Many people, including experienced trainers, misunderstand the meaning of dominance in dogs. These people believe that dominance is always suppressed only by force. In most cases, this approach is wrong.
In addition, many people believe that only large dogs should be concerned about dominance issues, not small ones - and these people are also wrong. While a large dog (as pictured above) can send you to the hospital, a small dog can send your child to the hospital. Dominance in any form must be fought, and if it is unavoidable, then at least it must be controlled no matter what kind of dog you have.
I have owned a large number of extremely dominant males over the last 25 years and so I was forced to learn dominance just to live near some of these pedigree dogs that I have bred. Now I look at the problem of dominance in a completely different way than I did 20 years ago. I realized that dominance is controlled by your mind and the environment in which the dog is.
Nobody wants to get bitten: I looked at the scars on the hands of many of my friends and considered myself lucky. I have never had serious dog bites, although I have worked with very dominant aggressive animals. When I asked friends about their scars, I always got the same answer: "I made a mistake with that dog." Dog bites always come from mistakes in how we handle a dog in a particular situation.
Dogs are pack animals and the best way to learn more about dominance is to study pack behavior. In order to understand, it is better to turn to studies conducted on wolf packs. There is always a dominant pair of animals in a wolf pack. Wolves maintain their dominant position without fighting members of the pack every day, they do so in subtle, subtle ways. Body position and posture play a major role in establishing a dominant position in the pack.
obedience training
Dominance control means establishing your dominance as pack leader. The rest of the article will focus on how to achieve this in various aspects of a dog's life. The easiest way to start this process is through obedience training. Understanding the concepts of praise and correction will be the beginning of a long journey towards establishing a working relationship and close bond between you and your dog.
I have been a Shutzhund sports fan since 1974. Unfortunately, over the years, many beginners in Shutzhund have been told, "You shouldn't train your dog for obedience until he is one year old or has been trained for protection." Nothing could be further from the truth than this statement. In the early years, the Germans who came and held seminars used to say, "No obedience in the first year." What was lost in the translation was that they only meant that the trainer should not engage the dog in jumping, power fetching, and forceful exercises before the dog is older. It could not be translated that you should not do obedience at all in the first year, however, unfortunately, many people accepted this particular translation and tried to live using this advice. Postponing obedience training has created some dominance problems for some people and their dogs.
There are a large number of obedience elements that can be taught through motivation during the first year of a dog's life - see my cassettes "Training to Walk Near for Competition" and "Basics of Obedience" for ideas on how to do this.
While it only takes obedience training to keep the dominance under control in most dogs, there are dogs that require extra effort to establish their owner as pack leader. What I have noticed is that most owners often negligently allow things to happen that encourage the development of dominant behavior in dogs. Further in the article, these types of situations will be considered.
Understanding the intricacies of our dogs' dominant behavior will help you understand how to establish yourself as a pack leader in your own home. Here are a few examples of behaviors that indicate certain dominant behaviors in the home:
- The dog sleeps in bed with the owner
- Prevents the owner from entering the bedroom after returning from a business trip
- Growls near food or toys
- Does not allow you to take away toys, showing aggression
- Always walks through the door first
- Makes you play when you're doing something else
- The dog is extremely aggressive.
- Shows aggression towards certain family friends and treats others well.
Bedroom.
Controlling dominance starts at home. The first thing we need to do is take control of where the dog is allowed to eat, sleep and play. A dominant dog should never be allowed to sleep on a bed. The best sleeping place is always reserved for the leader of the pack (behind you). Let your dog sleep in a dog crate in another room of the house. Of course, if the dog lives in a kennel outside the home, the advice is not appropriate.
Toys.
While the puppy is growing, he should not be allowed to become the owner of toys. The owner must be able to take any toy from the dog at any time, and the dog must not show aggression. If the puppy growls, the owner should shake him firmly by the scruff of the neck while scolding him.
If the dog is older and may bite, you need to fasten the leash and correct (make a series of sharp jerks) on the leash near the toy. If at this moment the dog is still growling, it must be scolded in a strict low voice. As soon as the dog throws the toy, the owner must lead him away before picking up the toy. Until the dominant situation is under control, this toy should not be given to the dog again. Only the owner controls the world of the dog, and the dog must understand this. One of the points in this scenario is: "You decide which toys to play with and for how long."
If the dog does not release the toy even after correction by the leash, and the owner is not sure that he can safely remove the toy from the dog's mouth, there are two options for further action: Ignore the situation - enter the fight only when you can win. When the dog finally releases the toy, pick it up and put it away for good. The dog should never play with this toy again. If you decide to force the outcome and win the toy war against the strong dog, some preliminary preparation is necessary. First, put a second hard collar on your dog. Secondly, tie the leash to a solid strong object - a "post" (which would not move). When the dog takes the toy, lead it by the leash to the second leash that is attached to the post. Attach the second leash to the second hard collar on your dog. Now the dog is wearing two leashes, each of which is attached to its own strict collar.
Now tell the dog to drop the toy and, moving away, pull so that the dog is between the post and you. Apply enough force to make the dog spit out the toy. Once she does this, praise her. If you can approach without fear of being bitten, approach and praise your dog reassuringly. If she tries to grab the toy again when you approach, don't freak out, just step back and pull again. On the part of the owner, this process should not be somehow wild or unnecessarily feverish. Control yourself and stay calm. Keep pulling the dog for as long as he keeps trying to get the toy back when you approach. If you don't have the courage to pick up the toy, just kick it away with your foot so the dog can't reach it. Always remember that it's only worth getting into a fight when you can win it.
This procedure is only necessary for large dogs. A small dog just needs to be lifted off the ground and kept in that suspended state until it releases the toy. To some kind-hearted owners, this may seem terrible, but it is no more terrible than a dog biting a child in the face.
