Help! How to Deal With An Aggressive Dog
My dog is aggressive!
This isn’t good! You probably rarely take your dog around people or other dogs, and you are probably super nervous when you do! But your dog is super nervous, also. You both are balls of anxiety every time you go around other people or dogs and you are both making each other even more nervous! You don’t want to live like this. Your dog doesn’t want to live like this. But it can change. If we do the right things, we can start easing both of your anxieties and help you build trust in each other. I promise.
How to stop aggression in dogs
It’s not magic. A different leash won’t make it better. A collar or harness won’t fix it without training. A singular change in your home routine won’t be enough. And there’s no exact timeline for these things. Sometimes, it takes a lot of time. There are a lot of variables that go into how to begin and maintain your dog’s (and your) rehabilitation. How old the dog is, how long they’ve been acting aggressive, genetic predispositions, and your ability to implement structures all affect the timeline through which this process finds success. It’s a spectrum, and the further down the spectrum to aggression you and your dog have gone, the further back we have to come. But even if your dog is eight or nine years old, and even if we won’t successfully alleviate all of their aggression because of the time it would take to travel back down that spectrum, they still deserve to spend the rest of their lives less anxious and more confident than they’ve been. They shouldn’t have to be on alert and stressed most of their lives. That’s why I’ve devoted my time and energy to learning how to help dogs like this over the last several years. At first it was to help rehabilitate my two rescue mutts keen on hurting each other and other dogs, and then it was to help with hundreds of others I’ve gotten to work with as a trainer. I can help you and your dog also! But it will take some changes from you. And some patience.
My two rescue mutts, Manny and Reginald.
Aggressive dog rehabilitation: play
A lot of aggression is genetic. I’d say most of it is genetic. Aggression is important to survival of the species and with some breeds, we’ve exaggerated those genetics to fight, guard, or chase. When it is genetic, the only long term solutions include telling your dog where it is appropriate. If it’s part of who they are, you simply can’t tell them to be who they are without creating a lot of stress. Just telling them “no” will create short term success, but problems will always return if they haven’t found where it is acceptable to engage this part of who they are. To put it another way, if you are going to tell them not to be aggressive in once place, you have to tell them where they can (pretend), and that needs to be in play. You must create a good play interaction to have lasting success. Learn more about play here:
https://www.thetrustedcompanion.com/thetrustedcompanionblog/play-why-its-important-and-how-to-do-it
Aggressive dog rehabilitation: advocation
Right now your dog doesn’t think you’re going to look out for their safety. They feel like their safety is their own responsibility. And every time they lunge, bark, or bite to handle the situation, it reinforces the aggressive behavior and also the anxious state of mind that produced the behavior. So then the next time, when confronted with a similar situation, the anxiety will be greater, the need to protect themselves will be stronger, and the aggressive behavior will be more serious as we go down this cycle of self-reinforcing aggression. We have to interrupt the cycle. We have to change the relationship. We have to teach your dog that when they are with you, they are safe, because you are the leader. And this happens through a few things, one of which is advocation.
If we are going to tell your dog not to be aggressive, we also have to tell them they don’t have to be. If a dog or kid or anything is making them feel uncomfortable by entering their space, advocate for them. Step in and mitigate the threat (even if it’s only a threat in their eyes) and let them see you do it. This will do wonders for their trust in you.
Aggressive dog rehabilitation: training
Unfortunately, most of the time these household changes aren’t enough. You also need to train. We have to tell your dog that inappropriate aggression is bad (so long as we are playing with them and they have a proper outlet). We also need to change your relationship. We will use commands to ask your dog to do something they don’t normally do when they are scared to show them that trusting you works out for them as well as some differential reinforcement measures along the way (giving a dog better behaviors than the aggressive behavior). You have to teach your dog that listening to you works for them, as well as recondition their emotions associated with a certain stimulus from negative to positive.
Aggressive dog rehabilitation: mimicry
Dogs are experts at our nonverbal communication and can definitely learn through observation. If it is safe (your dog is held or tied back), you should approach the dog or person your dog feels the need to aggress towards and show them you like them. Shake hands, pet the dog, hug if it’s acceptable. If these things aren’t possible, wave and speak excitedly to the person across the street. Let your dog know you like them.
