This advice is written on the basis that you already have a problem. Your dog isn't listening or is showing aggression and is becoming difficult if not dangerous. It is not a substitute for professional help but may give you an insight into how to get more respect from your dog.
Dominance is considered to be an old fashioned term, but it isn't the word, it's what you mean by it that's important. It is used here to mean an ignorant dog that doesn't respect you, doesn't listen to you, walks all over you (sometimes literally) and thinks it doesn't have to listen. True dominance is rare in domestic dogs, but occasionally you do see it and it is a very difficult dog to deal with. In most cases it is an opportunist and manipulative dog that simply took advantage.
Solving these issues involves better understanding of how to gain respect from your dog and better management and ground rules. When your dog does something you think is naughty or you are not sure, ask yourself “If I was another dog would I allow or approve of this?” You'd be surprised at how much your dog gets away with towards humans when another dog would have bitten it!
Simple Rules
These rules are written specifically because there is a problem. They can certainly be used generally for dogs, but must be used strictly if you are having serious issues.
- Be consistent. It is no good stopping your dog from doing naughty things like jumping up if you or someone else sometimes encourages it.
- Don't allow height status. Don't allow your dog to get on the sofa or bed without specifically inviting it. Don't allow your dog to have its own piece of furniture.
- Share the responsibility. Everyone in the household must play their part in feeding, exercising, training and play.
- Make sure commands are followed through. Don't be lazy, if your dog doesn't do what you have asked and you know the dog understands the command, get up and do something about it.
- Don't allow the dog to follow you. Owners are very flattered by this, but it can be a sign of checking up on you to make sure you are not leaving or doing anything the dog doesn't approve of, or creating an anxious dog with no self confidence. Close doors after you.
- Feeding after you have eaten? This is a much repeated piece of folklore. An American study several years ago appeared to show that dogs do not have the same perception as wolves over food. In the wild the leaders eat first and get the best and the others eat in turn. In domestic life they do not see this as the same and I have never known it make any difference. However if your dog is food aggressive, that is a different issue and needs a lot more than this simple rule.
- Don't allow your dog to sit staring and drooling at you whilst you eat. No other dog would allow this. You do not have to put the dog in another room unless you really want to, but they should sit or lie quietly. Do not feed from the table or your lap, put any food in their bowl.
- Most biters have had some sort of tug-of-war or play fighting done with them. Don't do it. It is not a game it is a challenge. Screaming loudly at your dog to make it give up the toy is NOT control. These are ways we teach working dogs to bite properly, they are not suitable games and ignore and rubbish about if you win it is OK. It isn't. It is too difficult to win every time even over a small dog. Teach the dog to give up things when asked and keep yourself and your children safe.
- Breeding is best left to experts. In the wild only the top dogs breed and the rest of the bitches usually don't have seasons. So breeding status gives your dog total top dog status. This can lead to a very aggressive dog, intolerant of other dogs, very sexually motivated, prone to fighting and escaping. Both sexes can behave this way and neutering does not solve the new behavior. Don't do it. You want a safe family pet, not a dog that can't be taken out or a money making machine.
Enjoy your dog, play appropriate games, train it and love it, but be consistent and sensible.