If you don't plan on training your dog for protection, then playing tug of war with a puppy is not a good idea. This develops in the dog a sense of ownership in relation to his toys.
If you are planning to do Schutzhund sport training or make a bodyguard or police dog out of a dog, then you will have to play a lot of tug-of-war with the puppy. It is necessary to develop a sense of ownership first to the rag, and then to the sleeve or training suit. What needs to be done at an early age is to develop the bond that after the dog is allowed to win the game of tug of war a few times, the owner can take the object from the dog. I've found that giving a puppy a treat after you've taken the drag object is the best way to reward the item. This is also the beginning of teaching the dog the "give" command.
On my last trip to Holland, I saw a Dutch friend of mine handling his over-dominant police dog from the KNPV (Royal Dutch Police Dog). This dog went through the hands of many handlers before it ended up with my friend Jupe. The dog bit all its owners, including Jupe, until he figured out how to treat this dog. Now, when they do protection work and Jupe commands the dog "give", he feeds the dog a piece of meat. Many serious trainers can turn their noses at this method, but I can suggest that they volunteer to deal with this dog in a different way. Summing up, we can say that we should think and do exactly what can show the dog who is the leader here.
Lunch time.
A dog with a dominance problem should never be allowed in the kitchen or dining room while the family is having dinner. The worst thing you can do is feed a dominant dog off the table. In addition, the leader of the pack always eats first and takes the best pieces of food for himself. If your dog lives in a house, always lock him up in a crate or other room at your lunch time. Table feeding is the worst thing you can do. This will only increase your problems.
Food.
Dominant dogs are often aggressive around their food. With a puppy, you can fight the growl and get the dog to let you take the food or keep your hands near the bowl while the dog eats. With an older dog, I'm not sure if it's worth fighting. If I buy a dog that is aggressive around his food, I usually don't fight it, but then this dog of mine lives in a kennel.
If I need to correct this point in a dog that has to eat in a house with children, I would always feed it in a separate room and only myself. I would never leave the bowl downstairs after the dog has eaten, especially if there are children in the house. I would never come up and take food when the dog is near his bowl, but would call him from another room (maybe give a treat for coming up). Then he would come in and take the bowl in the absence of the dog. If you have to force a dog to allow you to be near his food, I would only feed the dog by holding his bowl. If she refuses to eat when I hold her bowl - please. Sooner or later she will start eating when she is hungry enough. Realistically, I don't think there are so many reasons to deal with a problem this way. There are also other battles in which you have to fight, but which are much easier to win than in this case.
Weasel.
It is very important to have a strong bond with a dominant dog. Dogs live and die according to their place in the pack. The only way to establish control is to establish good relationships. But it must be done according to your rules. A dog that comes in and makes you pet it while you're reading the paper or working on the computer is showing a form of dominant behavior. Don't let this happen. Make the dog lie down. Realistically, controlling the behavior by laying down the dog for a long time is one of the best ways to position yourself as the leader of the pack.
New owners should understand that almost every dog wants to be petted. But there's a difference between a happy, friendly dog who just wants to be petted and a dominant dog who wants to get your attention when you're doing something else. Understanding the difference between these two situations will come with experience. If your dog is not showing other signs of dominance other than demanding petting, this is not a problem.
Aggression towards family friends.
If a dog shows aggression towards a certain visitor (and does not show towards others), whom he has already seen and simply does not like, this is also a form of dominance. Some owners of small dogs think that this can be cute, others are pleased that the dog is trying to protect them. Both are wrong. This behavior also needs to be controlled. These dogs should be taught that this behavior is unacceptable.
The easiest way is to scold the dog and put him in a cage (or another room). By showing your dog that you are constantly in control of his environment, you establish yourself as the leader. In a pack, only one leader can decide who to fight and when. If we allow the dog to decide for itself who to attack, we allow his dominance to remain.
People who train their dogs for protection work (schutzhund or police work) may think this is not true as their dogs walk away and work on their own. They don't really work on their own. Through training, the master establishes the rules of combat. The dog learns when to bite and when not to bite. Protection work is conducive to establishing a pack relationship if everything else in the dog's life related to dominance has been done correctly.
Doors and steps.
Life with a dominant dog requires a large number of subtleties that are necessary for the dog to understand that you are its owner, the leader in its life, the person that it respects. One of those little things you should always do is make sure your dog always has to let you through the doorway first and down the flight of stairs behind you. This may seem like a minor thing, but it really isn't. If you get your dog to do little things like these (which don't require any struggle at all to get them), you'll already be setting the tone for your relationship.
Aggression.
This is a difficult case. I have found that it is easiest to control aggression at a very young age and give enough attention before it can become a serious problem. I don't let my puppies fight, I always interfere. They quickly learn that I alone decide how much they are allowed to play, if at all.
Controlling the aggression of an adult dog is a topic for a completely different article. Such a case requires the use of a shock collar and a muzzle. In fact, in some dogs that have not gone through this early training, it is not possible to completely control aggression.
Alpha role and more.
If I tried to Alpha Role on one of my adult dogs without a muzzle on, he would "eat my lunch". When I hear people talk about establishing Alpha leadership in an adult dog, I just shake my head and liken it to "Russian roulette".
For those who don't know what an Alpha role is, let me clarify. When the dog begins to show signs of dominance, many trainers will tell novice owners to force the dog to lie on the ground, belly up, while the owner should lean over the dog, grab both cheeks and look him straight in the eyes until he obeys and averts eyes.
Yes, all this is good for some little Fifi - but better not try it with a big dog, which is also really dominant. I just recently received an e-mail from a friend who told me about an episode they had in California at the Schutzhund Club when two dogs started a fight. After the fight was broken up, the owner (who wasn't very big after all) tried to apply the Alpha role to her large German Shepherd dog (who hadn't been trained for obedience in the first year because she had once heard that one shouldn't train early in obedience of protective dogs). As a result, the dog attacked her and inflicted severe bites on her face and upper body, leaving terrible ugly scars. The dog was subsequently euthanized.
The most unpleasant thing is that if control over the dog would have been established differently, nothing would have happened to this unfortunate woman and the dog would most likely still be alive.
I am not a supporter of the Alpha role. I may be wrong on this. But I will say that if someone is trying to establish an Alpha role over a large dog, it is better to muzzle the dog and be big and strong enough to win the fight. Always remember that if you are going to fight a dominant dog, it is best to do so only when you are sure you can win.
My opinion is that in most cases, with very strong, stubborn dominant dogs, it is best to use subtle body language and verbal commands as much as possible. In other words, rather than create situations where I have to put the dog on a leash (and ruin a good relationship between us), I will simply avoid such situations, or simply scold the dog with a stern voice and already tower over him. Sometimes it is possible to "kick in the butt" a dominant dog without even resorting to force in such situations, since a direct elevation can provoke an attack. I establish an Alpha position by scolding the dog, or leading him away, or calling him near and moving away from the situation.
We must know our dogs. You may know that a really strong, stubborn dog can fight you if you try to get him to lie down after your fight. I strongly believe that one should not fight with one's dogs (as long as it can be avoided). I'm sure you'll lose a lot more than you'll gain by hitting an animal. It is always better to control it in a different way. For example, if you need to stop and "bend" a dog after something has happened, don't try to lay the dog down for control, just take him away and put him in a dog crate. Do something similar to show the dog that you alone are in control of the dog and its environment.
When the owner causes the situation that the dog attacks, he has already made a mistake. He didn't recognize the situations and now he's getting into trouble. The goal is to recognize a potential fight before it happens and avoid it without losing face in front of the dog.
For example, I use the Tri Tronic Shock Collar to get my police dogs to release their tug toys. As a result of the collar, the dog spits out the toy on command, but has such a strong reflex to that particular toy that the dog begins to guard it. I can bend down and pick up the toy, but in this case there is a real possibility that I will be bitten - so why do this? I'll just take the dog away, or throw him another toy, and when he moves away from the first one, I'll take him on a leash.
So I conclude this article by reminding you of a few things to always remember: Only fight when you can win. In most cases, you will lose more than you gain by fighting your dog. Even if you win. Whenever possible, think and look for the causes of the problem and ways to solve it.
Ed Frauli (translated by Voznesenskaya N.)
Causes, Prevention and Correction of Dominant Behavior in Dogs
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A dominant dog is a source of many problems and troubles for its owners.
Disobedience, escapes, unreasonable attacks on other people and animals, aggression towards the owners - all this can be signs of pronounced dominant aggression in a dog, which was not stopped in time and allowed to develop.
Unfortunately, these dogs often end up in shelters or on the veterinarian's desk. But if the situation is not very neglected, and the dog owners have a strong desire to improve relations in the “man-dog” pair, there is hope for a complete correction of the indicated problems.
First, let's look at what can be considered dominant behavior.
It is generally accepted that a dominant dog is a dog that literally terrorizes its owners. This is not entirely true. A dog showing aggression is already the last stage in the development of its destructive behavior. And signs of nascent dominance can look quite harmless - here is a rough list of signs of dominant behavior in dogs.
Reasons for the formation of dominant behavior in a dog
The behavior of a domestic dog is determined by two factors: the instincts that it inherited from wild ancestors (even if half of them are confused in the process of domestication) and the behavior of the owner.
Most of the problems in the behavior of the dog are due to the misconception of the person - the owner of the dog - about those very instincts. Misinterpretation of "dog language", inability to notice and extinguish the emerging conflict, involuntary encouragement of undesirable actions of the dog - all this in combination leads to the appearance of behavioral problems in a domestic dog.
Dominant behavior is no exception.
Before getting a dog, you should at least study a little the psychology of these animals. Dogs always live in a pack, where a clear hierarchy is built between all its members. Depending on the status, each member of the pack has a set of rights and responsibilities.
The most important rule for survival and comfortable life in a pack is one - unquestioning obedience to the leader, the head of the pack.
Taking a dog into the house, people forget about this rule, and begin to communicate with the dog on an equal footing.
The dog, on the other hand, perceives such an attitude as a sign of weakness and an invitation to take the place of the leader. How else? Nature does not tolerate emptiness. If the owner does not occupy this "vacancy", the dog will take it. The process of turning a dog into the leader of your pack depends on many circumstances, and to a greater extent, on the nature of the dog itself.
If he has a soft, docile nature, this will not happen so quickly, and the dominance of the dog will be expressed mainly in his disobedience.
A dog with a firm, tough character will take an empty place quickly, and possibly show aggression.
A common mistake many novice dog breeders make is the belief that only large dogs need to work on education, and small dogs do not need training. This delusion leads to the fact that little chihuahuas, toy terriers and Yorkshire terriers, which have not been raised at all, become real tyrants.
Prevention of Dominant Behavior in Dogs
In order for your relationship with the dog to be built on a healthy basis, it is enough from the very first days of the appearance of the puppy in your house to behave correctly with him. Here are some recommendations.
Feed the puppy and dog on command. Call, put food on the floor and hold a short pause before saying “You can!”, “Eat!” or some other command you choose.
Do not leave your puppy alone while feeding. On the contrary, stay near him, move the bowl away from him. Hold it with your hand, pushing the puppy away. It is not worth abusing such actions, but it is necessary to do this periodically.
