Territorial Aggression
As mentioned in an earlier part of this chapter, the trait of territorial protective aggression has been valued in dogs since their domestication, and selectively bred for. This trait varies tremendously in dogs, from dogs who show absolutely no protectiveness to others who gladly attack to defend their territory and try to keep enlarging the territory they defend. The development of territorial protectiveness in dogs is linked to sexual maturity. A dog is most easily guided into appropriate...
Dogs Aggressive with Strange Dogs
There are several reasons that dogs are aggressive with strange dogs. Some are frustrated by their lack of opportunity to play with other dogs, so they lunge and bark. Some dogs are afraid of other dogs due to lack of socialization and growl to keep them away. Other dogs have had traumatic experiences with other dogs, and some were removed from their litter too early. With some dogs you may never know the reason because they were rescued at an older age. If your dog responds aggressively only...
SitStay with Eye Contact
It is impossible to communicate with your dog, or with another person for that matter, unless you have his attention. Teaching your dog to make eye contact is teaching your dog to look at you when you are speaking to him, a necessary foundation for all training. Start by sitting your dog in front of you, facing you, and telling him to stay. Take a piece of food and move it slowly from in front of your dog's nose up to the bridge of your nose, between your eyes. As you are moving the food, give...
Energy Level and Reactivity
As an obedience instructor, I frequently get complaints about hyper dogs. I've learned that this means one of four things a perfectly normal dog who doesn't get enough exercise, a dog who has a high energy level, a highly reactive dog, or a hyperactive dog. The high-energy dog is always ready to go. He doesn't tire easily, whether he's working or playing. The highly reactive dog may or may not have a high energy level, but he reacts strongly to stimuli. Stimulation overexcites him. If you touch...
SitStay for Petting
Do you have problems with your dog jumping up This is the problem people list most often on the registration form for my classes. Here is how you start solving that problem. Doing a sit-stay for petting is just like doing any other sit-stay with distractions. Again, start with your dog sitting in heel position, and then have someone approach and pet him while you keep him sitting. Start with someone familiar to your dog, so he will be less excited. If he can't remain sitting while someone is...
The Issue of Dominance
Many dog trainers believe that you must dominate your dog in order to successfully live with him. Obedience training classes ring with the cry, You must dominate your dog and You must be the pack leader, the alpha figure, a sentiment echoed in many dog training books. It is also claimed that if you don't dominate your dog, he will try to dominate you. Your dog is the enemy obedience class is often the battleground. I don't agree with this. You don't have to dominate your dog in order to train...
Intelligence and Trainability
Many dog owners are confused when their dogs seem to be intelligent but prove to be difficult to train. Intelligence and trainability are not the same thing. In fact, many dog trainers consider the more intelligent dog harder to train. Intelligence refers to a dog's ability to solve problems, while trainabil-ity is related to the ease with which a dog can be convinced to take direction from a human. A dog might use his intelligence to get what he wants, but he won't necessarily use it to do...