Dominant dogs require special training, but so do their owners. Too often, an exasperated dog owner will yell or hit in sheer frustration when the dog pushes the owner beyond bearable limits. Or the overwhelmed Owner will treat the dog as Helen Keller’s parents treated her, turning her into “an animal” until Annie appeared on the scene. In the words of Captain Keller to Annie Sullivan: “…Give him whatever he wants…” Backfire!
So let’s start with you, the dog owner. Understand that your own attitude and timing are critical to a successful outcome.
One of the most important things to remember when working with a dominant dog is Keep your humor. Yelling is counterproductive and only drives away a difficult animal. Yelling intensifies the problem. You cannot fight fire with fire.
Instead, remember that: “Iron sharpens iron.”
Focus. It is up to you to be consistent, firm and consistent, and to make sure you are calm when you begin your daily work with your dog. This approach is not incompatible with love, for those who love their children and dogs will teach, guide, and discipline them with a steady, fair, and steady hand, so that they can be the best they can be. That is your goal with your dog.
Take the control. To do this, it is very important that you establish and maintain eye contact by taking authority over your Dominant Dog. While the submissive dog will look away, the dominant will keep their gaze.
Eye contact is also critical to keeping the dog’s attention and keeping it in an obedient posture. In dog language, the first to look away “loses” and submits. Let his eyes send the focused message of “control” and “authority.”
In addition, YOU must “claim” all the things that the dominant dog considers “his possessions”. be it toys, rugs, bones, or whatever. You must present yourself as the dominant one, and all the things in the house as yours. Only then do you “invite” him in and “share” these things with him.
You cannot allow the dog to claim or take possession of anything. You don’t want to encourage the development of more dominant, possessive, or aggressive behaviors. In fact, aggressive dog dominance naturally evolves from an incorrect dominance posture. Instead, break the cycle.
Another key to breaking dog dominance behavior: DO NOT let the dog have what he wants “for free.” Make him earn it!
Earn it, don’t own it!
For example, a dominant dog should be given a good walk or strenuous exercise before being fed, such as a brisk 30-minute walk, followed by a “cool down” time (or he’ll get sick). He must be required to abide by the rules and respond obediently to his leadership so that he feels that he is “working” with “purpose” and “value.”
It’s exciting to see a once out of control dog stand proud with a happy twinkle in his eye because he knows he has a job and limits, that he isn’t burdened with controlling things and that he can trust you, and that he has! achieved something of perceived value and it has pleased you! The dog then enjoys obedience!
So you have earned the right to something you want. . . not as a training tool or snippet, but removed from the actual training time. . . not as something that belongs to him, but as a gift from you. . . an expression of your general pleasure and affection. . . and only when YOU choose to give it. . . only in YOUR time. YOU are in control. Don’t give it up!
There is an explicit dog training technique to use on a dominant dog. Contains a little known technique on YOUR FOCUS so that the dog will actually SMELL AND FEEL your authority and control!
It also applies the canine communication system of “silence, submission and leadership”. . . dog whisperer behavior approach, in family terms. After all, to communicate effectively with your dog, to command and control his attention and focus in a positive and constructive way, you need to speak HIS language.
. . . And that requires YOU to have a quiet way of establishing and maintaining your OWN focus and sense of power and authority cool, calm, and collected. Part B of this free article details a little-known secret, a dog training tip to help you do just that! (It’s also effective for commanding respect in the workplace.)
Don’t give dominance room, and it won’t scale.
Give it an inch, and it’ll take a mile . . .