Thus, you secure your position as a leader, who at any moment can interfere with the meal of lower-ranking members of his pack.
The game is an important element of communication in the pack. Use the game with the puppy to educate him. Invite the puppy to play and end the game on your own initiative.
Don't train your puppy to get things by growling or barking.
Be moderate in your praise. Praise your puppy when he does something right. Excessive praise without any reason and constant lisping are harmful to the puppy. Of course, we do not urge you to keep the baby in a black body - he should receive signs of attention and support from you, but when there is too much affection, it depreciates.
It is much easier for a dog to live, knowing what is good and what is bad. When there is no clear boundary between these concepts, she will have to invent everything herself. Don't make life difficult for your pet.
Never reinforce your puppy's unwanted behavior!
Train your dog regularly. It is much easier to communicate with a well-mannered dog, and besides, the training process itself involves the submission of a dog to your requirements. This is very helpful in establishing and reinforcing the hierarchy in your pack.
Correction of dominant aggression in dogs
We note right away that correcting flaws in raising a dog is not a very simple matter, requiring certain knowledge, patience and perseverance.
If your dog is only making attempts to seize power, check with a breeder or training instructor. They will tell you the right tactics for your particular case.
Don't overestimate your strengths. If the dog has long gone beyond what is permitted, and you suddenly realize that something is wrong in its behavior, first weigh your options. It is one thing to re-educate a spoiled spaniel, and quite another to re-educate a Caucasian shepherd dog. If you do not feel enough strength in yourself (primarily internal hardness), it is better to give up this idea. To enter into open conflict with a serious dog, sincerely considering himself the leader, can be simply dangerous.
Seek help from professionals. A good solution to the problem can be an overexposure for dogs (a hotel for dogs, a boarding house for dogs), which provides training or behavior correction services. The pleasure is not cheap, but it is an opportunity to get out of the circumstances without resorting to, for example, putting down a potentially dangerous dog.
When choosing such a boarding house, make sure that no cruel measures will be applied to the animal. Not only is it inhumane, it is also ineffective. The dog can become very aggressive or, conversely, cowardly. Both the first and second options are very dangerous for further cohabitation.
How can I correct the dominant behavior of a dog at home?
You will have to completely reconsider all your habits with your dog. First of all, this concerns feeding the dog.
Starting today, you begin to play the role of a leader: eat first, do not feed the dog from the table, give him food, allowing him to eat only on your command. Place the bowl on the floor while your dog is out of the kitchen or where you feed him. Get the dog and hold it by the collar for a while. Only then give the command "You can!" and let the dog go.
If your dog reacts aggressively to your manipulation of the bowl while eating, be careful. It is not worth it to immediately climb into the bowl with your hands. Act like this. When releasing your dog to eat, keep it on a loose leash. During feeding, ask someone from the household to hold the leash or fix the dog yourself by tying the leash to something so that the dog barely reaches the bowl when taut. And take the bowl away. Take a break. Again, give the command "You can!", Put the bowl, let the dog go.
If the dog constantly takes your place in the house, do not move. Run the dog. In no case do not beat or scold her - just take the collar and pull it off. When you try to growl, sharply pull the collar - you may need a strict collar (parfors) and command "Fu!" or "No!".
Remove the dog in this way from everywhere where its presence is undesirable: from a narrow aisle, from a balcony, sofa, ottoman. You don’t need to specifically follow the dog around the apartment - act naturally, only when it really bothers you. Dogs are not allowed to be touched in the right place.
Remember training sessions. It will be useful for the dog to refresh not only his knowledge, but also his memories of you as his leader. Do not grab at once for the entire set of commands, even if the dog once performed them without problems. “To me”, “Sit” and “Lie down” will be enough. Make sure you get it done. Don't let your dog off the leash if you find it difficult to call him later. Control all her actions.
Undesirable actions of the dog (rushed at a passerby, a dog running past, constantly pulling on a leash) must be corrected with a sharp jerk on the leash and a forbidding command. The command must be given before the jerk.
In addition to jerking the leash, you can use the method of punishment that dogs use among themselves. Have you ever seen a bitch punish a delinquent puppy? It looks something like this: the mother takes the baby by the “scruff” (a piece of skin near the withers) and pats it a little. Older dogs are punished by being grabbed by the withers and pressed to the ground. This process is accompanied by an unambiguous growl of the caregiver dog.
Try to feel like a mother for your pet. Although it looks somewhat comical from the outside, such punishment is really effective.
Of course, you don’t need to grab the “scruff” with your teeth, but grab it with your hand, sharply press it to the floor and growl menacingly (yes, growl) it’s worth a try.
If your case is not very neglected, such an educational technique will help you return your presumptuous pet "to the ground."
Specialists in training and behavior correction in dogs also recommend that the dog be physically loaded as much as possible. Cycling, swimming, training on the training ground - use everything that is not forbidden to your dog for health reasons. This is useful not only for maintaining physical fitness, but also for releasing the accumulated energy that the dog could direct into a destructive channel.
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Edited news: maugli - 9-10-2017, 22:53
If you think that dog dominates over the family, do not rush to educate her with aggressive methods. Novice owners often find it difficult to achieve obedience in their pets. The dog not only does not respond to commands, but can even grumble if the owner drives him off the couch or takes the bone found on the walk. " My dog controls me"- says the owner of the naughty dog. Is he right?
Often there is a statement that the disobedience of a dog is associated with its desire to take over dominant role in family. In this case, the training of the animal is designed to indicate its place in the family hierarchy and is reduced to the application of such principles as: the prohibition to pass through the door in front of the owner; eat only after all family members have already eaten; avoid winning games.
