Dog Aggression and Communication Signals

Why is my dog so aggressive to other dogs?  This can usually be diagnosed with a detailed history: no play ever, hereditary, mother was sick or a guarder, or over socialized with aggressive or rough playing dogs.

Cycle of On-Leash Aggression (created problem from humans), as described in the Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson, "The Bully dog" is often kept away from other dogs for long periods of time, he is usually rude with crude behavior brought on by a super motivated greeting as a result of deprivation when meeting other dogs, and has poor social skills.  The owner is alarmed by intensity and tightens the leash and get’s too excited or nervous when interactions occur.  High arousal, lack of social skills, scuffles with defensive dogs can occur.  Barrier frustration such as windows, fences and leashes can increase the dogs frustration which makes you want to "correct" the behavior,  which = punishment  which = more Aggression = total isolation.

I believe dogs need time to express their intentions before they greet unknown dogs.  Personalities among dogs differ as much as a classroom full of kindergarteners, therefore, expecting your dog to like every dog they meet is not that simple. Some dogs are very soft and have appropriate greetings, these are the dogs who are able to visit the beach and off leash parks without incident. 

Helping your dog greet new dogs much slower will give your dog important and necessary information about the other dogs intentions.  To the left, you see the brown dog in the middle of this pack at a local park.  He is standing quite still with head lowered, visible tension in his jaw, mouth closed, low tail, ears back and a his hair beginning to stand up on his back.  He is very uncomfortable about being so close to a strange dog and was called away quickly to avoid any conflict.  This particular dog's behavior tells us humans that he needs a much slower greeting with new dogs.

In this photo to the left , this beautiful girl has just seen a new dog and is reading the other dogs intentions and clearly expressing hers as well.  Note the open mouth and soft eyes, lowered tail which is in motion and she is beginning to offer a play bow.  While she is expressing intentions that she does want to greet the new dog, she is very excited and the other dog is a bit alarmed by her intense need to visit.  After about 30 minutes of walking near each other, this girl and the other dog became play mates as you will see in the video below. 

If you have a new puppy, please keep him/her safe and find nice friendly dogs to socialize with.  Your dogs friends will influence his/her behavior! Just like you were influenced by those you visited with as an adolescent.  So, know who your dogs friends are and watch for signs of fair play between the two and you let's try to prevent aggression from spreading.  

Preventing Dog to Dog Aggression

Protect your dog from becoming aggressive by knowing where he is and who his playmates are.  The topic of leash aggression arises so often, I feel the need to address it often in my blogs.  For dog trainers it is very clear why we do not let our dogs greet unknown dogs while on leash. I want my dogs attention on ME when I have him on a leash.  I prefer he not pull my shoulder off my body when on leash, so I never let him greet other dogs when on leash and guess what?  He does not ask anymore because he knows the rule structure. In my opinion, the BEST reason to avoid letting your dog greet unknown dogs while on leash is to keep him or her safe.  Once your dog gets into a scuffle while on leash, just the site of a dog while on leash can become very scary for your pup.

tight leash is nearly un avoidable.

We have all seen or heard stories of two dogs greeting on leash and it ends badly.  Let's think about it, when dogs greet off-leash they are able to circle, sniff and have the freedom to move away if one dog becomes stiff and worried.  When on-leash we often tighten the leash, which makes the dog feel trapped because it cannot flee the environment. As a result, the constrained dog may send the other dog a distance cue like a hard eyed stare, a lip curl or a low growl.  Depending on the social skills of the other dog, this may turn into an unwanted scuffle. 

If you want your dog to have good social skills and avoid aggression, let him have an opportunity to socialize and play with other GOOD dogs. Start with an AKC STAR Puppy class, teach your dog leash manners throughout his adolescence and set up off-leash playdates with dog-friendly dogs that you know he enjoys playing with and who have owners that you are comfortable with.

Social dogs can relax in the presence of other
dogs even while being on a leash.

A large part of my business is helping dog owners understand why their dog is jumping and snarling when on a leash in the presence of another dog.  This behavior is done by your dog because he has learned that it keeps him/her safe.  Dogs that have been traumatized by another dog, or multiple dogs, learn that their best defense is a good offense.  If this behavior works for them, why would they need to change? Being safe simply feels good.

