Exercise R Us

Question:

> Some easy ways you can assert your authority are: > Don’t do anything that you can predict will cause him to bear his teeth.  When > he is bad, stand some distance from him and scold him.  Then leave him alone > for five minutes.  Don’t reach for him.

By leaving him alone when he growls/shows his teeth you will only reinforce the behavior.  It’s telling him that when he growls you go away and stop disciplining him.  That will only encourage active dominance. If he only shows his displeasure when you correct him for digging in the trash, then prevent his garbage mongering by removing the trash to a spot out of his reach. Otherwise, keep a short leash on him, no more than two feet.  When you see have to discipline him, give a sharp collar and verbal correction when/if he growls.  Then place him in a down stay and ignore him for 10 minutes. By correcting him, then ignoring him you are reinforcing your status as alpha. The correction shows your displeasure and the ignoring puts him in his place. Good luck. Jean

Response:

>If he still bears his teeth, get a shock collar and use it ONLY when he bears >his teeth.

That’s "bares" his teeth, not "bears". And using a shock collar to control aggression is NOT NOT NOT acceptable, nor is it effective. The shock and pain of the jolt at the moment the dog growls with simply cause the dog to become even MORE fearful and aggressive in that situation.Shock collars are great for passive obedience/aversion training (stopping a hunting dog from running off, curing hard-core trash-pickers, eliminating excessive barking, etc.). But NOT for dealing with aggression.

Response:

Some easy ways you can assert your authority are: 1.  When he is relaxing, make him move so you can sit in his place.  Be ready to reward him for moving.  Do this about every half hour at first. 2.  Don’t feed him until you are done eating.  Then, take a bite of meat and give him the rest making sure your smell is on the food. 3.  Take him out a lot on walks where he’ll meet lots of people, if he exhibits aggressive behavior, tell him ‘NO!’ and make him sit and stay. 4.  Do a lot of obedience training.  It will be great for your relationship with him while establishing your higher status. Don’t do anything that you can predict will cause him to bear his teeth.  When he is bad, stand some distance from him and scold him.  Then leave him alone for five minutes.  Don’t reach for him. If he still bears his teeth, get a shock collar and use it ONLY when he bears his teeth. Good luck, Maureen

Response:

Hello to anyone who can offer assistance: My mixed-breed (sheltie, terrier, etc…) dog, Indiana, is five years old, very intelligent, and generally well behaved.  The problem I have with him is that when I ‘catch him in the act’ (ie: trying to shred the garbage), he rolls onto his back in a submissive position, but will bear his teeth and growl at me when I tell him he’s been bad, or try to get him to stand up so that I can put him outside.  Does anyone have suggestions on how to better discipline the little guy?  He appears to recognize that I’m ‘alpha’, but is always willing to challenge that. -Stacy

Response: