Sami asks: My dog is aggressive towards men. It is so embarrassing to even try to walk her, people comment on her behavior all the time. We have just hired a positive dog trainer to help us, but I'm afraid there's no hope. Should we be doing something more? And will my dog always be this way or will training fix her?
Aggression is a hard behavior to deal with. Not only are both the dog and owner frustrated, but there is a liability factor and an overwhelming guilt and/or embarrassment factor on behalf of the owner as well. It seems that society likes to deem owners 'bad' or somehow 'unfit' if they don't have a dog who can romp around a dog park full of inappropriately behaving puppy hooligans & well-meaning, but ill-advised puppy owners (hmmm.. can you tell I'm not a fan of dog parks?).
So first off, let me say this: Good for you! You recognized your dog needed the help of a professional & you hired one.
Why Me?
Many of the aggressive dog owners I meet feel embarrassed. And I'm here to tell you, don't be. Aggression is a natural emotion, and it's used readily in the animal kingdom. Even by human animals! Have you ever gotten road rage...yelled at another driver or maybe even flipped them off?? Have you ever raised your voice to someone when something went wrong...airline made you miss your flight, customer service not so helpful, or a package that arrived broken?? It's completely natural to show aggression...what's not natural is the expectation that your dog is never, ever allowed to show it.
Cool & Collected
Ok great.. aggression is natural, but it's not safe & it's really scary. True. The reason I share this is because I want you to feel differently next time you take your dog out (Your trainer will show you how to manage the situation for now & also set up a behavior modification plan to get you going). When you go out, instead of feeling apologetic or nervous, you should feel confident! Your dog is acting like, well, a dog! And you are already taking action to ensure she becomes a better behaved member of society. There's no shame in crossing a street or turning around to avoid a potential problem. So walk with your shoulders a bit higher & a smile on your face. You are not a bad dog owner...in fact...you are a great dog owner!
Is training enough?
Training is an invaluable tool for any dog, regardless of their background or behavior. And through the help of a positive reinforcement, science-based trainer you can drastically alter behavior and even eliminate the aggression altogether. But this relies very much on behalf of the owner and their dedication. So, is training enough? Sometimes, yes. Is there anything more you can do? Absolutely! There are many alternative therapies that can drastically help a dog with aggression issues!
Supplements: Finding a calming supplement (flower essence, herbs, etc) that can be given before or during training sessions can drastically improve your dog's reactions, comfort level and allow you to work at different thresholds and with more control. I also recommend fish-oil to any dog on a behavior modification plan as it has been shown to improve memory & brain function (opt for a cold-water fish that has been cold-pressed).
Massage: Massage helps create more body awareness for your dog! We use t-touch massage to put 'calm' behavior on cue and also as a nice relaxing bonding session with your dog. For aggressive dog, try this: when alone in a quiet place, take the flat part of two fingertips & rub slow, soft deliberate circles all over your dogs face. Speak in a calm quiet tone and encourage your dog to relax. You might be surprised how much they enjoy it! More about t-touch here.
Aromatherapy: Yes, it smells great, but it helps alter behavior as well! Try a calming blend with oils like Lavender, Ylang-Ylang, Chamomile or (our favorite) Neroli. We have our own calming blend that we make or you can find one at a local holistic store (make sure to ask if it is safe for pets). Spritz on beds, collars, or even a bandanna your dog can wear when training, just make sure to let it dry before placing it on your dog. You can also use oils like Clary Sage which can help calm but can also help improve memory for learning dogs!
Food: Last, but certainly not least, food. Make sure your carnivore is on an appropriate diet. The less processed, the better! Inappropriate foods can cause gastrointestinal upset and food-related allergy symptoms (hair loss, scratching, etc), which can all make your dog uncomfortable and add to the aggressive behavior. We will always recommend a species-appropriate raw diet. But if you're not ready to make that leap, look into freeze-dried, frozen & dehydrated foods that are considerably less processed than kibble.
You are your dog's advocate.
Remember: There's a lot of help available to you and ultimately, you know what's best for your dog. Don't feel embarrassed, do feel empowered! Happy Training!
Hi Anna we have a rescued Chiweenie called Charlie that's been through a LOT! He came to us with a lot of love and behavioral issues, the biggest one being fearful aggression. His training is coming along fine but we have a lot of progress to make.
ReplyDeleteYou could read his story here:
http://www.halleballedog.com/charlie-barlie-our-chiweenie-says-hi/
I've been using aromatherapy and it's been great. A couple of drops of Lavender on his crate cover to reduce his anxiety and help him sleep better. It really works well with him.
Great tip.
This is a terrific article! I really liked all the topics you included and your level of encouragement! We have 2 dogs with some aggression issues and it takes vigilant effort, dedication and love along with all the suggestions you have made to make it work for us! Great to have this topic covered this way!
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