Your Bad Dog!
Apparently we had another incident of a pet dog biting a neighbor.
Mostly the reactions of owners, victims and officials are inappropriate, uninformed and cruel.
Out of ignorance (or worse), you teach your dog that its job is to ‘defend’ you, your home and your property. Then, when it does it’s best to repel an ‘invader’ you’re yelling and almost choking it on the leash (or worse).
Although most owners are in denial, fact is that any dog is capable of biting.
Don’t bother to ask an owner “Does your dog bite?” In the right (wrong?) circumstances, any dog might bite (or try to).
Many experts claim that fear is the most frequent reason, but, As I See It, that’s not true.
For example, one local trainer said “Quickly remove your dog from any stressful situations”.
My question is, ‘How does that help my dog next time?”
Sometimes, your dog ‘yells’ (barks) so you yell right back.
If you took the time to know your dog, you’d learn why it barks, growls, snaps, or bites.
Punishment will never work, because your dog lives in the present. They go by what you are doing right now.
Growling or snapping is your dog’s way of telling you they are unsure. Your response of “Be quite” (or worse), shows them that they can’t look to you for reassurance or protection, and it’s OK for them to choose a reaction.
Should you hire a Dog Trainer? As in any profession, we have the good, the bad and the ugly.
How to choose?
If they use words like obey, discipline or dominance. Show them the door.
If they say barking is ‘natural’, move on to the next candidate. Fact is that barking is as natural to a dog as shouting is to us.
Ask yourself, do I ever shout at my colleagues, spouse, children, friends, parents? Hopefully, very seldom.
So, when do you raise your voice to people and why? You probably tell yourself that it’s something ‘they’ did or said.
Perhaps it’s their behavior or their lack of respect, or something they said: the list goes on.
Fact is, you know that’s not entirely true. It’s you not them!
If you feel calm, safe and confident, there’s no need to react at all.
A dog is no different. Mostly a bad reaction occurs when your dog feels threatened or, worse, when it thinks you, its leader, is threatened.
You’ve heard of ‘fight or flight’. Most dogs will run to protect themselves, but they will fight to protect you.
Too old to learn?
Maybe for us, but, not for your dog.
How to teach a dog what you want?
Easy, first don’t talk!
Body language is all you need. So, get off the couch. Put your dog on the floor and ‘herd’ it into the passageway. When it sits, walk away. You repeat this process in any and all ‘behavior’ situations.
Don’t think “Oh! My dog is afraid.”. Your dog will be looking at you, trying to figure out what you want.
You’re telling your dog “Relax! I’ve got it”.
Of course this takes self-discipline, persistence and patience.
Your dog has it, but you probably don’t.
‘til next time. . . . . .
