Understanding the difference between aggressive and reactive behaviour is key to choosing the right dog training and changing your dog’s behaviour.
Dogs definitely feel emotions however when you view a dog as having human emotions you overcomplicate things. This can lead to a communication breakdown and challenges in your relationship and training.
Whether you have a new puppy or are adopting an adult dog, part of being a responsible dog-owner is teaching them how to approach new situations, people and pups with confidence and calm. The more your dog is socialized, the less stress they will feel about heading out with you on an adventure!
As a responsible dog owner, keeping your dog safe is always a top priority. Creating superstitious fears to make the most of your dog’s natural tendency to avoid things that are scary or uncomfortable is an effective way to help your dog feel secure and safe within the boundaries you, his owner, have set for him.
To correct resource guarding behaviour you first need to understand why your dog is exhibiting this behaviour. More often than not, resource guarding is due to anxiety, insecurity and fear rather than aggression. Assess your dog’s needs and choose an approach to restore their confidence and sense of security to eliminate resource guarding behaviours.
Dogs need both positive and negative reinforcement for effective training. This is why so called “positive only training” doesn’t work. Find out how training tools like e-collars help to teach dogs boundaries and self-control as part of their training.
If you have a dog who is reactive or super excited about life in general, you may be inadvertently rewarding prey driven behaviour.
Dogs understand our body language much better than our words, and our intentions are manifested through our body language. Training with a clear goal in mind and a calm presence will make the lessons easier for your dog to learn.
Ineke is a dog trainer in Peterborough helping dog owners live cohesively with their canine companions. She specializes in aggressive dogs, training dogs to become off leash reliable and service dog public access training.
