Dog Psychology
Dogman Down under
When a dog gets aggressive or nervous about something or acts in any other way that is antisocial to them or us. The first thing I do is ask myself, ‘Why?’. I call it the symptom and the disease. We can always treat the symptom, but that does not stop the same thing happening again. Only by treating the cause, can we get a true cure.
Many trainers believe in ignoring or diverting from the symptom. For instance, if your dog is aggressive to other dogs when on a walk. They say turn around and walk the other way. When your dog stops showing aggression, give it a treat. This never stops a dog from being aggressive and encourages aggression. Dogs cannot know how to behave when they get near another dog unless you show them how, and that means we must get near other dogs. ‘Lead them through it’.
Another example is a nervous dog will not cross the front door. Most trainers recommend taking your dog back from the door until they are no longer stressed, then feed a treat. Once again not dealing with the problem.
I will lead your dogs through these stressful times in a calm, relaxed, firm way. Dogs need and look for leadership to feel safe and secure.
Dogs are pack animals but they are not like chickens with a pecking order. They have two leaders, a dog and a bitch that keep everything stable in the pack. Most people don’t realise how important the bitch leader is, but she is as much a leader as the dog. They do not allow any of the other dogs to squabble with each other and make sure that the weakest member gets its fair share of food. That’s our job as masters of the family home.
In the home, dogs are always looking for that stable leader to take control so they don’t have to worry about it.
Dogs will always show more love to the person who leads them. They may love all members of the house but the leader that they love and respect will be the one they follow.
Be the calm master your family dog wants.
