How We Fix Agressive Dogs - Part Four

Every time your dog shows aggression, it’s an opportunity for you to correct the problem, don’t avoid it - cure it!

When he ‘shows out’ to another dog, handle him into a sit next you, the dogs shoulder should be roughly level with you leg and he MUST NOT put his paw in front of your foot, on your foot, lean against you or sit crooked; he will know how important this is and will try really hard to stay in front of you or sit anywhere apart from where you want him to.

Practice heelwork. The traditional side for walking a dog is on the left; so all instruction assume the dog is on your left side; Again the approach should be, when you take your dog out, you take your dog train him, not to take him for a walk.

The type of collar that you use on you dog can also have an impact on how your dog responds. We are happy to use a full check. Not everyone agrees with this, however, if used correctly, especially with anti-social dogs, I believe a full check to be a very good training aid. ½ Checks are OK but a normal collar doesn’t seem to work very well. When used correctly a full check should be loose all of the

time unless the dog does something wrong; then a quick tug and let loose again. To practice the heelwork, begin with the dog in a sit and lead in you right hand and loose to the dogs neck; as you move forward the dog will probably pull forward. This puts him in front of the pack. If you can turn right before the lead goes tight and add the ‘tug’ two thing happen

1 You go to the front of the pack

2 You correct your dog effectively

The dog will probably try and go in front again; if it goes past you, turn right and correct. I don’t use any encouragement to try and get the dog to walk next to me, if he’s wide or in front, I just correct him and change direction and add praise ONLY when it walks close to my left leg.

Another way of stopping the dog from pulling – begin the same way but this time when the dog pulls in front ; Transfer the lead to your left hand and walk backwards. Correct the dog with gentle tugs on the lead and growling ‘bad dog’ or ‘no’. This should be a quiet correction, no shouting. When the dogs head gets level with your left leg walk forwards and praise your dog. Let the lead go loose and if the dog goes past you repeat the walking backwards.

These methods will both help correct the dog for being in front (pack leader) and praise the dog for being part of your pack (submissive) – This works really well if the dog is just pulling or showing out against another dog.

Don’t try and stop him from looking at the other dogs; it’s a natural thing for them to do, so let him do it, just make sure he sits next to you or walks next to you while he’s doing it. You will find the more your dog works for you the less he will stare at the other dogs and the more his attention will turn to you. He will also become more relaxed because you have taken the pressure away from him.

If you can find some willing play mates, off the lead is better. I always use muzzles in the class but some of the handlers are happy for their dogs to be out of a muzzle when taking them out; you know your dog, so if it needs one why not use one? A lot of our handlers now prefer to keep their dog in a muzzle, it gives them more confidence, and make it much easier to teach your dog to relax.

How we fix Aggressive Dogs - Part Three

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Some our dogs learning to mix

DTCE - How we fix problem dogs part 3

When you introduce your dog to a muzzle it should always be a nice thing for your dog never a punishment. If you haven’t used one before you could try dabbing a small amount of cream cheese, peanut butter etc on the inside and hold it for your dog, you should find they put their own noses into it, all you need to do is add praise.

You can transfer this type of handling to the street.  When your dog sees another dog and shows aggression, put him into a sit. 

The reason for doing all of this is to promote yourself in the pack so that you become the pack leader.

If you are in charge its your job to be aggressive, I don’t know you; but I suspect you won’t be aggressive, so neither will your dog.  Get the sit right and your dog will then start to follow your rules.

Tips:-  If your dog sits next to you but puts its paw in front of your foot or on your foot, it is telling you its in charge (most aggressive dogs will do this). Move the dog back into heel and make sure their foot isn’t in front of yours.  Never take them in a circle around and back into heel, because when you walk them in front of you they could quite easily think they are being promoted in the pack.

Try not to talk nicely to your dog to calm it down I’ve found this to enhance the worst fault as it praises the aggression into the dog.

Once you have your dog sitting on a loose lead as other dogs walk past; start teaching him to walk to heel. If the dog starts to show aggression again; go back to the sit.

Watch me – A lot of trainers will suggest you teach your dog to do this to help stop aggressive behaviour; this only works when the dog wants to watch you (or food) more than he wants to watch the other dog, correcting him for staring at another dog doesn’t work because in the dogs mind he’s doing his job – He probably thinks you are interfering and that means he has to try harder to prove to the other dog that he’s in charge and is more likely to show aggression.

Muzzles are a great enabler – I find that most dogs learn to get on if they are given the chance to socialize with each other.  We couldn’t do this unless the dogs were ‘safe’.

