled back ears
• avoiding eye contact
• lowered head and body
• a tail that’s tucked between the legs

A defensive aggressive dog does not like touch and will bit out of fear. You will need the help of a trained professional to solve this issue.

Dog aggression towards people generally involves lunging, posturing, direct eye contact, prickled ears, raised hackles, and teeth exposure. Don’t confuse a play bow and barking and growling when the body language is relaxed – this is not aggressive behavior.

Learn the signs of aggression. If you are unsure if your dog’s behavior is aggressive, ask for the help of a trained professional. It can’t hurt to find out what’s going on – that way you will know and can train appropriately or get the help of a trained professional. Dog aggression should never be left unaddressed because the outcome can become devastating for your dog and for a person or other dog as well.

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The post Meet Lexi: Rescued With Severe Aggression Issues appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

Over the years, I’ve rescued a few dogs. Of course, I also love puppies! Anyway, when Lexi came into my life as a rescue I already had five other dogs. We were a happy household – if there’s one thing I found is that one dog, three dogs, six dogs – there’s not a lot of difference. So I was excited to bring Lexi into our pack, and she was just as excited to meet the pack. In fact, I would have to say it was a success.

But not all was going to go off without a hitch. Lexi had come to me when I picked her up. She was extremely scared but we went slow and things were okay. Once in my home the same applied. She was hesitant and scared but we took it on her terms and things moved along nicely. In just a couple of days she was this fabulous love bug that wagged her tail so hard her bottom half looked like it was going to disengage.

After Lexi was settled into my home, in love with me and the pack, it was time to introduce her to some new humans. This did not go at all like I had envisioned! After all, up until now there had been no signs that would have made me think there might be any aggression issues. So, imagine my shock when I introduced Lexi to my Mom and she almost took my Mom’s face off. In fact, I’m pretty sure if my Mom hadn’t been as calm as she was she would have suffered some serious bites. Luckily, Lexi chose not to make that final move and bite.

Having done rescues in the past and worked around dogs all my life, it takes a fair bit to alarm or worry me but this certainly did! I decided to consider that,  just in the off chance that this would not happen again. But I was wrong. Every time Lexi was introduced to people the reaction was pretty much the same – aggressive lunging, teeth bared and foaming at the mouth. I was pretty sure I had an aggressive rescue dog in my hands. Yet with me, she remained this beautiful cuddle bug that was happy and obedient.

So what to do? Well of course, it was time to call in the professionals. This is when I learned that not all dog trainers are created equal. They certainly don’t have the same skills and they certainly don’t approach the problem the same way, even those who say they work with ‘aggressive dogs.’

In fact, the first gentleman to arrive to work with Lexi, , said he specialized in aggressive dogs. He worked with Lexi once and then after that came up with excuses why he wouldn’t come back. The second trainer worked with Lexi for 20 minutes and then left, and where I live there aren’t a lot of trainers. All I can say is, thank goodness for Doggy Dan and his video training system.

Make no mistake Lexi’s aggression towards humans was so bad that I simply could not allow her near any other human. Why she didn’t eat me on our first meet, I have no idea but she must have decided she needed at least one human in her life. In actuality, she needed two humans – Doggy Dan being the other human being. It was his training techniques that gave Lexi a shot at having a normal life.

Almost a year has gone by and Lexi is truly a lady these days. No one would believe what she was like back then. This kind lovable creature has learned to trust others in the way she trusts me, although I will say it does take her some time to warm up, and that’s okay!

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The post It is Me or My Dog – Why am I Seeing Aggression appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

I rescued a dog once that was so warm and cuddly to me right from day one, but anyone else she wanted to eat. This was obvious aggression, but it’s the more subtle signs of dog aggression you need to watch for. Let’s say you are having a game of tug and your dog is starting to get a little overbearing growling at you (not the noise they make when you are playing tug) and even showing his teeth if you try to take the toy away.

Well, I know in the past my reflex would have been to let go and give my dog her toy, but I know better now and I also know that’s not the right approach. However, for most of us we don’t even recognize this is as a sign of dog aggression.

From the toy possessiveness to the next step can be very small or subtle. My border collie -and these guys are not aggressive dogs- was great. But she started getting possessive of her toys, then her aggression moved to snarling and warning for any animal that stepped within a two foot radius of her. Soon that progressed to humans and slowly the aggression was growing. And I did not recognize it as such because it was far more subtle than my rescue dog who would simply try to have you or anyone that tried to be nice to her -except me- for lunch.

