Diesel is a 16 months old Rottie and onto his third home already. His new owners have had him for just five days and are determined to turn his life around. Force and dominance It is evident that people previously have used force and dominance. Because of this, aggressive human Read more…
Charlie growls when man enters the room, but only when the lady is there. Protecting the lady? The Cocker Spaniel may also sometimes growl at the man or the son if they touch him when he’s in his bed. That also is most likely when the lady is in the Read more…
Trevor’s story is all about relationship, the relationship between the three-year-old Cocker Spaniel Beagle mix and the man. All was fine until Trevor began to growl when the man approached the dog when he was in their bed. Their relationship went downhill They then employed a trainer and the relationship Read more…
I had just arrived. Without warning, Bella came through the door and attacked Poppy. Fortunately she was wearing a harness and with very fast reflexes the lady lifted her off the floor and onto the chair.
Bella
I thought I had carefully choreographed my arrival. Knowing Bella’s aggression towards older miniature Dachshund Poppy had been escalating over the past few days, I was to settle in the room with Poppy – they would have her on lead. Then, also on lead, Bella was to join us.
Unfortunately it happened too quickly and the two dogs met in the doorway and Bella exploded. (more…)
I’m starting Johnny’s story with a little rant on dominance from my soap box.
As a force-free, modern trainer/behaviourist I don’t need to dominate a dog to get compliance.
I won’t say that dominance – being very firm and overpowering – doesn’t work. It can and it does. Sometimes.
In the old days I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know better and that is what I did until I learnt how inefficient it was. I have been there. I know what I’m talking about. Being kind and allowing the dog choices does not mean being permissive. I apply rules also. I don’t use force.
Many people still believe that being what they erroneously think is ‘being the Alpha’ is the right way to train and control their dog. It’s not helped by certain TV trainers who make a lot of money using old-fashioned techniques that look like quick fixes.
Few dog owners psychologically would make effective ‘Alphas’ anyway. (more…)
A week ago, their new rescue dog began to bully their other dog. Six-year-old Cookie is a cute and somewhat nervous, anxious little terrier. Rudi, a Wirehaired Terrier, joined them six weeks ago. It began with the calmer and more confident Rudi eyeballing Cookie. Next, one of the young daughters Read more…
Confrontation and control from the man has recently started to bring out aggression and defiance in Connor. The more defiance he displayed, the firmer the gentleman became. (more…)
Frenchies Mac and Mabel fight. The lady has unfortunately been following outdated and harmful advice. A shaker can was in each room of the house. This always seems so sad to me. Someone who loves her dogs dearly and is both distressed and frightened by their fighting seeks help, and is Read more…
“We must show the dog who’s boss”. Rex guards his food. Guarding food and resources can be a contentious issue where human response is concerned. Many conscientious dog owners, doing what they believe is best, follow dangerous, outdated notions. These techniques can involve, right from the start as routine training, Read more…
They were told their dog was being dominant but they don’t see him like that and nor do I. It’s so common for people to refer to a dog’s lunging, barking and jumping at people or other dogs as dominance. They interpret it as dominance through a lack of knowledge and understanding. Read more…