I do understand your dog needs daily exercise to get him through his adolescence. If your dog plays well with the neighbors dog, then your dog is already social! Walking on-leash together is a great way to learn leash manners around other dogs. Or, hire a dog-walker who only brings one dog to your session and watch how your dog interacts with that dog.  Your dog-walker will help him learn leash manners and prevent any unwanted behaviors from being reinforced.  Many dogs are surrendered because they can no longer cope with being on a leash in society.  Who's to blame?  These dogs were not born dog-aggressive. Rather, it is learned by putting them in environments that are out of control and scary.  So please know who your dog is playing with, and if the play is appropriate.  We can all agree that aggression breeds more aggression, so please know

who your dog's friends are!

In the photo to the right, my Outdoor Adventure Class is open to dog friendly dogs.  Dogs that have good emotional control, dogs that can sit and watch a dog go by without demanding to get to it, and dogs that are not overly pushy.  If your dog is demanding to say "hello" to every dog that goes by, think about why that behavior is developing and where it is being reinforced.   I hope to see you and your dog in a training class, while on-leash and enjoying each other's calm company!

Canine Body Language Seminar

Presented by

Judy Moore ACDBC

Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant

When:    Saturday, January 4, 2014

Where:   Poetic Gold Farm 

              7 Trillium Lane, Falmouth, ME 

Time:    10am- noon

Fees:    Dogs attending for evaluation $75

            Attendees for audit $25

  

who is the most worried here?

I'll will review how canines communicate with each other and how they try to communicate with us. You will learn to identify signs of canine stress and fear which can assist you in preventing unwanted behaviors such as a snap or bite.  Many dogs offer distance cues, however we as humans miss them; therefore many dogs resort to a level 3 bite because no one respected the level 1 or 2 distance cue.

 If you work with, own, or live with a dog who exhibits shy or skittish behavior, you will benefit from a basic understanding of how they "speak" to us with body language. 

Live Demo dogs and Q&A discussion included!

For more information or to attend contact Judy at Judyamoore@mac.com

Maine's frist Match!

Dog Training Seminar to Benefit

Pets for Vets

Topic: Object and Food Guarding

Speaker/Evaluator

Judy Moore, ACDBC, CPDT-KA of

Canine Behavior Counseling, LLC

held at

PoeticGold Farm, 7 Trillium Lane, Falmouth ME

Home at last!

Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 10am-noon

Do you own, foster, or work with dogs that growl when you approach them while eating or when on your bed, or when being held? This seminar will address techniques to devalue items your dog thinks are high value using a Positive Approach.

Registration options:

1. A limited number of spaces are available to attend with your dog and have him/her evaluated at the seminar the fee is $75.

2. To attend the seminar without your dog but with questions about your dogs behavior and the opportunity to learn the techniques through observation the fee is $25.

For more information or to attend email Judy at judyamoore@mac.com

20% of the proceeds will go to support the Pets for Vets Program

http://pets-for-vets.com/category/northeast/portlandme/

Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant now available in Portland Maine

BIG NEWS!!

I am very proud to announce my hard work and continued education has earned me the title of

Happy clients and well behaved dogs

Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant- ACDBC.  I am the only ACDBC south of Bangor, and the only one in Portland, Maine.  My desire to better understand dog behavior and behavior problems is on going and I will continue to study and learn to better help my clients.

For clients in the Bangor area, please reach out to Don Hanson, of Green Acres Kennels as he is a CDBC and a person I myself reach out to.  Welcome to Green Acres Kennel Shop - Green Acres Kennel Shop

Already have a dog trainer?  Please be sure you are using someone certified by a recognizable organization such as:

APDT  the Association of Pet Dog Trainers 

IAABC  International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

CCPDT Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers

For help in setting you and your dog up for success, I certainly recommend a Certified positive reinforcement trainer.  

Behavior is Shaped by the Environment

I try not to sound like a broken record, but I do continually hit home the fact that the environment is training your dog.  Specifically, the environment is shaping your dogs behavior in small successes each day, each minute.

Why is this important?  If your puppy barks frequently to get your older dog to interact with it, then this pup is learning to be rude and bark loudly in order to gain the attention it desires.  What if your puppy is jumping on you to get attention then quickly sitting for the reward?  You pup will learn that jumping gets a) your attention, and b) some form of a yummy treat.

What if your adolescent dog is repeatedly getting into scuffles at the local dog park or in day care?  Your dog is learning the tools to be successful, lunging quicker, faster, higher can be very rewarding.  Dogs, simply stated, do what works for them.