Dog training in this way relies on erroneous dominance theory and false conclusions arising from the observation of a wolf pack. Modern research shows that the hierarchy of wolves is not based on a scheme in which the leader has more advantages than all other animals and completely subjugates them. It can be said that the wolf tactics of working in a team, on the contrary, implies the protection of the weak, and the function of a leader lies not only in privileges, but also in duties. take care of others.
The anthropomorphic dominance of man is completely incomprehensible to the dog and meaningless. Despite the fact that the wolf is its ancestor, the domesticated dog has lost a number of wolf qualities. Raymond Coppinger testifies that adults retain the desire of puppies to play, and are also spared from the wolf's fear of the unknown. Since the need to hunt disappeared, the hierarchical system of wolves ceased to play a role in the life of a dog.
Training based on strength will most likely not bring the desired results. "Dominance" based on the issuance of commands in raised tones and the use of physical actions such as yanking may cause the dog to seek avoid conflict with the owner and thus eliminate his aggressive behavior.
False cases of believing that the dog is dominant
Errors in the interpretation of canine behavior can be seen in the example of serving food. Mainly for different breeds of dogs. indifferent whether the host serves a bowl of food only after his dinner or before. Of course, the dog has nothing to do with knowing who is in charge. Although, there are breeds aimed at food, such as hounds or labradors. In them, the transfer of the moment of feeding is accompanied by growing frustration and contributes to an increase in aggression. Of course, feeding can be used in the process of raising an animal in another way. Feeding directly from hands instead of a bowl can be element of taming animal in the event that, for example, the dog got to the owner as an adult.
Another example of misunderstanding the intentions of a dog is the interpretation of the behavior of an animal that is often laid down on our sofa or bed. The assertion that in this way dog dominates and tries to emphasize his high position in the family hierarchy, is simply unreasonable. Dog motives in this case are much simpler: the four-legged is guided, first of all, by the comfort of the bed and the sense of smell of the owner. Of course, you can teach your dog not to lie on the bed. The dog will obey this without much regret, especially if it is accustomed to your own comfortable place. However, such education is not at all the result of the dog's awareness of its place in family hierarchy.
The next mistaken belief is the idea that during a power game with a dog (for example, dragging a stick or rope) you should not let it win. As we have said, in every adult dog there is a little bit of a puppy. None of the puppy games does not set itself the goal of actually defeating the enemy and thus proving its advantage. The situation in which the human always wins is very frustrating for the dog and leads to a desire to refuse to continue the game. Permission to snatch a toy from your hand and freely run away with it to your lair won't provoke the emergence of his confidence in his dominant role in the house.
How to teach a dog commands without using aggressive methods?
Effective methods that are gaining popularity are the so-called positive methods, based on the recognition and use of the motivations that guide dogs, and their disposition to associations. What exactly is the positive incentive method? Refusal of a situation in which jerks or raised voices achieve the desired behavior. By performing certain actions (for example, sitting position, approaching the leg), the dog is rewarded with tasty food, praise by voice, or a couple of minutes of play.
Training with positive stimuli top scores than methods based on intimidation, during which the animal concentrates on getting rid of an unpleasant situation, and not on following commands.
A dog trained in obedience without the use of physical or verbal violence, rewarded with a tasty treat for the act performed, will be all-powerful. try to understand what the owner wants from her. The task of the educator in this case is to capture the necessary elements of behavior and provoke their repetition through reward (pleasure, praise, play).
What is a dog clicker?
Clicker training helps in the formation of personal skills. A clicker is a small device in which a small plate is installed that emits a characteristic click. The principle of operation of the clicker simple: hearing a click, the dog understands that the owner is pleased with it. To do this, you need to teach her that after each click, she receives a reward. The clicker will save you from the need to praise the dog every time with your voice, which is especially important when the praise should sound very fast.
Demonstrative failure to follow commands, barking, growling and attacking people and other animals, inadequate “guarding” of food, bowls, toys and one’s place, expression of displeasure or resistance when cutting, bathing and performing other hygiene procedures, “sudden deafness” on a walk when called to the owner - this is only an incomplete list of problems that owners of dogs that show dominant aggression face. When faced with this behavior for the first time, most hosts feel confused and angry. As a rule, dog aggression is perceived as a surprise, and when talking about their problem, people often use the words “suddenly”, “for no apparent reason”, “for no reason”.
However, even if it seems to you that the dog bites, growls, attacks the owner, rushes at other people, dogs and cats for no apparent reason, in fact, there are always reasons for the dog’s dominant behavior, and most often these are the owner’s mistakes made long ago. before the dog first showed aggression and defiance. In other words, the dog's dominant actions are the "flowers" that grow from the "seeds" sown by the owner, who has the wrong idea of what a healthy relationship with a dog is.
Fortunately, in most cases, dog dominance, and the aggression associated with it, can be corrected and corrected. However, it is much easier to prevent dominant aggression in a dog. To do this, it is necessary, first of all, to understand the essence and roots of the problem itself.
Important! Before you begin to correct aggressive dominant behavior, make sure that the dog's aggression is not caused by any other reasons: physical ailments, fears, changes in the environment and the family where the dog lives. To rule out these factors, take your dog to a veterinary clinic for examination and consult with dog handlers.
What is the reason for the dog's dominant behavior
Domestic dogs, having lost quite a lot of the qualities of their wild counterparts, nevertheless, remained pack animals, only now those families where they live become their pack. The dominant behavior of a dog is based on its ideas about the hierarchy in this pack and its own status in it. And if the ideas of “equality and brotherhood” are quite acceptable for a person, then a dog is distinguished by strictly hierarchical thinking. In order to feel confident and protected, it is vital for a dog to know what place it occupies in the hierarchy of the pack and who is the “leader”. And she has only two ways to find out: either the owner determines the place of the dog in the pack, or she determines it herself. Guess what place the dog will try to take on its own, if it has such an opportunity? Of course, the place of the leader, who himself decides when and what to eat, where to sleep, how to behave with strangers, etc. Thus, dominance is the behavior of the leader, and it is not necessarily expressed in open aggression.
