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Dog Behavior Article


Family Animal Anti-Dominance Aggression Program Highlights


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  • Completely ignore your dog for a full 72 hours, except for feeding it and letting it relieve itself. At the end of the 72-hour period, phase in your attention by having the dog sit first and only giving this attention when it's not actively seeking it.
  • The dog should NEVER be allowed to run or roam off-leash.
  • The dog should NEVER be tied to a tree in the yard.
  • The dog should not be confined all day behind a fence barrier it can see through. Allowing the dog to run free, tying it up in the front yard or putting it behind a barrier it can see through will MAKE WORSE the dominance aggression you are trying to fix.
  • No physical punishment.
  • The dog must start earning ALL of its attention -- petting, feeding, playing, eye contact, and freedom -- by doing one or two obedience commands.
  • Do NOT respond to any of the dog's initiations for attention. Only give the dog attention when it is NOT SEEKING IT and when it is quiet and sitting or lying down.
  • Practice the sit command as outlined in Chapter 4 for 10 repetitions in a row, three times a day.
  • Whenever you notice your dog assuming a submissive position or doing an obedience command of its own accord, notice it ("Good sit"), and reward it with a treat and petting.
  • Do NOT allow your dog to jump up on furniture or people. If it does, practice the Startle-Wait 5-Redirect-and Reward method.
  • Always be one physical level higher than the dog. No petting around the dog's head or face for six months.
  • No tug-o-war games; that's how they train dogs to be aggressive and it lowers your dominance position.
  • No roughhousing on the floor.
  • Any lip curling, growling, talk-back barking, lunging or biting attempts should be disciplined WHILE THEY ARE TAKING PLACE. Startle-Wait 5.
  • If you are afraid of your dog, carry pepper spray or mace when you are around it, and have it on a 20-foot leash.
  • The dog is NOT TO BE GIVEN ANY BONES OR CHEW TOYS until further notice. When the chew toys are phased in at week 4, it is under the following conditions:
    • The dog has to sit and lie down before being given the chew toy.
    • The dog is now taught the "drop" or "give" command. Whenever the dog has its bone or off-limit object, the owner grabs some irresistible treats, bends down six feet away from the dog, extends his hand with treats, looks away and says, "Give!" or "Drop!" The dog must relinquish the chew object in order to eat the unusually scrumptious treats (broken up pieces of string cheese, cooked hot dogs.

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