Dog Aggression Specialist

What can influence a dog’s emotions?

1) Your emotions. e.g. Relaxed body posture and slow rhythmic breathing will encourage relaxation in the dog.

It is essential that you relax in a way that is natural to you personally; some people relax with their hands behind their heads, some across their chest and some with their arms alongside their body.

There are no rules. If the body posture is not natural to the person, it will not have a positive effect on the dog.

Slow rhythmic breathing accompanies any relaxing body posture.

In this environment, allow the dog to change his behaviour of his own volition. He will then learn for himself how changing his behaviour changes how he feels. The dog will recognise which behaviour creates a positive feeling and which behaviour creates a negative feeling.On this recognition, they actively choose the behaviour that creates the positive feeling. Thus the sociable behaviour itself is self-rewarding

Problem Solving with The Dog Partnership

History

Whilst history is interesting, it does not influence how you work with the dog today. Why the dog initially became aggressive can be considered during an assessment. But it is more important to assess and understand how they feel about their chosen coping strategy today.

For instance, if a dog was attacked at fourteen weeks then at that time they were probably terrified. By the time the dog reaches fourteen months, they will have developed their own coping strategy.

Self-Rewarding Behaviours

You can change a dog’s behaviour through training but that does not mean that you have changed how they feel. The dog alone has sole responsibility of their emotions.

You need to provide situations and environment where they can learn to take this responsibility. Giving the dog time and space to assess a perceived problem situation themselves, without human interference, will allow this to happen.

It has been said that if a person feels angry at something or someone, they are the only one who is suffering. This is because the feeling of anger is a negative emotion. If they learn how to control their anger, they will not experience this negative emotion. Thus, learning to take control of their emotions is self-rewarding. This also applies to dogs.

If they choose to drive the dog away by showing aggression, they will experience a sense of relief. It is the feeling of relief that reinforces this behaviour. There is no need for treats, toys or praise from the owner involved; it is a self-rewarding behaviour.

If provided with the right environment, the dog can learn that not showing aggression is a also self-rewarding behaviour; without the need for toys or treats or praise from the owner. You want your dog to stop any anti-social behaviour of their own volition thus learning how positive they feel for doing so.

The dog learns that the being aggressive is a negative feeling where as not being aggressive is a positive feeling. On realising this, most dogs choose the behaviour that creates the positive feeling – not being aggressive.

(There are, of course, always exceptions. Some dogs bred for fighting become over aroused the longer they are in an 'aggressive' situation. In this instance, a more structured approach may be needed.)

The Next Step
It is essential that anyone working with aggression issues is skilled in reading dog communication. As the dog learns to control their emotions, their learning ability is enhanced. Situations are presented, in a safe environment, where there are other dogs and people.

When the dog has learns how to control their emotions, they are able to look at perceived threats in a calmer manner. Therefore, they can learn to overcome, through positive experience, that people and/or other dogs do not pose a threat to them or their family.

It is of paramount importance that they are able to read the very first signals of stress. Situations for learning have to be such that the dog does not become so stressed that they cannot learn. For instance, a dog with aggression towards other dogs may only be able to learn if the other dog is 20 metres away where others can cope if they are only ten metres away.

An in depth assessment of the dog’s general emotional state is essential before engaging in any rehabilitation programme. Many dogs will need a programme put into practice in the home to build self-confidence and feel more secure before presenting the problem situation.

Dogs and people are the same where friendships are concerned. If you are living with a dog whose emotional needs are different from your own, it can be really difficult. It can cause communication breakdown between you, as with any relationship.

Your dog has no choice but to live with you. They cannot leave you because they need a different type of friendship. Therefore, as their guide and protector, it is your responsibility to consider their needs before your own.

Likewise with activities. You may enjoy Obedience but your dog may not. Your dog may enjoy Agility but you may not. In which case, partaking in either activity will do nothing to enhance your friendship. If anything it is likely to have a damaging effect on it.

If you take your partner shopping and they don’t want to go, by the end of the day, you are almost angry with each other. You can’t wait to spend time away from each other. The same principle applies to engaging in an activity that you or your dog does not enjoy. There are so many activities you can partake in with your dog. You just need to find an activity you both enjoy. Search and Rescue work is excellent.

In Search and Rescue you have to allow your dog to take control, as he has a better sense of smell than you. This can really enhance your friendship with your dog as you are showing them that you trust them. By giving your dog control of a situation and listening to them, you are also showing them respect. Respect and trust should be mutual between friends. Your dog is your friend and should be given the same consideration as any other friends.