Most often, the first manifestations of such behavior are rather harmless, which is why the owners ignore them, setting the stage for serious clashes with the dominant dog in the future. As already mentioned, "dominance", "dominant behavior" often does not give the impression of being aggressive. In contrast, aggression is an attack by a dog in order to protect its dominant position. This includes growling, biting, defiance, running away. The dog shows aggression when, due to the oversight and inattention of the owner, it has ALREADY decided that it occupies a dominant position in the pack, and the owner and other family members are trying, in the dog's opinion, to challenge this position. Thus, it is necessary to separate the concepts of “dominance” and “dominant aggression” of a dog. In order to prevent manifestations of dominant aggression, it is necessary from the first days of the appearance of a puppy in the house to suppress any manifestations of dominant behavior, no matter how harmless and even cute they may seem to you.
Examples of dominant dog behavior:
As mentioned above, dominant behavior is the behavior of a leader who makes decisions himself, who leads the whole pack, who gets all the best! As a rule, different dogs show different signs of dominance, but in general terms, the behavior of the leader is as follows:
- the leader sleeps in the best place(the dog climbs on the sofa, and growls when trying to drive it out of there)
- the leader is the first to start eating(you feed the dominance of the dog by feeding him before you eat yourself)
-the leader does not allow food to be taken from him or touched by other members of the pack (demonstrative eating in the center of the room and growling at other members of the pack, aggression when other members of the family try to touch the food or bowl).
- the leader decides whether the pack will fight, he determines for himself how to meet strangers, whether they are people or dogs (aggression, barking, growling at anyone without the permission of the owner)
-the leader always goes ahead of the pack(the dog strives to be the first to jump out of the apartment or enter the entrance during a walk, pulls forward on a leash during a walk)
-the leader himself decides what he will do(the dog ignores the commands and orders of the owner, continuing undesirable behavior, sometimes defiantly. This can also include jumping on people when meeting, obsessive behavior and attempts to attract attention when the owner is busy with something else, taking initiative in the game plan - for example , you are sitting at the computer, and the dog brings a toy and obsessively shoves it into your hands, climbs on your knees and does not respond to commands to stop all this).
-the leader puts other members of the pack in their place if they infringe on his rights (resistance, expression of displeasure during hygiene procedures and at the examination at the veterinarian, aggression in response to the owner’s attempts to stop the dog’s undesirable behavior).
There are also cases when there are no problems with obedience to the owner, but the dog growls at the child and other family members. Most likely, she recognizes the leader in the owner, but considers herself "the second person in the state." It is unacceptable for a dog to consider someone in the family "below" himself.
Ways to prevent and correct dominant dog behavior
Like any problem, dominant aggression is easier to prevent than to fix. Dominance prevention is especially important when raising dogs of large breeds, as well as males and females who are prone to fighting for the place of the “leader” due to their temperament. Nevertheless, even a tiny one, with the wrong upbringing, can become a real tyrant, no less dangerous than a pit bull or a Caucasian shepherd dog. In fact, the phrase "dominant dog breeds" is meaningless - most often we ourselves make uncontrollable monsters out of sane animals.
How to become a "leader" for a dog? Consider those areas of interaction between the puppy and the owner in which you can demonstrate your leadership to the dog.
Place to rest and sleep: the dog must have its own, clearly defined place in the house (it is better that it is not an ordinary rag-litter, but), and from early childhood be taught to return and stay on it at the command “Place!”. Too many owners allow dogs to lie where they want. This is not a problem if the dog is generally obedient and does not show a strong desire to dominate, but in case of difficulties with dominant aggression, it is necessary to categorically stop all attempts by the dog to perch on the place that belongs to the leader, that is, you. It is also useful for some time to periodically sit in the place of the dog, after driving it out of there. Also, the dog may exhibit dominant behavior in this way: he simply lies across the corridor or in the doorway and does not give way when it is necessary to pass him. In order to demonstrate the behavior of the leader in this situation, you do not need to go around or step over the dog - just push it out of the way. Growled? So there is a problem with dominance).
Food: Train your dominant dog to start eating only on the command “Go!”. This is how you secure your leadership position. If your puppy is trying to defend the food and keep you away from the bowl, try feeding him while holding the bowl with your hand. Then say "No" and take the bowl away, then put it back and do not allow to touch the food before the command "You can" sounds.
Play: To prevent your dog from showing signs of dominance, follow a few simple rules:
1) games are started and finished by the owner, not the dog;
2) toys must be unquestioningly given to the owner;
3) if you are playing tug-of-war with the dog - in no case give the toy away if it starts to growl and show aggression: this will fix the idea in the mind of the dog that it is worth growling - and he will get what he wants .
Petting: It is unacceptable to pet the dog excessively, or to “comfort” in any way when the display of undesirable behavior, such as aggression, cowardice or hysteria. Weasel should come "dosed" and mainly as a reward for good behavior. It’s hard for a human to believe this, but setting clear boundaries and tough reasonable discipline makes a dog happier than continuous babbling and vague rules of behavior that do not give him a clear idea of \u200b\u200bhierarchy in the pack.
