Dog Aggression Case Study

Dog aggression is a common problem in canine behavior. Rather than lashing out at people or prey or other pets, many dogs choose to lash out specifically at other dogs. This could be because they want to establish dominance, they are afraid, or they’re being protective. No matter the cause, it’s the type of behavior that makes it difficult to take the dog for a walk, to dog parks, or to a boarding kennel.

Luckily, with the right training, this problem can be solved.

I was recently able to help a family whose dog, Rascal (aptly named), would bark at dogs as they walked past the apartment and lunge at them during walks. It became clear during the in-home consultation that he would “claim” his owner by sitting near him and also that the dogs walking by made him nervous. In his case, the dog aggression stemmed from a mix of anxiety and overprotectiveness.

It was especially important to get Rascal’s behavior under control because walking was his main form of exercise, and the owner was really hoping to enroll him in doggie daycare. Both goals were made pretty much impossible since they lived in a high-traffic area and Rascal couldn’t get along with dogs in a group setting.

I was able to design a plan that worked for Rascal. We performed basic obedience training in order to teach Rascal to heel during walks and also to help put his owner in a clear role of leadership. Rascal learned all the commands and began showing more respect for his owner’s authority. We set up a quiet place for him to retreat to within the home, upon command, to give him a place to relax as well as keep him from barking at other dogs as they passed the house. Most importantly, however, we were sure to introduce these new boundaries slowly to give Rascal the greatest chance of success.

To learn what type of training program might work for your dog, no matter his/her behavioral problem, call me today at 800.649.7297.