The key here is that we all need to learn how to recognize dog aggression before we can actually deal with it. Aggression that is left unaddressed can turn into a major problem. The cause of this early aggression – many want to know is it them or the dog? And the answer is both. Some dogs may be born with a more aggressive personality, while others may simply be testing the boundaries.

It becomes you, when humans fail their dogs, when they fail to recognize the early signs of dog aggression and get the necessary help they need. Because when that aggression is left untreated, the potential for you to land up with a vicious dog that likes no human or animal and poses a real threat to anyone she comes in contact with, is just too great. Too often, this leads to a dog being surrendered to rescue or worse, being euthanized.

All of us are learning about our dogs. Most of us want only what’s best for our dogs and for them to have a healthy and happy life. So, it makes sense to take a little time and learn more about the subtle signs of dog aggression before it becomes the recognizable aggression many of us are familiar with.

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The post How To Become The Alpha Dog appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

If you and your dog are having a tug of war over who will be the alpha dog, you need to quickly establish that you will be holding the alpha role. For those of you who are asking “What is the “Alpha” Role? The answer is really quite simple: who is boss in your pack.

Your pack can be just you and your dog. Or if you have more than one pet, then it includes them and all humans in the home, they’re all part of your pack. In order to both communicate and live with your dog in a peaceful environment you need to understand what the alpha role is and why you need to become the alpha dog.

Your dog depends on you to survive. Through evolution and years of domestication, it has learned it needs to cooperate and adapt to a world with humans. Of all the different animals that have been domesticated the dog is the only species that is willing to accept man’s authority. However, it still has the instinct to test its pack position. Even that sweet little Maltese girl who lies at your feet ever so quietly can assert herself as alpha dog.

The entire pack operates under one leader. The pack lines are clear. The pack leader, which is the alpha dog, will eat first and then the rest of the pack is allowed to eat. If your dog growls at you when she is eating, she is telling you that she is the alpha dog and you must wait to eat. If you have this problem, it is important that you correct it as soon as possible.

Here are some tips that will help you become the alpha dog in your pack:

1. You should not tolerate growling, as this is your dog seeing herself as the alpha dog and you under her. Firmly tell her “no,” and let her know it is not acceptable for her to growl at you or anyone else including the children.
2. Never allow your dog to go through the door first. If she rushes ahead of you, then pull her back and firmly say “no,” then wait and you walk in first, followed by giving her permission to come in.
3. If your dog is having alpha dog issues, then she should not be allowed to sleep in any bed with humans, because this is an alpha position. Instead, place a doggie bed beside your bed to establish your role as alpha dog. A dog that knows her role in the pack can sleep on a bed with humans including children.
4. Socialize, socialize and then socialize some more. This is one of the most important things you can do. Introduce your dog to as many new places and people as you can.
5. Never allow your dog to ride on your lap when in the car. It is unsafe and it confuses your alpha dog position in the pack.
6. You should not baby your dog too much as she needs to learn to be a dog. Overprotecting her or limiting her ability to be independent can cause your dog to become flighty, fearful, and paranoid. When there is a new experience confidently tell her its okay and do not baby her. As alpha dog your dog should be confident in your decisions.
7. Do not play tug-of-war with your puppy. Play fetch and have her release the ball. You should use common sense and not be too harsh.
8. If your dog is continuously leaning on you or putting her paws on you, or nudging you – this is not affection it is your dog attempting to play alpha dog, and she is disrespecting you.

It is important that you establish your alpha role early. In fact, the sooner your dog knows you are alpha dog, the easier everything will be for you and your pack including training and obedience.

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The post Discipline Your Dog Instead of Punishing Him appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

There’s a myth out there that for a puppy to learn they need to experience fear, physical discomfort, even pain. This is simply not true. If you punish your puppy or dog too harshly, you might leave permanent scars. Especially when 5 to 16 weeks of age is their most impressionable time, harsh punishment can emotionally damage your dog for life.

You should know that many of the so-called professional dog trainers operating in communities all over, are still using archaic methods to train dogs. Even now, when there are other proven methods far more effective in creating the results you want without destroying your dog’s emotional well being.

It’s also alarming that abusive discipline is encouraged in all kinds of popular dog books and by all kinds of trainers. Besides, seldom can you execute physical punishment quick enough for your dog to associate the behaviour with the action, nor can you carry it out with the right consistency. As a result, rather than your dog seeing you as a consistent role model you will be seen as unpredictable.

