Recently I wrote about the causes that often lie behind aggressive dog behaviour. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs or people, it’s probably because they think it’s their job is to protect you.
There is little point in trying to reassure, distract, or reprimand your dog. In my experience it’s better to go to the cause of the problem, which often starts with the relationship we have with our dog.
What kind of relationship do you have with your dog?
Does your dog guard the house? Guard you? Do they follow you around? Do they go in your bedroom/on the bed/sofa? Might they see you as their rather large two-legged pet? Could your dog believe they are responsible for you?
If so, it would be so understandable that your dog would do their very best to do their duty, protecting you and your space, regardless of how you may try to stop them - it’s their job!
The best way I know to start changing reactive behaviour patterns is to start by changing the relationship you have with your dog - and in doing so, you will be changing the dog’s job description.
If your dog might think they are in charge of looking after you - I would advise you to very kindly turn the tables, to show them we are the ones that are in charge, and the ones that will keep them safe. Show them we will take care of everything, and they can look to us for guidance.
To start with you can:
Take care that only the humans go on the higher levels in the home - like upstairs, in the bedroom, on the bed and on the sofa or chairs. It may not seem significant to us, but can mean a lot in the dog world.
Give your dog lots of jobs like ‘come’, ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ - these help cement our relationship and give us all good experiences of the new leadership and followership. Your dog can succeed and feel great and look up to you.
Avoid excitement in your interactions with your dog, be clear and calm, slow things down, and help your dog keep all four paws on the ground.
Let your dog play with their own toys, and other dog friends - but not their humans. If we want our dog to trust us as leaders, let’s behave like their kind, calm leader, and not their playmate.
Don’t let your dog follow you all the time. Find ways for them to spend some time alone - so they can learn to be happy when we are there, and happy when we are not there.
When your dog feels safe and relaxed, and can trust in your clear, kind, and confident leadership, and be comfortable in the dog appropriate life we set up for them - they may no longer feel the need to be on guard or on attack.
This change of relationship, and therefore the change of your dog’s job description is the first step, and the best foundation for helping your reactive dog. A lot of the reacting may have already faded away, and now you have a good chance of changing any last bits of the behaviour patterns, when and where they occur.
Remember that there is professional support available at any stage, should you want.
Please phone me if you want to chat about your dog: 07967 735067 or email: judy@thedevondoglady.co.uk
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