So, here we have the Catch22; you need to socialize your dog to make him better, however, you can’t socialize him until he’s better.

The advantage we have is the training class.  Everyone that comes to it has a similar problem with their dog, so they don’t have a problem letting them off lead together.  It’s worth mentioning now that although we let dogs off lead together, the off lead part doesn’t happen until the handlers begin to gain some control over their dogs.  

As I mentioned earlier, giving your dog something else to do when its being aggressive will promote you in the pack, it also means you can praise your dog for something instead of just correcting it for misbehaving.  Sit is the easiest thing to try – keep it simple.

Take the dog to the park but take him training not for a walk or exercise; this is an important point because you will go out with a different attitude and this will produce a much calmer walk.. 

How we fix Aggressive Dogs - Part Two

Most handlers of anti-social dogs tend to tense up when they approach or are approached by another dog. This gives the wrong message to their dog. It will think there’s something wrong and react, usually with more aggression. 

The handlers would then either

1. Correct the dog (bad dog - Leave - Snatch the lead etc)

2. Reassure the dog (stroking - talking nicely - telling the dogs to calm down good dog etc)

I believe that both of the above enhance the anti-social behaviour.

1a. If I were a dog, and was told off every time another dog came near me, I’d start to tell them to keep away i.e. Growl - show aggression to make them stay away.

2a. If I was showing aggressive behaviour and my mum or dad started talking nicely to me I’d think I was doing the right thing so keep showing aggression.

How the sit works - The handlers can gently correct the bad behaviour or ignore it - Just give the dog something else to do instead i.e. Sit next to your left leg and then add the praise. This doesn’t work to begin with as the dog is used to getting its own way; in fact quite often they get worse before they get better as they usually try harder to stay as pack leader. As long as the handling remains consistent and the handler keeps working they will get better.

I’m often told that ‘my dog’ is being aggressive because its nervous.  Most of the time I don’t believe this is an accurate assessment of the dogs true nature or behaviour.  If you were nervous about something you wouldn’t run towards it; well neither would your dog!

Most aggressive dogs are just aggressive. The problem is most people would like there to be an excuse for the way their dog behaves, they don’t actually need one. If they just accept the fact their dog has a problem they can then set about curing it.  If you don’t already, I would suggest you use a muzzle, they enable you to mix and socialize your dog without worrying about it biting. Please use a basket or box type as your dog will need to pant; I wouldn’t use a cloth or nylon muzzle that holds their mouth shut for training.

Using a muzzle means you can let your dog sniff and get close to other dogs or people and if it does show aggression it cant do any damage, and all of the handlers can be more relaxed.

How we fix Aggressive Dogs - Part one

Two ex grumpy dogs playing

We have a class on Monday evenings at our Dog Training Centre in Orsett, Essex which helps to fix anti-social dog issues. 

Anti-Social behaviour is one of the most frustrating and upsetting things dog owners have to deal with. They all love their dogs, at home the dogs are usually pretty well behaved and part of the family, however, it’s very hard not to fall out with your dog if it keeps attacking people or other dogs.

We have spoken to a lot of dog owners who take their dogs for a walk at one or two O’clock in the morning so they avoid meeting people or other dogs.

This OK but doesn’t help cure the problem, in fact most owner don’t realise that their dogs can probably be re trained and learn to mix and socialise correctly.

The first thing we encourage is the use of a good basket type muzzle.  Unfortunately some people feel there is a stigma attached to using muzzles (The dogs are usually fine with it)If you use a muzzle you can be much more relaxed about the way you approach your problem areas. So to begin; have your dog on a lead and in a muzzle, this makes it much safer for the dogs to mix and the handlers can learn to be more relaxed when their dog is approached by or approaches another dog.

There are exceptions, but I’ve found that most dogs show aggression to keep other dogs or people away i.e. They are in control or in charge of their pack and will not let anything in; they usually do this because they are not good pack leaders and are worried about everything. The first thing we need to do in the class to teach the dog to respect the handler.

Three ex grumpy dogs playing

One of the ways we promote the hander in the pack,is by placing the dog in a sit.  It sounds simple but is not easy to do.

When you meet another dog, try and sit your dog at heel (next to left leg) and are on a loose lead. The dogs will usually get up and try and chase the other dogs or people away by showing aggression. In real life this works because no one will want to stand next to or let their dog stand next to an antisocial dog and the aggressive dog in essence chases the other dog away therefore keeping its position as pack leader.