When your dog sees you this way he will become confused. For example, when you arrive home this should be a time of joy for your puppy. However, if you have been using harsh punishments it will be a time when your dog is unsure and therefore your dog will flip between joyous behaviors and shamed behaviors.

A dog owner complains to a trainer that their dog won’t come to them when called and in almost all of these cases, the dog has endured physical punishment. How would you expect the dog to react? If a dog is being inconsistently punished from the same hands that are attempting to be affectionate through petting, it’s no wonder the dog is leery.

When a dog learns that the human hand and the actions that come from those hands are dependable and bring pleasure instead of pain, the dog seldom shows signs of shyness to a hand, defensive aggression, or submissive urination.

If you train your dog with a training system that relies on social rewards as a method of discipline, your dog will have a healthier and more stable behavior than those dogs exposed to punishment. This is even truer with a puppy that is highly excitable or nervous. When you promote the positive and eliminate the negative in dog training or puppy training you will need to be more patient and have more self-control. The benefits have long been shown just how important it is to not punish your dog.

What kind of dog owner will you be? A dog owner that is compassionate, firm and fair or one that is demanding, nervous and high-strung? Choose to do it right and discipline your dog with compassion so he can learn and become the best dog possible.

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The post Is My Border Collie Aggressive? appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

So why am I thinking that my border collie was acting aggressive? Well there were a few things. For one, he was beginning to spend a great deal of time nipping at the heels of everyone and that to me seemed like aggressive behavior. In addition, he would quickly show a lip or make a snarl at anyone that wasn’t doing exactly what it was he wanted.

My plan of attack included calling a local trainer that had experience dealing with dogs that had aggression. I was worried. This was my dear sweet border collie, my buddy, my four legged family but what was I going to do if he was having aggression issues? Could the trainer fix him?

The trainer took my Timmie, my border collie, for an evaluation. They were gone a couple of hours. I was getting pretty nervous already. All these horrible thoughts are running through my head as I anxiously wait. The trainer finally returns with Timmie in tow tail held high and wagging. That’s what’s usually going on in Timmie’s world – how could such a happy dog have aggression?

“So what’s the scoop?” I ask the trainer. “What are we going to do to solve Timmie’s aggression issues?”

The trainer lets out a chuckle and replies, “You have nothing to worry about. This isn’t aggression. This is pure border collie bossiness.”

As we continue our discussion, I learn that heel nipping is very common in border collies. It’s how they herd the sheep and it’s also how they heard people. So the first focus is going to be to train Timmie not to heel nip. As for the snarl and curled lip that showed teeth apparently, that was also part of his herding skills. And actually showing the teeth is sometimes simply giving you a big ole grin when they are happy.

It became quickly evident that what I was dealing with were typical border collie traits. That said, I knew I still had to train these traits out. If you have ever had your heel nipped by a dog you know it’s very painful!

One of the things I decided to do with Timmie was actually put him to work. After all, he’s a herding dog and loves to work and I know I haven’t been giving him enough exercise. There’s a local farm here that does just that – takes dogs out and trains them to herd on their farm. The trainer felt that would help Timmie to learn when these traits were appropriate.

In addition the trainer gave me some tips on how to stop the heel nips, like have a person lift their foot and connect with his face (not overly hard of course) whenever Timmie was following too close. As for his talkative nature, well we will just learn to enjoy that!

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The post Training the Down Command to a Dominant Dog appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

Teaching your dog the down command gives you a solid foundation for many of the more advanced commands you will teach your dog. That’s because lying down is submissive and puts your dog in a bit of a vulnerable position. For a dominant dog, this is especially a trying command and she isn’t likely to give it up easily.

When your dog is made to change her mood and she becomes unsure, she can become dominant and respond with resistance by asserting herself. She will push back and likely growl if she feels your hand on her shoulder blade. At this point, don’t bother trying food because she’s already stressed, so there won’t be any interest in a treat, even when it’s her favorite.

The dominant dog is misunderstood. That’s because by nature she is active and direct and so when she is dealing with people she tends to run into emotional dead ends. As a result, your dog will interpret any change that is related to you or other humans as bad.

To train your dominant dog the down command, start by making sure your dog is really hungry. That’s because when she is hungry transitioning your dog to a down position will occur quite smoothly with the incentive of food. It is important that you continue to improve on the contact training between you and your dog, as this is the biggest hurdle you will face with a dominant dog. When you continuously work with your dog, she will begin to relax and she will learn that change is good. As a result, she will become more flexible and less fearful.