We can help your dog
I know other trainers tell you your dog is just aggressive as who they are or that your problem can’t be rehabilitated and you just have to manage it. It is possible for some dogs, that we cannot rehabilitate it all of the way. Most of the time, though, we can, but the important steps are up to you, the owner. I have successfully rehabilitated aggression in hundreds of dogs. But even in those dogs who are so habituated to feeling and acting in aggressive from years of practice, we can at minimum improve their quality of life, give you more confidence to take them out, and let them spend the rest of their years more comfortable and confident than the last. But it will take some commitment and some patience on your end. Training is relationship-based. But if you’re willing, I’d love to help.
Recommended Packages
This package is best for dogs with more advanced anxiety or aggression issues, but is still a fantastic solution for most dogs! Where no training option is magic and there will be work to do with you and your environment no matter how long they train, this option allows for fuller immersion in training structures, fuller development of play, emotional associations, and communication, and the more normalization of good behavioral and emotional habits make that transition home much easier. You cannot rehabilitate aggression or anxiety issues by just focusing on behavior. This package gives more time to focus on the emotional and genetic contributors to the issues your having to set you up for long-term success and your dog up for success and self-confidence.
You couldn’t rush a relationship with your dog and neither can your trainer. The more time we have to develop our mutual trust and communication, the better learning environment we can create for your pup and the more durable the training will become. You can teach commands through stress and you can bribe with food, but neither of these options develop the mutual trust, respect, and communication that time and play can develop. Play satisfies your dog on a genetic level and gives them purpose in life. How awesome would it be for you to be the provider of that fulfillment? You can certainly use coercion to make yourself relevant to your dog when they are distracted, anxious, or aggressive, but mostly this masks the behavioral in the short term when the genetic and emotional underpinnings aren’t addressed. A large reason why behavioral issues develop is because your dog doesn’t have outlets for the things that make them who they are (chasing, biting, herding, barking, etc.) and don’t know how now to have that fulfilling relationship with you. Your dog is an incredibly social animal. If you aren’t providing the genetic or social fulfillment to your dog, they will look for it elsewhere and live a less confident life. This training option is designed to more fully develop the concepts of play so your dog can find that fulfillment they need, set up a very motivational and successful learning environment ant relationship, and then use that play and that relationship to create the boundaries and communication we need to help them navigate their issues and find long-term success.
Your dog lives with a trainer at their house for 8 weeks!
Immersion into normal life with new and better habits
Will develop the fundamentals and rules of fetch and tug within the time allowance
Healthy dog and human socialization
Fuller integration of commands with normal life
Can include electronic collar from E-Collar Technologies and Herm-Sprenger prong collar for off leash and on leash reliability!
Can include commands of “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “heel”," “down”, leash manners and door manners, proofing for high distraction, long distances, and long duration holding commands until released
Commands will be proofed off leash where applicable
Can address and build confidence regarding any anxiety or aggressive behavior
Can solidify good habits regarding specific issues
Can integrate dogs from the same home together in training as well as normal life
Can spend time developing tracking or detection
Updates every single day
2-4 hour in-home turnover (within 2 hours of Massanutten) to make sure you know how to maintain the training and develop your new relationship with your dog!
Lifetime refresher lessons at the park in Massanutten should you need any help transitioning the dog home or even if you let things slip a little
50% discount on a consultation for help getting started before Board and Train start date.
For dogs at least 4 months old
Rushed scheduling is available for a 30% surcharge.
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
*All Board and Train purchases must be paid and full and have returned signed contracts before scheduling.
This package is designed for dogs with anxiety in certain situations, reactivity towards people or dogs, some mild to moderate aggression, and adult dogs who need more time developing confidence and practicing good habits around a diversity of distractions. The additional weeks will be used to further guide the genetic and emotional drives to appropriate and fulfilling places as well as develop a stronger and more profound relationship with your pup. Emotions and genetics matter a lot especially in anxiety and aggression. 5 weeks gives us more time to focus on those components of your problem issues. It is possible to teach your dog through stress and coercion, but if we can help build trust and motivation through play, they will be much more excited to learn and maintain what they learn. Motivation is far more important to learning than repetition.
Play is the highest form of social interaction with your pup and the highest form of reinforcement when the dog understands how to play. We will attempt to develop it as the primary positive reinforcer, but also as the means to communicate boundaries and develop a trusting relationship to help guide your pup through their issues. It is impossible to fully suppress behaviors reinforced by your dog’s individual genetics. If they are genetically inclined to bite or chase, we cannot keep them from biting or chasing forever. It will always eventually pop up in the places we don’t want, because it’s who they are, and suppressing who they are creates anxiety. However, if we use our time to develop outlets for those behaviors by biting tugs or chasing balls through play, then we have a significant chance to be successful at telling them they can’t bite people or chase cars, etc for the long term. We will also use our time to create more embedded patterns and habits of the more acceptable behaviors and states of mind so that they translate to your home more readily.
