Understanding Dog Behavior Beyond Training
If your dog is aggressive, reactive, fearful, anxious, shut down, hypervigilant or struggling after adoption, you are probably looking for more than another list of training commands.
You may have already worked with a trainer. Maybe more than one. Your dog may know sit, stay, place, heel and come — and you still have a behavior problem.
That is what this section of K9 Coach is about.
Here, we look at the difference between teaching a dog what to do and understanding why the behavior keeps happening in the first place. You’ll find information about aggression, anxiety, fear, trauma, reactivity, rescue and shelter dogs, resource guarding, household conflict, over-arousal and dogs whose behavior has continued despite previous training.
We will still talk about training, because training is often an important part of behavior work. But we will also look at the things that can influence behavior underneath the surface — stress, past experiences, environment, relationship, pain, physical health, nutrition, nervous-system state, genetics, breed tendencies and the dog’s ability to recover after something overwhelms them.
Some dogs need better training. Some need a different kind of behavior plan. Some need their veterinarian involved. Some do best when a behavior professional, trainer and veterinarian work together.
The goal here is to help you understand what you are seeing, what may be contributing to it and what the next sensible step may be for your dog.
Because a dog can be trained and still not be okay.
Why Is Your Dog Trainer Asking About Food?
Nutrition may have a direct influence on your dog’s behavior. How Dog Food Affects Dog Behavior
Waiting On Your Dog’s Breakthrough
State of mind matters. Fix the state of mind in your training to claim your leadership and change the relationship.
Embrace Instincts of the Breed
Breed Instincts need to be part of your enrichment activities and behavior resolution
Little Dogs Bite Too
Little dogs bite too. And it’s just important that we resolve these issues as it is for a larger dog.
Anxiety Support for Dogs
Supporting your dog’s anxiety may be less about training and anxiety medications than you think. It may be about looking at their emotional and physical health.
You Don't Get To Choose What Your Dog Needs
You don’t get to choose what your dog’s need. You can only choose to give him what he needs.
A New Normal
Training doesn’t have to be time set aside on the schedule. Make it part of your normal daily activities.
Stop Making Concessions For Your Dog
When your dog thinks he’s the head dog in charge — stop making concessions for him. In other words, stop making excuses for him.
When the Dog Growls
When the dog growls, he is trying to tell us something. The question is what? And what should you do about it, if anything.
He's Never Done That Before
Every day, dog owners are caught by surprise at their dog’s behavior. Learn to read your dog.
Living with An Aggressive Dog
Thoughts you need to keep in mind when you’re living with a dog with aggressive behavior.
Structure Leadership and the Family Dog
When the family is disrupted by your dog’s behavior, the first thing to look at is YOUR behavior. Have you implemented enough of the basic rules and expectations to teach the dog to follow leadership rather than to take the lead. The little things you change and hold consistent make a huge difference in how the dog sees his role and your leadership.
Don't Coddle The Dog
Coddling your dog will not build confidence, nor help you overcome fear and insecurity.