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Leaders Stand Apart, But Not Alone Written by Tia Maria Torres of Villalobos Rescue  So what makes a good "leader"? Is it the toughest boy on the playground? Is it the smartest girl in the class? Growing up, I always thought the perfect leader was a man named "Fonzie". Yeah, that leather jacket wearing "thug" with slicked back hair and his two thumbs up to "Heyyyyy......." To me, he had what it took to get the job done. He was just "bad" enough to keep the bullies from beating up Potsie, Ralph and Ritchie, yet gentle enough to help a little old lady with her groceries. During those "Happy Days", I don't think I ever saw him actually punch someone out but maybe once. Yet he had the respect of all the guys, and the girls melted at the mere sight of him. He helped the nerds get dates and even gave Joanie advice on how to handle Chachi. Now that's my kind of guy. So what does this all have to do with your dog? Not just any dog, but a dominant dog that has decided to take over your house and your life. To handle this kind of dog, we are going to turn you into "TheFonz" so that he/she will respect you, yet melt into your lap at the mere sight of you coming through the front door. In this approach to dealing with the "dominant dog" there will be no "alpha rolling", no "scruffing" and no "being the boss". As in any relationship, things are supposed to be 50/50, right? So in creating the perfect relationship, there are two separate approaches. The first is to "repair" the relationship. This is for those of you that have had an existing relationship with your dog for some time. Believe it or not, dogs just aren't "born dominant". They learn this behavior, compiled with their already existing genetics, the "dominant dog" manifests from puppyhood and the way you have raised it. Yes, there is a possibility that you have created a monster. The second approach is to "build" the relationship. This is usually for those that have added a new pooch to their home and most of the time, an adult dog. In both cases, "dominance aggression" is usually "dog to owner" confrontations. It is also more common in male dog to male owners. Hmmm, can we say "testosterone"? I recently saw a TV special on life within the prison system, where they interviewed guards about their jobs. Studies showed that male inmates and male guards had more problems with each other than did male inmates to female guards. Sorry guys, but the women took the time out to figure out problems and listen, while the men just got "physical" and puffed out their chests once in awhile okay and maybe grabbed their crotches too. So for the purpose of this approach to handling the dominant dog, forget those "for $4,000.00 and in 3 weeks, I can cure your dog" infomercials. It probably took this dog's entire lifetime up until this point to become "dominant". So why then, should it only take 3 weeks to cure it? Forget the "be the leader of the pack" and then slam your dog to the ground techniques. These will only get you and your family bitten and usually works great for the trainer himself. So he's managed to make your dog afraid of "him". What about when Mr. Leader of the Pack goes home? Personally, I would be on the phone, ASAP and calling in "The Fonz". So let's now define a "dominant dog". First of all "dominance" is not a display of aggressive. It is simply a "show" of their place within THEIR social structure. It's one thing when a dog is trying to obtain his place in a "pack" of other canine, but when this transfers over to his "human pack", well this is where things can get ugly. There are several "signs" that your dog is attempting to take over your life and not be so nice about it. Though most dominant dogs give a "warning" or just simply stand their ground with you, there are some that go the extra mile and actually "bite the hand that feeds them". For example, the most common call for help I get is, "when I wanted him to get off the bed, he growled at me and tried to bite me." Here are some signs that may tell you, the Fonz is needed and quick!
Okay, so now what do we do? Do you get tough and try to physically force him to do what you want? Oh sure, go ahead. Now, be prepared to get bitten. Though it is correct to become that "good leader" and show him "who's boss", you also want to be smart and safe and handle the situation properly. In order to "convince" a dominant dog that you're the "boss", the object is to now make him need you, more that you need him. So how do we do this? It's actually quite simple. Yes, it will take some re-arranging of your lifestyle and it will take some time. But no one will get their feelings hurt or lose their appendages. So things are about to change in your dominant dog's life. You now must control when he eats, how he eats, where he sleeps, when he plays, whom he plays with, when he goes outside, etc. Obedience/Training Class This is your first step. Unless your dog has some basic structure and rules to follow, the rest of this program will be frustrating for both you and your dog. So a full training course is a MUST. Sleeping Arrangements This is a big no, no for dominant dogs. Now mind you, my dog Duke sleeps with me, but.....he is in no way a dominant dog and is very compliant with what I ask of him. A dog that is being dominant with the owner should not even be allowed on the couch. This is where crate training comes into play. The crate becomes your dog's "bedroom". It is his place to relax, chew on toys and in some cases, a place to even eat his dinner. When choosing a crate for your dog make sure it is big enough for him to stand up and turn around with room to grow. Begin by giving your dog his favorite treats, toys and even feeding him in there. It is usually the owner who is more emotional over crate training than the dog himself. If you find yourself to be one of these owners who feels like it's "doggie prison", then begin by leaving the crate door open and allow him to eat his dinner in there until he goes in with no effort. Decide on a verbal command such as "kennel" or "crate". I just happen to use "in your house". Then you can begin to close the gate and leave him in there for short periods at a time. If he whines and cries, be tough and ignore him. It's called "Tough Love". For those "hardcore" dog owners, you can skip all of the above, and put him straight into his crate, close the door and simply say "deal with it" But we don't' recommend this for dogs who may have the potential to bite their owners when challenged. Don't use the crate as a punishment. It is now his private little den where he can have his "alone