Operant Conditioning/Positive Reinforcement Just because someone knows how to teach a dog basic manners and walk on a leash doesn’t mean they have the experience to work on the complex issue of dog aggression. Look for a trainer who specializes in dog aggression. What Should I Look for In a Good Trainer or Training Program? 1. In fact, you may even become more afraid of spiders since now you have a painful pinch associated with their presence. Are you going to be less afraid of spiders? Probably not. Now imagine a well-meaning friend is trying to help you get over your fear of spiders by pinching you every time you shout.Įvery time you see a spider and shout, you get a painful pinch. Let’s say when you see a spider, you show this fear by letting out a quick shout. Imagine for a moment that you are afraid of spiders. This deepens the emotional response to the original trigger. Dominance punishes the response (aka the warning signs) which actually increases anxiety and fear. When it comes to the fear and anxiety at the root of dog aggression, it turns out that dominating your dog is almost always a form of punishment from their perspective. Punishment is most effective if used sparingly, and only after appropriate behaviors have been significantly reinforced through judicious use of reward.
The last 60 years of careful scientific study on animal behavior has demonstrated beyond any doubt that dogs, just like people, learn from reward and punishment. The second one is that all dog learning can be boiled down to pack order (which it can’t ). The first assumption is that dogs are still essentially wolves ( they aren’t ). This myth is based on a few faulty assumptions. The popularity of some television shows which promote the “dominance model” of dog training has perpetuated an outdated myth about dogs. Which Dog Training Paradigm is Best for Aggressive Behavior? Next time, the dog may go right to a bite when finitely not the desired effect! If you have been trying to help your dog deal with dog aggression on your own and noticed the problem getting worse, then odds are good that your well-meaning efforts may be getting lost in translation.Ī professional dog trainer may be able to help you gain a new perspective on aggression issues and help you develop a plan that will help your dog recover from the root fears and anxieties that cause this behavior. Here’s a prime example: If you choose to “dominate” your dog every time they give an aggressive warning signal (frozen stance, snarled lips, or a growl), you may actually be training your dog to stop giving warning signals without addressing the root cause of their fear and anxiety. Unfortunately, handling fear aggression with “common sense” can sometimes make an aggressive dog more dangerous. That being said, a lot of dog aggression starts with fear or anxiety. This complex behavior has many potential causes, including: When Should Pet Owners Seek Behavior Consultants?Īs you can see, dog aggression takes many forms.
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