how we train
Agression
Training
Bring back peace of mind
and minimize legal liability
with aggression Training
Aggression exits in many different forms and arises from many different causes, so our aggression training approach is always individualized. Our trainers rely on individualized combinations of these training methods.
We offer specific aggressive dog training programs for on leash aggression and aggression from resource guarding.
Overexcited / Oversocialized Dogs
Most commonly, dogs exhibit aggression out of frustration that they cannot reach something they actually want. This can include other dogs, people they want to meet, bikes they want to chase, etc. Overexcited dogs commonly lay down or spin when others are approaching. We help these dogs learn that it is not effective for them to express that want in the context of everyday life.
It’s important to communicate clearly to excited/frustrated dogs which situations are social opportunities and which situations are not. Allowing your dog to greet others while leashed has a very high chance of creating reactivity, often appearing aggressive. Allowing leashed interacts eventually either:
A) Teaches your dog that everything is a social opportunity instead of a time they should enjoy with you. Frustration arises when they expect a chance to greet another dog but are instead restricted by the leash.
B) Allows for an uncomfortable moment to happen with another dog, leading your dog to feel trapped in leashed interactions. They’ll then become proactive in preventing future leashed interactions by telling other dogs to stay away from them.
fearful / anxious dogs
Other dogs exhibit aggression out of fear, and believe they have survived thus far because of their behavior. Fearful dogs are simply showing aggression in response to things they perceive to be life threatening. These dogs often develop what trainers refer to as a “superstition.”
A fearful superstition occurs when a dog believes they can prevent an attack by displaying aggression. Conversely, more confident dogs are better able to recognize that the things they fear aren’t actually threatening in the first place.
These dogs become increasingly fear aggressive over time, believing they can stop bad things from happening by showing aggression. They then begin to increasingly “play it safe” by showing aggression any time something makes them nervous.
This type of aggressive dog training requires gentle ways of breaking that belief system such as desensitization and counter-conditioning. We may also put your dog in mildly scary situations and stop the display of aggression through calm corrections. This proves to them that nothing bad will happen if they don’t show aggressive behavior. In other words, it breaks the superstition.
Counterintuitively, strict obedience can also go a long way in easing a fearful dog’s aggression. Obedience commands allow you to provide your dog with clear instruction on how to handle a situation they’re unsure of. It provides relief from having to decide for themselves how to handle a stressful situation, and it builds trust and confidence as they learn to trust that the way you tell them to respond to the situation at hand is effective and safe.
genetically anti-social dogs
Some dogs require aggression training due to genetic or instinctual tendencies and must be taught to inhibit those behaviors. While these dogs cannot safely interact with other dogs, they can learn to coexist nearby and “mind their own business.”
Some dogs are hard wired to dislike other dogs or unknown people, in which case we cannot make your dog want to be friends with other dogs or strangers. However, we can still teach them that it is not appropriate to instigate interactions with others that they dislike. This type of aggressive dog training focuses on building neutrality to others. Once your dog can calmly coexist around others, you’ll be able to relax, too!
resource aggression
Resource aggression, or resource guarding, is when a dog uses aggression to maintain possession of something they find valuable. For example, this could be their food, toys, owners, or spaces like their kennel or the couch. Most dogs will begin to display resource aggression under the right circumstances, but it is genetic how easily a dog will begin to show this behavior.
The first thing to do any time a dog is showing resource aggression is to eliminate sources of competition. For example, if your dog is guarding their food bowl, start feeding them separately from your other dogs and in a space that you don’t need to enter while they’re eating. Then, be sure to wait until your dog has been removed from the eating area before removing the food bowl.
In this type of aggressive dog training, an “out” command is extremely useful. Use the “out” command (leave it / drop it) in situations that cannot be avoided, like picking up a piece of dropped food. You can then command your dog to move away from the valued object instead of trying to take it from them yourself.
We can also create positive associations with situations the dog is currently perceiving to be threatening. For example, if your dog begins to show aggression when you walk towards their food bowl, we can teach them that you are simply going to drop more food into their bowl as you walk by and are not going to take the bowl away from them.
Schedule a phone consultation to talk to a trainer and determine what the best approach do your dog’s displays of aggression may be. Our Behaviorists and Aggression Training Experts are ready to help you.