time". But from now on, this is where your dog will sleep. No exceptions! Feeding Time As stated in the above, you may want to feed your dog in his crate. It's optional and we recommend it, especially if your dog is really having anxiety over being in the crate. But what we have noticed and what seems to be a pattern, is that dominant dogs tend to be "free fed". What this means, is that their food and water bowls are constantly filled, on the floor, with no supervision from the owner. So if your dog can eat and drink at will, then what does he need you for? This is a perfect example of a "non-confrontational" dominance exercise. It's asking the dog to do something and allowing him to work for it rather than forcing him into it. Every dog needs to eat and drink, right? So simply stand there with his bowl of food and ask him to "sit". Once he complies, put the bowl down (or in his crate). If he does not comply, put the bowl up and walk away. Go back a few minutes later and try again. Trust me, it doesn't take long for him to "get it". In extreme cases of dominance I will suggest also controlling his water in this same manner. It's just an easy way to make your dog need you, for once. It's easy and no one gets bit. Attention Seeking Many dominant dogs tend to be pushy with their owners. For example, while you're sitting on the couch watching television and here comes Rover. He slams into you and nudges you with his nose, demanding that you pet him. Well the key here is to ignore. With a dominant dog, you pet him when YOU want to, not when he wants to. Make it a point to call him over to you and pet him. It won't take long for him to realize that the ball isn't in his park. Territory One of the worse cases I've seen in this category, was a dog that literally ruled the house. He would lie down on the floor of the livingroom and when his owners went to get up, he would suddenly jump up and stand in their way and growl. In one instance, when the woman got out of bed and bent over to put on her slippers, he jumped up and bit her in the face and then took the slipper for himself. They tiptoed around this dog and made excuses for him. This was an extreme case and I had to "arm" them with "weapons" for their own safety. I had them position water bottles all over the house and when he acted out, they sprayed him back. Of course, we did this only after we found out that water was the "enemy". Using "aversives" can backfire on you and normally I don't recommend them to clients, though at times will use them myself. Remember, the true purpose of this program is to keep the owner from getting hurt, yet teach the dog to respect his owner. Do not allow your dog to growl at people when they enter your home. Though some may think this is being protective, it can also result in someone getting bitten. If you have a dog that does this, put him in his crate PRIOR to people entering your house or in another room. Being a defensive owner rather than an offensive owner, is the smart thing to do. And besides, who needs a dog that growls at grandma when she comes over? Or how about the neighbor's child? This is not being protective, this is being a jerk! I mean let's face it, how threatening can a little old lady or a child be? If you find your dog, blocks your path when you try to go down the hall or growls at you when you enter a room, be a step ahead of him. Simply put him in his crate before you make any of these moves. Another exercise is BEFORE entering a room, ask your dog to "sit", praise and then go on about your business. It won't take long for him to automatically "sit" when you approach that "forbidden" territory. He will learn soon that this is YOUR house not his. Playtime and Toys Put limitations on his toys. Bring a few out when you come home from work and allow him to play with them for awhile. Then when playtime is over and it's over when YOU decide, pick up his toys and put them away. What this tells your dog, is that you're the boss and you make the rules. As for playtime, do not engage in any high energy games such as tug o' war, tag, etc. This will only get your dog "amped" up and it could get out of control. Now don't get me wrong, it is okay to play these games once your dog has had some rules to follow for awhile and has some basic training under his belt or should I say paw? For example, don't start with tug o' war until you dog has learned a "sit" and an "out". To teach the out, we use the "trade off". As your dog begins to engage in his tug rope, give a commanding "OUT" and literally stick the treat right in front of his nose. Reward him right away. Once he gets this on a verbal command, then once he does the "out", quickly give a "sit" command. Then reward him. Eventually once the "out" command is given, your dog will release and then automatically "sit". DO NOT jerk the tug or rope out of his mouth. This will only get him worked up and this is a potential for biting with many times the biting being an accident while the dog is trying to get a better grip on the tug. Once again though, I don't recommend this type of play, until your dog has been complying with the rest of this program first. A good game to play is fetch. This teaches your dog to "share". Again, go through the motions of teaching an "out" prior to a hardcore game of fetch. If your dog is not into toys, a fantastic way to play and exercise is "biking" your dog. Once again you're in control here, without any confrontation. A K-9 Cruiser is a device that is hooked to the back end of your bike. Your dog is attached to it and away you go. It's a great way to teach your dog self control as you have the weight of the bike plus your body weight, to keep the dog "in check". Biking makes it literally impossible for your dog to pull away or ahead, as you keep up a slightly quick pace. He's too busy trying to keep up to even begin thinking about anything else. This is one of our popular "boot camp" exercises. So how does it feel to be The Fonz? That black leather jacket should be fitting real fine by now. Getting a "handle" on things should be coming into perspective by now. Control and respect are a state of mind, not who's got the bigger muscles or the loudest voice. It's not about who can slam who on the ground, after all, how tough can one be when slamming a 50 lb. dog around? That's just being a punk. And let's face it, what would Mrs. C. think? So be cool, stay groovy and when other trainers tell you to be the "Alpha" or that you're not a good enough "pack leader", pull out that comb, slick back that hair and tell them to..........."SIT ON IT!" |
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