Think about how other forms of life are shaped by the environment they live in, and often shape that environment in return. Do the habits of your roommate, co-worker or spouse effect your behavior?  Do you ever avoid, engage, or seek out a particular human just because it meets your needs?  Dogs do the same!

The photo below shows a small Dachshund mix thinking about stealing some breakfast! However, the Golden uses what works for her to prevent sharing.  

This Golden has learned that a hard eyed stare will make the smaller Dachshund mix turn and move away from her food.

If the hard eye stare works, then the Golden no longer needs to attack to get her message across.  Dogs, again, do what works for them.

In this photo to the right the dogs are learning that they get rewarded when they offer calm behavior such as a down position.  Very quickly the dogs learn that when they are lying down the cookies begin to drop from the sky!  We then ask the dogs to move to a new spot and they again quickly offer a down knowing their behavior predicts good things!

Again, habits are formed by practicing them daily and by enjoying the rewards they offer.  So if you see your dog forming good habits like sitting to go out or sitting for affection, then great!  But if your pup is over mouthy and you find yourself rewarding with play, then think about how you or your environment is shaping your dogs behavior on a daily basis. Make the necessary changes to set your pup up for good habits that will be enjoyed and appreciated!

Changing Behavior

When changing your dogs behavior or habits it is best to go slow and keep it simple.  Changing habits takes time and while the process may seem overwhelming at times, remember small successes are a big deal!

Steps to changing your dogs behavior: 

1. Make a plan, put it in writing, including specific detailed goals

2. Identify your dogs triggers and the alternative behavior you desire

3. Focus on asking your dog to do the alternative behavior or habit every single time the trigger happens at a distance, for several weeks.

4. Reward your dog generously for offering the alternative behavior

several reactive dogs changing their behavior

• Reward even if the dog attempts the behavior.
• Reward even if the dog takes one step or turns his head to consider the option of complying.
• Avoid only rewarding when the dog completes the new behavior, but do reward the dog for even the slightest attempt of any new behavior.  This is called a "choice point",  it is to your advantage to reward any attempt in making the correct choice!  
• Avoid this mistake:  if your dog is afraid of the mail carrier, then begin with all adults but avoid the mail carrier for now.  When your expectations are not real, you will be frustrated. Setting your dog up for success is best done when the triggers are very low and far away, this is a good plan for getting an alternative behavior started.
• Even if the dog does it for one second!  When you begin to reward slight offerings of new behavior, your dog will more likely want to continue to play this new game!

Take it slow, breathe,  and relax as your dog is depending on you!  Setting your dog up for success also implies training when YOU are in a calm mental state.  If it helps, think of the many things your dog does right and build one small behavior at a time!

Next, I will offer specific games to play in specific locations to help you progress.

Aggression in Dogs

Canine aggression will always be an interesting topic discussed among dog lovers.  We know conflicts are normal and it is our job as humans to teach young children how to cope or resolve conflicts with other children and adults.

A Stressful Greeting

We humans are taught to resolve conflict by using our words at a young age, often through examples by our parents, teachers and grandparents.  Yet, many teenagers and adults have difficulty coping with conflict and may find themselves in a yelling or physical situation.  Having someone who loves them and are willing to help them change their behavior in very small steps is a blessing and a must for them to be successful.

If you find yourself the owner of a dog showing aggression, take a deep breath and first realize that changing behavior is difficult and will take time.  Many animals use whatever defensive mechanisms they have  to scare threatening intruders or scary stimuli away as a mechanism to feel safe.  Cows may only be able to kick at their aggressor, chickens may claw and use their beaks to peck or bite a scary stimuli.  Cats are known for their hissing, arched back and fast clawing as a way to say "back off."

Our furry canine friends also use what works for them which is often rapid barking, growling, show of teeth, lunging or snapping to scare off anything that they are afraid of.  If your dog is getting into scuffles at a park or daycare, please do not take him there anymore.  Aggression is a defensive mechanism that dogs will use to keep themselves safe or gain resources.  If your dog learns that aggression works, then he will continue to use it and even get good at it.

Now, avoid putting your dog in situations where he is showing even the smallest amount of aggression as you want to change this behavior right?  Then eliminate the possibility of practicing an unwanted behavior.