In our anti-social class, everyone stays still so the dog doesn’t chase anything away; the handlers are told not to move but gently guide the dog back into heel and back into a sit and to add praise as the dog sits, then, keeping a firm hold of the lead, let the it go loose again. Try and arrange to meet people with dogs so that you can practice.

Of course the dogs get up and do the same thing. The handlers have to be more persistent than the dog and keep putting them back to heel and back into a sit (Always praise the dog even when it’s being handled into a sit.) So what you are doing is, instead of correcting the dog for being aggressive, you give it something else to do and you are praising it for working for you.

Dog Training in Essex

We have our Dog Training Centre of Excellence Christmas Dance all organised - Orsett Golf Club on 17 Dec. 
We have a really good band
Good Food
Good Company
Cheap Bar

Who could ask for more?

Another great display at All About Dogs

Vic and Indi at All About Dogs

We are really happy with the way our displays are going.  We attended the Suffolk Showground last weekend and carried out four displays.  The team were brilliant again.

It's so nice to see happy dogs just enjoying the work that thery are doing and the handlers smiling and supporting each other (the way it should be).

Security Dog Daisy

We had a couple of guest appearances - Daisy (Security Dog Daisy as she likes to be known and Spike.  They were both really good, so well done and thanks to Dave and Emma for taking part with the DTCE Dog Display Team.

Training was really busy again today - the comments we are getting are nice and it really helps to know we are doing the right things in classes.

Train your dog in Essex - More information about our training is available at www.dogtraqiningessex.co.uk my details are available as well - happy to chat.

All About Dogs (Again)

Laura with Meg

We are traveling up to the Suffolk Showground from Brentwood to put on four dispays at the Robin Hood Show / Country Fair (Sat and Sun 8th and 9th Oct).  We are looking forward to them.

We hope the displays go as well as the rest of them have this year.  We are in the Countryside Arena at 10:35 and 13.40

We had five new dogs attend our aggressive / Anti-Social class on Monday.  All of the dogs improved alot - There was a massive improvement in the handling and the dogs responded to that.  A very busy and successful night :)



Training Classes in Essex

Our classes are still going very well.  I've just bought a new toy (HD Camcorder) so I will be adding some film clips very soon.

China did really well again on Monday (English Bull Terrier ) - Off lead and nearly playing with the other dogs.

Dog Display at Gt Braxted

Kai biting George

We attended the Gt Braxted Fete with our display team.  It was a bit drizzly to begin with and we went on a little late - But - it was great.  Once again, a great reaction from the crowd and the organisers were very happy.
Well done to the team (small but brilliant).  We were actually voted 'the best dog display team in Essex' - Can't get better than that :)

At training, we had a new Cane Corso attend -What a handsome dog.  He behaved really well so all is good.

I had a birthday yestersday; got some nice prezzies - and bought myself a new camcorder - So video clips coming soon.

DTCE Display Team

Been a while since my last update.

Nigel handling Jack over 6ft Scale
(All About Dogs 2011)

We now have our own Dog Display Team ( Click here to see team images ) and our show is being very well recieved.  The guy's in the team are all enjoying the shows and the dogs are having a great time.  The image on the right was taken at All About Dogs in Brentwood (I think) and shows Jack clearing the 6ft scale.  We have attended a few venues now but have particularly enjoyed our show for Aztec at All About Dogs in Brentwood and the Robin Hood Fairs.

Our training classes are going from strength to strength and it's nice to see some old faces finding us and trying our facilities, - The nice thing about this is; it's without any prompting at all from us , so we must be doing something right :)

We are really happy with our centre; all of our instructors are doing a fantastic job in helping and supporting our club members - And their classes are great (Well done guys)

Our Monday night 'Problem Dog' class is also going very well.  We will work with the handlers to help fix their problems and they are all welcome - We don't see that helping someone 'fix' their anti-social dog as being detramental to our training centre's reputation - We think reputation is built on results and we are getting some fantastic improvements in the temperament of our regular Monday Class dogs. 

We are now getting quite a few forign members (From Kent) - I suppose, as we are only 10 mins from the Dartford Crossing, it's not too far - Nice to see them (Even Lulu)

Regarding our Tracking groups - A blind Working Cocker (Dylan) is picking it up remarkably well in the morning session.  The afternoon group are now completing three miles on a regular basis and are all doing very well.

Oh - And had a gig with Stealer last Friday and the Rackitts on Saturday - Both really went well - ( Link to Stealer Site )