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.