• Make a list of the triggers that set him off, even those that put him into a heightened arousal or anxious state.  
• Make a list of the alternative behavior you prefer your dog do.
• Start slow and set your dog up for success.  For example if your dog barks at kids 20 feet away, then keep him 60 feet away for now.
• Know what motivates your dog and be GENEROUS with the reward when he offers the alternative behavior.

This is just the beginning, breathe, really take a big breath as your tension is not helpful to your dog in any way while helping him feel safer.  Make your plan and remember your entire day is a series of habits or sequences of behavior just like your dog.  So, your plan should set your dog up for success just for today as we will be taking this one day at a time.  Stay tuned for more tips on changing your dogs behavior.

Show Me

While many of us this week have been  hugging  and  holding our children and grand children tighter as a result of the horrible shootings in Newtown CT., many of us have also sought to hold and love our pets.  Our desire to keep all those we love feeling safer has increased dramatically in light of the recent tragedy among the young and innocent.

stiff response to touch

Yet, when I reach to comfort my new 6 year old foster dog he growls and moves away from me. My desire to befriend and offer safety to this frightened dog is way more than he can handle at this point.  The more I try, the more he withdraws.

A new approach is clearly needed to earn the trust of with this little guy, so based on the many insights shared by Karen Pryer, I will play a series of "show me" games.  This is a game many new horse owners play when they buy or ride a new horse, if I do this what will you do?  Applying pressure with your hand or leg on different parts of a horse should be met with a behavior from the animal, hence, the relationship begins.

Knowing that petting this dog's back, would earn a "growl" verbal response as well as a stiffening of his body, I tried the back of my hand on his side for about 4 seconds then stopped.  What I got this time was a look in my direction and a bit of a lean into my hand.  So I continued to rub his side with the back of my hand and stop, allowing him to walk away or ask for more. This went on for 10 minutes at which point I needed to move myself as my back was ailing me.  I should also mention that in this time, I noticed his eyes soften, his ears seemed floppy, his breathing slowed, and he licked his lips multiple times and at one point laid his head on my leg.  I was thrilled!  I slowly got up and moved away, happily knowing he was wanting more of this friendship to continue. 

With so much uncertainty in our world, it is reassuring to give comfort and safety to an uncertain or defensive person or pet, even if for just a brief time.  Knowing when to reach out and when to just be present is a fine line, one that is always changing but certainly always rewarding.

Can The Dogs Meet?

As a dog owner you must here this question once in a while, can they meet?  The bigger question is do they want to meet?

I highly recommend you watch both dogs body language for this answer.  Many dogs are friendly however there are also many dogs who have not had good experiences or maybe no experience with strange dogs entering their personal space.   Yes, your dog has a personal bubble and may or may not want strangers in it.

When two dogs see each other, watch your dogs body language as well as the other dogs.  This may take 5 or more minutes as you and the other owner have your own greeting while remaining 10 feet apart.  If your dog is turning his back to the new dog, then he is saying, no thanks.  If your dog is looking away from the other dog, yawning, sniffing the ground, scratching, hiding between your legs, then you know your dog is not interested in this greeting.  If you proceed with the greeting, your dog will most likely growl as if to clarify "not interested!"

On the other hand, if both dogs are play bowing, getting low to the ground or trying to crawl to each other then you know you have two dogs who are both interested in greeting or playing.  Again, the slower greeting you have the better success you will have.

So, my suggesting is to not ask the owner anymore, but to ask your dog how he feels about the situation.

This sweet black dog below is encouraging the smaller puppy to engage in play, this greeting took several minutes before both dogs were jumping around in lovely, bouncy play.

This handsome yellow lab is not interested in visiting with the other dogs in class, he continues to have a wide mouth pant and looks away from the other dogs.  While many of us social beings would love for our dogs to love every dog they meet, the reality is we need to ask our dogs what they want in order to set them up for success.

Gracie making friends

Gracie the Pitt mix on the right has been a foster dog at Tender Touch for over two years.  She found herself in a fight with another dog over a bone.  Unfortunately for Gracie, she caused quite a bit of damage to the other dog.

Annie and Gracie learning to trust.

Here you see Gracie has learned to make friends with my Annabelle after about 20 minutes of introductions.  We have fed them treats together and Gracie is non confrontational.

Below you will see Gracie out for a walk with several other dogs.  She showed great communication skills even trying to get a few of the boys in the group to play!  The key to helping Gracie have success in the presence of new dogs is a very slow greeting.  She needs time to trust the other dog before she allows them in her space.

Gracie learning to trust new dogs.