Walking: Dominant behavior on walks is manifested most often in the reluctance to approach on command, as well as growling, barking and aggression towards people and animals without the permission of the owner. Many smart dogs, in order to establish their dominance, use the “sudden deafness” trick or sit in the bushes “on business”, which gives them an “iron alibi” and the opportunity not to follow the command. Such behavior is “treated” by methodical daily practice of the commands “Come to me!”, “Next”, “No”, “Sit”, “Lie down”. Walking can also be used to release the excess energy of a dominant pet: a dog who has spent a couple of hours working on the site or after an intense run will not have much strength left to fight for leadership at home.
Hygiene procedures: it is necessary to accustom the puppy as early as possible to the fact that the owner can do whatever he wants with him (within the framework of common sense, of course). The dog must unquestioningly allow cutting its nails and hair, washing its paws, examining its teeth, cleaning its ears, not resisting when you need to give an injection or carry out other unpleasant medical manipulations. Not only does this reinforce the owner's leadership, but it can also save your dog's life in a critical situation.
Obedience training, command execution: in addition to the obvious practical benefits of teaching commands, training as a form of interaction between a dog and a person in itself helps to avoid the pet’s dominant behavior, since in the process of working out commands, the dog learns to FOLLOW the owner’s orders, that is, get used to obedience and submission. Also, with the help of commands, undesirable forms of behavior can be stopped: for example, it will be quite difficult for a dog that was ordered to “Lie down” in this position to rush at passing cyclists. Regardless of what breed your dog is and how small and harmless it looks, do not neglect learning the basic OKD commands - this will make life much easier for the dog, yourself, and those around you in the future.
How to re-educate a dominant dog, what to do if the dog shows aggression
When dealing with a dominant individual, you must, first of all, adequately assess your own strengths. Sometimes it happens that a dog simply has a higher level of energy and inner strength than its owner. In this case, the latter is unlikely to be able to convince the dog of his leadership. Remember - it's best not to engage in confrontation and open conflict with the dog if you are not sure that you can win. Do not compete with the dog in what he is really stronger than you (for example, in the strength of the jaws and speed of running). Choose areas for pressure in which you can fully maintain control: first of all, it is food, affection, attention as a reward for the desired behavior (and deprivation of all this in case of disobedience). It also works well to punish the dog by restricting the freedom of the dog with a leash, a muzzle, a strict collar, or placing in a cage if he tries to impose his style of behavior. If the “soft” methods do not help, you can apply physical pressure to the dog: firmly grab it by the “scruff” (you can even lift it into the air, if size allows) and give it a good pat. In some cases, a bite in the withers helps - this is how the “leader” puts other members of the pack in their place. In no case do not retreat despite the growl and resistance until the dog assumes a “submissive pose” - the tail is tucked in, the growl is stopped, the dog is cuddling, sometimes even lying on its back with its belly up. If, in the course of a showdown with the dog, in response to its resistance, growling and biting, the owner retreats (even going into another room for some object to punish the dog can be taken as a retreat) - thereby he only once again convinces the dog that that she is the leader. That is why it is necessary to sensibly evaluate your strengths, choosing a way to influence the dominant dog.
If the dog's energy level greatly exceeds the owner's, the best course of action for both is to separate. However, in most cases, it is quite possible to cope with dominant behavior.
Algorithm for correcting aggressive behavior
1. Determine how your dog exhibits dominant behavior. You can even make a list, for example:
Does not allow you to take your bowl during meals;
Jumps on guests at a meeting;
On a walk, he misses the command “Come to me”;
2. The next point is rather difficult. You need to observe your behavior and understand what actions contribute to the fact that the dog does not recognize you as a leader.. Here you can also make a list, for example:
If the dog does not come to me, I repeat the command many times, or simply ignore his behavior, agreeing that he does not listen to the command;
I back off when the dog growls at me;
I praise the dog just like that, even if it has just done something bad.
Ask other family members and friends for input on what you are doing wrong when dealing with a dominant dog.
3.Write down how you plan to change your behavior in relation to each manifestation of the dog's dominant behavior:
I will start practicing with the dog commands that he does not follow;
I will stop giving the dog pieces from the table and feeding him first;
I will punish the dog when showing dominant aggression and will not back down when growling and other manifestations of displeasure on his part.
4. ASAP start working with the dog according to the chosen scheme. Practice commands methodically and consistently and stop all attempts by the dog to dominate. Explain to loved ones that the dog has a problem with dominant aggression and ask them not to encourage it. If it is difficult for you to isolate your mistakes on your own, seek the help of an instructor who will help you develop the right line of behavior. There is also a vast amount of literature available today on dog training and behavior correction that will help you deal with your dog's aggressive dominance problems. Remember - in order for something to change in the behavior of the dog, first of all, it is necessary to change the behavior of its owner.
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What kind of dogs are called dominant? Signs of dog dominance - how appropriate are they? Arguments against dog dominance theory. An alternative to dominance.
For many, relationships with dogs are steeped in the idea that if a dog does something it likes and doesn't obey the owner, then it dominates the owner. This word "dominates" really clouds the mind! What does dog "dominate" mean? Have you ever thought about this word? And why can't we say that she just wants to do something that she likes, since she has her own desires (we consider dogs smart, which means they have their own desires)? If my dog, going out for a walk, pulls into the forest, why should I say that he is trying to dominate me? Why can't you say what she likes in the forest, and she really wants to get there?
Why can't we say that the dog does not obey, because he loves to play around and shows some perseverance at the same time? If the dog sometimes indulges, that's fine! So, she has a good mood and a rich imagination! Why is it necessary to escalate the situation, conflict with the dog and assign negative properties to it - dominance over the owner, the desire to master the highest rank order in the family, the desire to excel over the person? Isn't it too global?
Moreover, this question is not theoretical. It determines the issue of raising a dog and creates a strong tension in the relationship between the owners and the dog. The owner begins to think that the dog does not consider him the main one. And he should be the main one (at least, this is his sincere desire!). The thought that he may not be the main one begins to undermine his pride. Therefore, a person tries to find signs of dominance in any action of an animal and tries to destroy the so-called dominance in a dog with punishments (often cruel and regular).