Eventually you will have to address your dominant dog without the use of food, so the earlier you begin to work with her using food, the easier this next step will be. When it’s time to train without the use of food, simply hold the lead with your right hand while putting your left foot on the lead. Now you need to patiently wait and slowly increase the pressure downward on her neck, unless she begins to panic or overload. Then you need to wait, let her relax, and try again.

You should not place your head near a dominant dog as this will intensify the problem and it will force her to resist even harder. As she becomes less resistant, you can see her starting to think about giving in and lying down, you need to talk very soft and comforting to her, to help to weaken her resistance. You can amplify the relaxation by scratching her ribs.

You want your dog to feel that by lying down she becomes the focus. She needs to feel like you aren’t trying to be dominant over her, as this would really add to her being unsure and it would also confirm her initial negative assessment to people that make her change her mood. Rather what you want is for her to learn that when she becomes a subordinate it will lead to a very positive experience.

When your dog lies down, make sure you rub her belly. It’s okay if she rolls over, because energizing her at that moment will be seen positively by her. She will quickly learn that the down command is not to be feared and the down command will come easily.

This same method applies to all commands or tricks you are teaching a dominant dog. Don’t push her too hard or too fast, and you will be rewarded with successful training.

If you enjoy watching and learning from videos, then check out Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer site where there are over 100 detailed dog and puppy training videos that cover every dog problem. You’ll also find downloadable audio and video clips and a free dog training Forum. I highly recommend it.

The post Training the Down Command to a Dominant Dog appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

The post Using A Crate to Stop Dog Chewing appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

Daniel,

I have been reading your newsletters and have your book. All are very helpful although I must admit that I haven’t been the best at keeping my dog under control.

I have a 10 month old Bichon Frise, Cory and as cute and loving as he is, he can be a real terror. In this I mean, he eats my bedding, his bedding, and any cloth item that may be lying around. Yes, I know I should never have allowed him to sleep with us. But my husband gave in and then I could never get him back in his crate. I guess I have a problem with my husband too!

So now I need to know, is this something Cory will grow out of? If not, what can I do to stop him other than getting him back in his crate? I tried to do this and he barked all night which my neighbors did not appreciate. I have also brought a bone to bed hoping he will chew on that instead. He does but then in the middle of the night he wakes and begins to dine on my linens. This is getting expensive.

Your advice is appreciated

Sincerely,

Diane

Secrets To Dog Training Reply

Hi Diane,

Thanks for your email. I think the easiest option in this situation, is to keep putting him in his crate. It might mean that you have a sleepless night or two, but it will be worth it in the long run. Once in the crate at night, you will have to totally ignore Cory. If you let him out after 30 minutes, all he has learned is that he needs to bark or whine for half an hour before you will come to get him. If you completely ignore him, he will eventually learn that his barking is a waste of time.

Make sure that he is getting plenty of exercise. Try taking him out for a brisk walk just before putting him to bed. This tire him out and therefore will encourage him to sleep all night! Also, put a chew toy in his crate, so that if he is awake, he will have something to keep him occupied. I find that a sturdy chew toy, with a treat in the center will often keep a dog busy for hours at a time. There is a good selection to choose from at PetSmart.

Is night-time the only time that he chews? If so, it might be because he was bored and trying to keep himself busy while you and your husband were asleep. Make sure that he has plenty of company and things to keep him mentally and physically stimulated throughout the day.

Good luck Diane, and please let me know how you progress.

Kind regards,

Daniel Stevens
and the Secrets To Dog Training Team

P.S. If you’re really serious about obedience training your dog and want to stop dog chewing then go to this page right away! You’ll discover all of my most explosive dog training secrets, strategies and tips that took me over 14 years to test, fine-tune and perfect.

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The post How to Earn Your Dog’s Trust appeared first on Dog Aggression Training.

Let’s say your dog chases another dog across the road. When he finally returns, you are angry and soundly scold him for chasing the other dog and giving you such a scare. But here is how your dog looks at this situation. First, he chased the dog, which was a lot of fun. Then he came back to you and was reprimanded, which was no fun at all.

What you wanted to teach your dog was not to chase. What you actually taught was that coming to you can be unpleasant.

The lesson here is that whether you are pleased or angry, your dog associates these feelings only with what he did last.

One of the commands you will need to teach your dog is to come when called. To be successful, remember this principle: Whenever your dog comes to you, be nice. Reward the dog for coming to you. No matter what, be pleasant and greet him with a kind word, a pat on the head and a smile. Teach him to trust you by making him feel safe with you.

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