Many dogs will snarl or snap when they first meet a new dog.  This does not mean that they will never be friends, however it does mean that the dog that is snappy does not feel safe.  Helping  this dog feel safe by taking a long walk with the new dog will help.  Should you punish your dog for being aggressive to a new dog?  No, your punishment will only make your dog more stressed.  Building a positive association between the two dogs is the best approach.

Keep in mind that being near a new dog outside is much easier than being with the same dog inside a home.  So, take it slow by bring the dogs together, then apart and repeat until you see both dogs relax.  This may actually take a few days before they feel comfortable in a home together.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Why do so many of us feel the need to put our faces near a sleeping dog?

I have witnessed a child receive a warning scratch above and below the eye when startling a strange sleeping dog.  The dog cowered afterwards as if to ward off punishment as the child screamed.  This scream was enough punishment on the dog, I did not need to do anything except help both child and dog feel safer in each other presence after this incident.

How would you react if you were sound asleep and something startled you?  For a shy or fearful dog trying to sleep with a strange person or dog in the house can be very unsettling.  They may drift off, yet still be on guard.  This dogs first emotional response when startled is to protect him/her self with it's best defensive weapon, its teeth.  Unfortunately, many owners and sometimes guests are bitten when they startle a sleeping dog.  If a person is bitten by a dog, there is ALWAYS a reason, we just need to determine what that reason is and work to desensitize or modify it's behavior.

Success lies in determining if the dog was reacting out of fear, guarding a resource or being dominant and biting his owner.  Treating one will not fix another, so getting a good history is the key to preventing this incident from happening again.

Eva learning to make friends

Truman, Eva and Harry learning to be friends.

Truman on the left is a very dog friendly boy as is Harry the black lab mix on the right.  Eva the German Shepherd in the middle is not so trusting of new dogs.

When she first meets or even sees a dog she becomes nervous and reactive as she is very worried.  Using an approach and retreat method or BAT training program we allowed Eva to get lots of information about the new dogs so she could feel safe.

After about 30 minutes of engaging with Truman and Harry, Eva was able to greet and even play with these two handsome boys.  They constantly reassured her that they were friendly with their open mouths, tongue flicks, look aways, yawning, sniffing the ground and many shake offs.

Once Eva was sure they were not going to harm her, she relaxed and began to enjoy their company!  While dog to dog aggression can be scary, with proper management and conditioning, many dogs can learn to trust and enjoy the company of new dogs.

Rescue Dogs

Rescue dogs are often put up for adoption simply because humans do not know how to get them to STOP doing something.  Turn this correction thought process into rewarding the dog for what he is doing right!

These dogs learn appropriate social skills each day.

Punishing or correcting an animal for making a mistake often makes the situation more frustrating for the animal.  We all have experiences when something that once worked fine now is not working at all.  Your car does not start, the printer is out of ink, your phone battery is dead.  Both people and animals get the same feeling when faced with this situation known as extinction in behavior terms. We all get angry, yell, maybe even curse, "this is infuriating!" 


I often see this intense behavior when working with rescue dogs, such as barking, guarding, lunging, jumping, spinning and many others.  For example, I recently worked with a handsome black lab mix whose foster mom complained that he continually jumped up on her.  After taking the pups leash and a handful of treats, just as she said, he began to jump on me.  I quickly turned and walked away from him saying nothing.  He was clearly confused and jumped up on me higher and in quicker repetition, and with more force, using his muzzle to bump/pop my chin and chest.  This went on for nearly a minute or two when I explained to the foster parent that he is incredibly frustrated as this behavior has worked for him in the past.  Rather than waiting until he sat without jumping first, I used a treat to lure him a few steps then over his head, when he sat down, I simply said "yes" and tossed him a treat.  The second time, I only lured him one step and raised it over his head, again he sat and received his treat.  At this moment his lightbulb went off and he approached me and sat, again I marked his behavior with a "yes" and rewarded him. 

Over time, dogs learn how to avoid punishment to the best of their ability.  No species seeks out punishment unless they feel as if they have no alternative behavior to offer.  If you think your dog is being pushy, maybe it is because it has worked in the past.  All dogs choose a behavior that works.


Rewarding your dog for good behavior will certainly encourage your dog to do that behavior more often!  See how many times you can tell your dog "good boy/girl" the rest of today!  Bet you get more of this behavior while the rude behavior will fade.