What are these signs, signs of dominance? Who invented them? Are they true? Who thought about how he knows about these signs and why some dog actions are called signs of dominance? Few are asking these questions. I wouldn't have thought about it either, if I didn't feel sorry for the dogs that are called dominant, but which don't look like that! Rather, on the contrary, they seem downtrodden and exhausted, timid and unhappy. You can often find these on the streets and training grounds.
Seeing the lawlessness that hides under the guise of getting rid of dominance, I want to exclaim: For what? Which judge judges these dogs? Who ascribes to them some terrible quality, the presence of which allows one to practically mock them, without knowing the measure? Look carefully at those who, according to popular signs, are called "dominant": fear in the eyes, trembling in the body, the whole body shrinks with every movement of the owner, with any sounds. The dog freezes in place and moves slowly, often licks its lips, closes its eyes, turns its head away (signals of reconciliation), but it is still called dominant!
Dog owners write to me who for many years considered their dog to be dominant, focusing precisely on the generally recognized “signs of dominance”, and systematically punished her. All this certainly ended in disaster: the dog became so nervous that the owners had to fight with all their might with her fears, fear of noise, heart-rending barking. She became distracted and unable to work or just obey. At best, she turned into a quiet, downtrodden zombie. Such a dog became a problem at home. She no longer brought joy.
The owners, who unknowingly mistook the myth of dominance for reality and because of this made their dog mentally ill, curse everything that they were told about dominance, complaining that in their assessments of dog behavior they suppressed feelings of love in themselves and unconditionally took advice on faith like this called experts, uncritically treated what was written in outdated books on cynology, where for several decades the theory of dominance was propagated, according to which any naughty dog or dog sleeping on the couch, the first to pass through the doorway, resisting the actions of the owner during washing, etc., was considered dominant, and its dominance had to be broken.
Any dog with his body language, his facial expressions, voice and his whole being constantly tells us what he feels! And we are not so stupid and alien to her, so as not to understand her - we all understand everything, we feel everything, since the body language of all living beings is largely universal, and we, as “animals too”, are able to understand everything that our dogs we are told and felt. But we are not used to listening to ourselves! We are used to listening. Obey those who think that they know everything better - neighbors, coaches, articles on the Internet, books, etc.
So, to everyone who considers their dog dominant, I want to ask the question: where did you get your knowledge about dominance, its signs and how to deal with it? Can these sources be trusted?
Ethologists have long recognized that the theory that a desire to dominate a family is attributed to a domestic dog dates back to a time when little was known about either wolves or dogs—the first half of the last century.
Arguments against dog dominance theory
In the first place, the dog is not a wolf, but an independent species of animal, only partly comparable to the species from which it split at least 14,000 years ago. This species lives in completely different conditions and, accordingly, behaves very differently than its wild relative. Dogs are genetically different from wolves and from each other.
Secondly, ethologists understand not the type of character of this or that animal (dominant or non-dominant), but the specific relations of animals in a certain situation. For example, if a dog sits at home and another dog comes to visit, then he can (if he wants to!) Dominate him. If one dog has a bone, then it can (if it wants to!) Protect it from others. And if she wants to and will protect the bone, she can also be called dominant about this bone. If the resource disappears, dominance will also disappear, since dominance is a type of relationship, and not a property of character!
But if we insist on the similarity of the behavior of dogs and wolves, it will become clear that although the rank order exists among wolves, it does not play such an important role as dog lovers are accustomed to ascribe to it. Relationships of wolves are more flexible, many relationships are based on the competence of this or that animal, on knowledge of how to cope with this or that situation, on respect. This is what determines their status, not brute force!
Scientists began to study dogs quite recently - at the end of the last century. Therefore, they face many questions. Therefore, no one today has the right to claim that he certainly knows the behavior of dogs - even the most important cynologist of all cynologists in the world, not to mention a simple dog lover! And even more so due to the fact that his "knowledge" about dogs allows him to do whatever he wants with the dog, including mocking her, allegedly knocking her down.
Many people confuse the concept of "dominant" and "authoritative". At the same time, many owners believe that if they want to be authoritative, then they must be constantly dominant, that is, suppress the will of the dog in any situation. This setup creates problems for both owners and dogs. The owners try to be on their guard all the time, and the dogs ... they try to constantly keep them in a tight rein. How much master's adrenaline! How many broken dog destinies!
If not domination, then what?
In fact, it is much easier to establish order: you just need to calmly, without tantrums and aggression, explain to the dog the rules of living together, and strictly observe these rules yourself. If the owners do not want to explain to the dog the order of living together, she can start using this, and she will be called dominant, although she simply did not understand her boundaries, she decided that absolutely everything is possible and enjoys using it.
Fortunately, in the West, dogs are gradually no longer treated as potential aggressors and "careerists". Assessing the dog's behavior, here they believe their feelings more. Recently, such people have appeared in Russia as well. Therefore, if you suddenly decide that the dog is not behaving the way you think is right, it is better to stop and think about what he wants to say with his behavior? Are you to blame for the problems? And study the behavior of dogs, primarily through your observation and love for her.
Additional reading
- Anders Hallgren. Alpha syndrome: leadership or unjustified cruelty? . Dogfriend Publishers, 2008.
- Barry Eaton Dominance: fact or fiction? Dogfriend Publishers, 2010.
- Olga Kazharskaya My dog dominates? . Dogfriend Publishers, 2011 (electronic edition).
- David Mich. Alpha status, dominance and division of labor in a wolf pack.
- Olga Kazharskaya. Wolf .
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