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Aggressive pit bull dog - what to do?

6/14/2018

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We’ve recently came across a question on social media about an aggressive 8-month old pit bull mix.  As described by the owner, the dog doesn’t allow the groomer to complete any services, pulls very hard on walks, and tries to attack other dogs.  He is very good with humans, but gets too excited, jumps, and scratches.  The owner doesn’t know what to expect of his pet and how to proceed with his training.

Many people consider pit bulls to be predisposed to aggression.  Historically, a pit bull is a descendant of the English bull-baiting dog – a dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears, and other large animals around the face and head.  When baiting large animals was outlawed, people crossed these larger dogs with smaller terriers to produce a more agile dog to fight other dogs.

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While pit bulls may be genetically predisposed to certain aggression traits, it is warranted.  Genetics is not the only factor in developing aggressive behavior.  Factors such as housing conditions and early social interactions play important roles in proper behavioral development.

Even though pit bulls were bred to fight dogs, aggression towards people was not tolerated.  Research shows that dogs aggressive towards other dogs are no more likely to be hostile toward humans than dogs that aren’t aggressive to other dogs.

As a first step, it is important to have the dog evaluated by a reputable and experienced dog trainer or behaviorist.  An evaluation will help determine the seriousness of the issues.  Often times, a fearful or reactive dog is incorrectly marked as aggressive.  There is no one training methodology that works in all situations.  The owner needs to find a trainer whose methods make the most sense to the owner.  Once the trainer prepares a training plan, it will be the owner who will need to continue train and manage the dog.  The better the owner understands and stays consistent with the chosen training methodology, the better the outcome will be.

The training plan should include basic obedience training and dog socialization.  While this particular dog may never like other dogs, he should learn how to remain calm and listen to the owner’s commands in any situation.  The owner should take a few safety measures before this goal is reached.  The focus should be placed on keeping the dog out of situations where he is set up to fail.  Dogs with aggressive tendencies should not be taken to dog parks or ever run off leash in any areas except a fenced-in yard.

Training an aggressive or a reactive dog involves a lot of work, but with a clear training plan and the owner’s involvement, the dog can learn how to behave and make the right choices in critical situations.

Curtis Craig, dog trainer
The Calm K9

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The Average House Dog:  A Calm Dog vs. One That Guards Your Home

7/21/2016

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PictureEven though Dexter is a Rottweiler, I protect him. I don't allow him to protect me or my house. That's why he is relaxed, trusting and non reactive. It's also why I can invite a new person into our home or comfortably approach a neighbor to chat. He does not feel threatened or insecure. He trusts that I put him in safe situations.
I am asked about this often, twice this week as a matter of fact, which inspired this post...

If you contact me for training because you want to modify your dogs reactive behavior; either to people, other dogs, bicycles, or whatever the trigger may be; either on walks, in your home or wherever you may want to take your dog, BUT you want your dog to still guard your house, backyard, or you, I’m going to tell you to pick which one you want, because you can’t have both. 

Again, this is for the average house dog.  There are dogs that are highly trained in protection, that live in a house with families.  Like K9 officers, etc.  But these dogs went through obedience training, were balanced, and then were trained to protect.   Key word:  BALANCED.  Prior to protection training, they are calm, they aren’t nervous or anxious or fearful.  They have leadership and wait for their leaders to direct them, never taking things into their own hands (er, paws).  THOUSANDS of dollars are invested in them to teach them how to turn on and off, what are threats, what aren’t threats, all while giving them a job, structure and rules in and out of the house.  They are confident, working dogs.

When the average house dog is guarding you, its house, front door, or yard, it is actually operating out of a form of weakness, not confidence.  In most cases it’s one or more of the following feelings:  anxiousness, nervousness, stress, fearfulness, insecurity, and it doubts your leadership.   If this is not corrected, over time, you are passively training your dog to be reactive beyond your front door; where you want to be able to take it in public and not be reactive.   It doesn’t have the ability to differentiate where it should be reactive and where it shouldn’t.  This is why you can’t have both. 

IF you had a dog that you could direct to be on guard in the house but cool as a cucumber on your street or at the coffee shop, you would have a $10k to $20k protection trained dog, my friend! 

Evaluate what you want in your family dog.  If you want a calm dog that you can take out in public, walk calmly down the street and trust, it’s time for some training, state of mind rehab (for dog AND owner), leadership and wait for it….it’s time to PROTECT YOUR DOG.



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There Is No Magic In Dog Training!

6/12/2016

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PictureNight Fury has a before and after video on my Home page. He was completely rehabbed at DDTAZ but his owners had a couple struggles with him after he arrived home. Together we tweaked a couple things, they kept learning and now he's balanced and gets to enjoy trips to beautiful places like Knoll Lake, Arizona!
If you’re a past client of mine, you’ve gotten a text update from me on day one of a board and train showing you what I was able to accomplish in my first training session with your dog.  I often see a return text like “that is unbelievable” or “how did you do that already?”

You may follow my posts on Facebook or see my before and after videos showing you how on day five I am able to successfully walk a leash reactive or leash aggressive dog past another dog with no issues and you’ve been struggling for years.

Trust me, it’s not magic.  It’s practice.  It’s a learned skill.  It’s a natural ability.  It’s leadership.  It’s believability.  It’s accountability.  It’s energy.  It’s assertiveness.  It’s confidence.  It’s reading the dog.  It’s corrections with the right timing.  It’s relationship building. It’s trust.   

After my rehabilitation of the dog, the owner then has to be successful with those same ingredients.  That’s where it’s my job to train the owners.  I give you the new house rules for the dog.  I teach you tone, leadership, posture, commands and tools.  But if you’re naturally a soft energy, you will have to work extra hard for a stronger energy.  If you’re nervous to walk your dog because of past experiences, you will have to overcome that nervousness.  You will need to learn how to read your dog.  You may have to fight urges to give too much affection to your dog.  You will need to practice, practice, practice to create new, positive experiences.  YOU may have to make as many changes as your dog!   

Don’t get me wrong, not all cases have so many layers.  You may be doing most of the things I referenced.  You may have a lot of house rules for your dog but are still experiencing some behaviors that you know could be better.  Sometimes it is a little tweak; a little adjustment to what you’re already doing to address those behaviors.  But often, it’s much more than that. 

There is no magic in dog training but when you are ready to make personal changes, keep up with your dogs new obedience and be patient while building a new dynamic with your dog so that you and your dog finally believe in each other, that is MAGICAL!



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    Karen Harrell

    Dynamic Dog Training AZ

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