Why does a dog guard food more fiercely when people try to prove they’re “in charge”? “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 Read more
What happens when a frightened dog is treated as though he’s trying to be dominant? Staffie Boxer mix Digby came out of his shell after a couple of hours. What a character. This is yet another story that could make me cry. A young couple get themselves a puppy. They don’t Read more
If the dog is scared of something, the old way could well be to make him face it. If he growls and particularly if he bites, the old view is that this should be punished.
What is behind the behaviour isn’t dominance – the puppy wanting to become Alpha – but that certain behaviours bring him the most reinforcement. When he gets a bit rough he can bank on getting rewarded in terms of attention of some sort.
Max barks excessively. He has become touchy. He snaps at the little girl and he snaps when he’s disturbed. His walks are no longer so enjoyable and he is unpredictable with other dogs.