Guarding

Dogs are not born with guarding behaviors, but may learn at a very young age that guarding earns them valuable resources.  Think about a litter of 10 pups, with only 8 places to nurse, a pup may learn that they must be pushy or even assertive to eat.  I am not saying that all pups in large litters are more likely to be guarders, a good breeder will notice if one pup becomes too pushy and separate the group so this behavior is not practiced.

What I am saying, is that guarding a resource is a behavior that is learned through practice and having small successes over a period of time.  The dogs that learn to guard in my opinion are the smart dogs, while not acceptable in the family dog, you can't argue that they are thinking dogs.

Can a dog go from guarding items, food or even thresholds in one home to not guarding in another?  Many dogs learn that what worked in one environment, may not work or be necessary in another.  For example, if a worried dog stands and barks at you in a doorway and you turn and leave, this dog will certainly try this behavior again as it worked for him.  However, if you ignore his barks and walk right past him, he learns that standing his ground does not work and may try another behavior.  Depending on his confidence level, he may try to bite next time or he may offer an appeasing behavior like a body wag as if to say, "Okay, let's be friends."

If a small dog stands on mom's lap and growls at the approaching dog, when the approaching dog turns and walks away, the dog growling learns that this behavior works and will certainly use it again.  If however, this small dog begins to get stiff or stare at the approaching dog, the owner may choose to quickly plop the small dog behind the couch as a consequence, no emotion or words needed.  With the small dog on her lap again, she will offer her a treat and use verbal praise when she allows a pack member to approach.  Counter Conditioning new rules in the same environment, this small dog learns that when she guards, she loses the valuable resource and when she complies, she gets to keep her resource and gets a bonus treat too!  With consistent repetition and knowing what you are rewarding most dogs can learn not to guard items in old and new environments.

Appreciate the Warning

Dewey understands the golden's "look" and avoids a bite!

I recently met a young man who has been bitten several times, with a level 1 and level 2 bite from his dog.  In each case the dog was sitting on the couch by his wife when he approached.  Each time the dog growled, he said "no" to the dog and sat down anyway, and yes he got bitten.

Consider each time now that the husband comes near the couch, the wife gets anxious, afraid her sweet loving pooch will bite at her husband.  Her anxiety only becomes apparent to the dog when that "man" comes near.  If his approach predicts mom being afraid, then he will be afraid also.  It is the dogs natural instinct to make himself feel safe, and if a growl or bite works then he will use it!

Knowing the dog loved cheese, I recommended dad approached the couch, make no eye contact with the dog, and only toss a small piece of cheese near him and walk away.  We did this repetition several times until we saw the dog was actually happy about the man approaching.  Next we had the man approach, sit down treat the dog and then leave.  Again with several repetitions, the wife began to relax and see that the dog could be happy about her husbands approach and presence as long as it predicted something good!

The Point of this article is to change the reason the dog is growling, rather than just telling him to "No!" We do not modify aggression with aggression anymore, at least Positive Reinforcement Trainers do not because we are educated on changing the emotions of the dog.

Do you need to dominate your dog?

Too many people believe you must dominate or be the Alpha dog in the home to co-exist happily with their companion pet.  You may have heard that in order to prevent your dog from becoming dominant that you had to: 1) always go through doorways first, 2) always eat before your dog, 3) never allow the dog on furniture where they might be elevated above you, 4) never allow the dog to sleep on your bed, 5) always punish your dog for stealing or chewing things that belong to you, 6) push your dog away when they jump up or paw at you, and 7) never let your dog walk in front of you.  You may think that you have to be ever vigilant and that you have to do whatever it takes to show your dog that you are the boss in order to prevent him from taking over your home and becoming disobedient and even possibly aggressive.  

I believe it is important to build a trusting relationship with our pets while helping them understand that when they comply, we make life really good for them, including helping them feel safe.  If a dog is successful in a behavior, it will be repeated, not because it is dominant but because it has learned the behavior is rewarding.  So it is important to establish a clear understanding in the dogs mind how to live in a humans world.  Not by dominating, scaring, or threatening, but by helping them cope with the humans and environment they live in.


I believe a lot of smart dogs learn to train their owners, again, not because they are dominating them but because we the humans Spoil them!!  I also believe it is never too late to improve the relationship with your pet by rewarding good behavior,  and therefore reinforcing good habits!


For more Positive Reinforcement tips, check out Canine Behavior Counseling on Facebook!