BEHAVIOR TRAINING
Training is crucial for raising a well-behaved pet and if you don’t set rules, boundaries and limitations, your dog will take it upon himself to figure it out - and you can be sure that his “rules” will be quite different from yours!
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Our first dog was named, “Teddy” and he came with different challenges than our second dog, “Bear”. I learned a lot from them, and continue to learn so much from our dogs, Baby, Bo and the many other dogs I've worked with. From a puppy, Bear was fearful of a LOT of things – a manhole on the road, a bag or coat on the floor, a garbage can outside, his reflection in the glass window, etc. In Bear’s case, his fears had the appearance of aggression ("fight mode"). He went charging & barking after the thing he was afraid of, so we practiced facing his fears & one by one, he got over all of them!
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No matter what the problem is, avoiding solves nothing and will likely make the issue worse. Practice & exposure is essential, but it’s only productive when a calm, assertive pack leader is guiding the training.
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Note, that if your energy isn’t calm & assertive, check yourself to be sure you’re not emitting nervous, anxious, or angry energy. Dogs will follow a calm, assertive pack leader, but if you’re not that, then they won’t see you as their pack leader. Since dogs don’t have words to communicate, they’re constantly “reading” us. That’s why it’s vital that we pay attention to our reactions, vocal tone and body language.
THE WALK
Establishing yourself as the pack leader begins with THE WALK. Remember that the leash is a communication device, not just a restraint. You want the leash to be relaxed (not tight & tense), using well-timed tugs to let your dog know where you are leading him/her. Note: Retractable leashes are not good training tools and should not be used on a walk. Since a dog will always pull a retractable leash taunt, they will feel like they’re in the lead – not the message you want to convey!
As you start to watch people walk their dog, notice who’s in front. Is it the dog or the human? If the dog is in front, the owner has zero respect as the pack leader. Now that you know better, you can teach your dog to walk beside you, and let him know that you are taking the lead so he can relax.
The leash needs to have a comfortable amount of slack (not too much & not too little). Each time he tries to pull the leash tight, you give it a quick tug to communicate that he is out of bounds and needs to come back into position. When you master the walk, it will help your dog respect you as the pack leader in other areas of training. Do you know why Cesar Milan corrects his dogs with the little “Tsch” noise he uses? It’s not because it’s some kind of magic sound that makes a dog drop everything and listen. It’s because it’s the noise his mother used from across the room when she would catch him doing something wrong that he needed to stop right away. So, imitating that noise helps him project the same calm, assertive energy that his mother directed at him when she caught him stealing candy off the countertop when he was a kid.
"That’s why my dog stops whatever she’s doing when she hears my mother’s typical “EH-EH!” from across the room. It’s not the noise, it’s the energy.” (Chris O’Leary)
BODY BLOCK and OWNING YOUR SPACE
Body blocks are used to get your dog to move where you want him to go. There’s no need for words. In fact, it’s better to avoid using words because your dog will clearly understand the communication as you own your space with calm, assertive energy. He may try to challenge or protest, but when you hold your stance and move with confidence, your dog will respect you.
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Body blocks work well for keeping my dogs from rushing to the door when we have company over, or to keep my dogs from going out the door without permission. It’s a great tool for claiming your space if you’re sweeping the floor or doing anything when you don’t want your dog crowding you.
YOU OWN EVERYTHING
As we know, your dog is happiest when he knows you are in charge, so he can relax. If your dog tries to assert dominance over anything, it’s your job as the pack leader to immediately let your dog know that, that item is yours and that you are in control of all things – even his food and toys. When you calmly and assertively claim ownership of an item, your dog will know that he must release it. If a dog has already developed aggressive behaviors that can lead to a dangerous bite, then tools can be used to protect yourself, while you teach them that you’re not going to allow him or her to take over. If you’re concerned about your dog biting you, here are examples of ordinary tools you can use to help give you the confidence to stay the course:
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Use a tennis racket or a similar item to serve as an extension of your arm. (Note: DO NOT swing the racket!) Hold it steady, while you claim your space. You may need to calmly move toward your dog to make it clear that he gets to back down – not you.
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Wear a glove to protect your hand while reclaiming an item. Hold your hand steady and resist the temptation to pull, starting a tug of war game. Hold the item solidly until your dog releases it.
Those kinds of tools aren’t usually needed, but can sometimes be helpful when working with a dog that has developed aggressive behaviors. The goal is to convey to your dog that you are not going to react with fear and you won’t be giving in to his/her demands.
SMALL DOG vs BIG DOG TRAINING
Small dog owners often allow little dogs to get away with dominant behavior because they think it’s “cute” or funny.
Ask yourself, “If a big dog was behaving in ‘this’ way, would that be ok?”
For example: If a big dog was growling, snarling or jumping up on someone, should that be tolerated any less than a small dog? Dominant behavior is still the same and needs to be corrected. You can correct your dog with a redirecting touch that matches the level of behavior. And again, always be sure to train with calm, assertive (not angry) energy that encourages your dog to follow your lead.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
There are some good videos on youtube, covering a multitude of topics, as well as many books on dog behavior and training. Here are a few:
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The Dog’s Mind: Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior, by Bruce Fogle & Anne Wilson
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Dog Language: An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior, by Roger Abrantes
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Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide Interpreting the Native Language of the Domestic Dog, by Brenda Aloff