Your dog lives with a trainer at their house for 5 weeks!
Can include electronic collar from E-Collar Technologies and Herm-Sprenger prong collar for off leash and on leash reliability
Can include commands of “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “heel”," “down”, leash manners and door manners
Will develop the fundamentals and rules of fetch and tug within the time allowance
Can proof commands for high distraction, long distances, and long duration holding commands until released
Commands will be proofed off leash where applicable
Can spend additional time proofing for higher distractions
Can spend additional time working around sources of anxiety with a focus on increasing confidence
Can spend additional time working on specific issues like resource guarding
Can spend additional time getting multiple dogs accustomed to working with each other
Slower and easier introduction to the commands
Can cater training to any specific issues with your dog
Updates every single day
2-4 hour in-home turnover (within 2 hours of Massanutten) to make sure you know how to maintain the training and develop your new relationship with your dog!
Lifetime refresher lessons at the park in Massanutten should you need any help transitioning the dog home or even if you let things slip a little
50% discount on a consultation for help getting started before Board and Train start date.
For dogs at least 4 months old
Rushed scheduling is available for a 30% surcharge.
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
*All Board and Train purchases must be paid and full and have returned signed contracts before scheduling.
ESSENTIAL $500:
Includes 3 30-60 minute private lessons at a park in Elkton, VA or Penn Laird, VA (appointments subject to weather)
Includes Herm-Sprenger prong collar and long training leash
Teaches how to improve your relationship with your dog through play
Teaches leash manners, “out”, and “place” or “come”
Teaches how to play and set parameters for inappropriate behavior
Can cater to specific issues
For dogs at least 5 months old
COMPLETE $850:
Includes everything in Essential package plus 3 additional 30-60 minute private lessons for a total of 6 lessons and electric collar (appointments subject to weather)
Includes remote electric collar
Teaches fundamentals of play and how to use play to develop your bond and communication with your dog
Teaches leash manners, “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “down”, and “heel”
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Will cater to any specific issues with your dog
For dogs at least 4 months old
ROCKSTAR $1100:
Includes everything in the Complete package plus 2 additional 30-60 minute lessons in Elkton for a total of 8 lessons (appointments subject to weather).
2 additional private lessons can be used for teaching additional advanced commands to really bring out the rockstar in your dog! Advance commands can include your choice from extended distance sit and down, come to the heel position, send aways to place, stand, front, maintain eye contact, or feel free to ask about something else!
For dogs at least 4 months old
ANXIETY & AGGRESSION $1100:
Includes everything in the Complete package plus 2 additional lessons in Elkton for a total of 8 lessons (appointments subject to weather).
2 additional lessons will be used to work specifically around the sources of the anxiety and aggression where applicable.
Focus on building confidence and trust
For dogs at least 5 months old
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
ESSENTIAL $800:
Includes 3 30-60 minute lessons conveniently in your home
Teaches how to improve your relationship with your dog through play
Teaches leash manners, “out”, and “place” or “come”
Teaches play and how to set parameters for inappropriate behavior
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Includes Herm-Sprenger prong collar and long training leash
Allows us to address specific issues in your environment
For dogs at least 5 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
COMPLETE $1550:
Includes everything in Essential package plus 3 additional 30-60 minute in-home lessons for a total of 6 lessons and electric collar
Includes remote electric collar
Teaches fundamentals of play and how to use play to develop the communication and bond with your dog
Teaches “out”, “place”, “come”, “down”, and “heel”
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Will cater to any specific issues with your dog
For dogs at least 4 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
ROCKSTAR $1800:
Includes everything in the Complete plus 2 additional 30-60 minute lessons for a total of 8 lessons
2 additional lessons can be used for advanced commands and specific issues anxiety or aggression. Advance commands can include your choice from extended distance sit and down, come to the heel position, send aways to place, stand, front, maintain eye contact, or feel free to ask about something else!
For dogs at least 4 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
ANXIETY & AGGRESSION $1800:
Includes everything in the Complete plus 2 additional lessons for a total of 8 lessons
Lessons will be used with an emphasis on building confidence and reliability around the source of the aggression or the anxiety where applicable.
For dogs at least 5 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!