Dogtalk: How to stop a fight before it starts

Monday, August 11, 2008

How to stop a fight before it starts

Dear Jan,

We have an adult female pit bull who's always been very sweet. But lately we're noticing she's more protective and growly when strangers come around. We took her camping last weekend with some friends and she was obnoxious when their dogs came near her. We should have brought her to classes when she was younger, but we didn't; we just worked with her at home, where she was good. Now when she sees another dog she just freezes and stiffens up. You know she's about to explode any second, and then she's hard to stop. What can we do?

April in Bull River, MT

April,

You have a problem brewing, no doubt about that. To really fix the problem, you'll have to do many things, like serious training, setting more boundaries for her at home, reinforcing your own leadership every way imaginable, exercising her more, and managing her social activities.

BUT...you need "first aid" now! Here's what I'd recommend to prevent those blow-ups which are nearly impossible to stop once they start: from now on, when you have her on a leash and are walking her around other dogs, watch her body language very carefully. When you see her "freeze up," immediately give her a good, firm, sideways leash correction and a verbal "LEAVE IT!" command. You will catch her off guard. She will look at you. Praise her at that moment for looking at you. You will have temporarily broken that electrical connection between her and the other dog. Now, keep it broken as you move on. Pretend to ignore the other dogs and walk away with confidence. If she knows YOU are confident, she will feel more comfortable too. You want a dog who shows calm submission to you, as you show calm assertion to her.

The best time to stop a dog fight is before it ever happens. To do that, you must be able to read your dog's body language and convince her that you can literally read her mind as well...which you really can! If she know that YOU, the LEADER, are watching her every moment and noting whether she's being naughty or nice, she'll stay on her toes trying to please you.

--Jan

1 comment:

Kim H. said...: I agree with Jan but wanted to remind you to be sure that your dog is not suffering from any health issue. A dog that is not well or is in pain can act out. Good luck! Kim H.; August 17, 2008 at 10:30 PM

Post a Comment

Axiom Archive

Consistency = doing things the same way 100% of the time, with the eventual goal of achieving the same results 100% of the time.
Be consistent with what you allow your dog to do. Consistency = same thing 100% of the time. 99% is not good enough.
Before you give your dog a command, have a plan to enforce it without repeating it. If you can't enforce it without repeating, don't give the command.
Your dog can read your body language better than you can speak.
Before you can teach your dog anything, you must earn his respect.
The best trainer your dog will have ever had is its own mother.
A dog's destructive behaviors are caused by improper human management.
"Dog training" is actually about teaching people how to act around dogs.
The quality of a dog's "Sit" can tell you a lot about his state of mind.
Out of respect to your dog, learn his language.
Eye contact with your dog is like an invisible leash.
Leashes and collars are communication devices, not restraint devices.
If it would be impolite for a child to do it, it's impolite for your dog to do it.
Get your dog off unemployment and help him have some self respect.
Dogs don't love "loveable" leaders; they love strong leaders.
Your dog's behavior in your presence is a reflection of his relationship with you.
Your dog's respect for you must be earned; it can't be bought.
Never ask your dog to do frivolous or demeaning things that could cause him or her to question your judgment and fairness as a leader.
Words are a human invention; sounds are natural occurrences. Dogs respond to sounds, not words. Make sure your commands "sound" the same each time you give them.
When it comes to training, make the wrong behavior difficult and the right behavior easy (thank you, Ray Hunt!)
People who physically resemble their dogs are usually pretty well matched for each other.
Dog training is a never-ending journey. Forget the destination and enjoy the trip.
Teach your dog to think, not just react.
Training doesn't change your dog's personality; it merely brings out the best of it.
The pack leader LEADS on walks.
All dogs and kids need boundaries, rules & limitations.
Survival tips: Pay attention to your leaders, show respect to them, and learn to exercise self control.
Learning to be your dog's leader is 10 times harder than training your dog.
Any dog can be housebroken with the right training and guidance from a human.
Never use your official recall command (i.e., "Come" or "Here") to call the dog to something he doesn't like.

When you're about to issue a command, always ask the dog for the command that's easiest for him to do correctly and easiest for you to enforce. (Don't ask for a "sit" if a "down" will do. Don't ask for a "stay" if a "curb" will do.)
Your dog is more "human" than many people.
Listen to what your dog is saying to you.
Who rescued whom?

About Jan Manning

Life takes unexpected turns and leads us into work we were each meant to do. Jan never set out to make a meaningful career out of dogs. But 8,000 dogs later, Jan has established herself as one of the best dog behaviorists in the Pacific Northwest. Her understanding of dogs, and her ability to improve the dog/owner relationship, rivals that of any specialist in the world. Her approach most closely resembles that of Cesar Millan, "The Dog Whisperer," although she'd never heard of Cesar until a couple years ago. Jan has been "whispering" since 1993, refining her techniques over the many years and thousands of dogs.

Retiring, but not rusting

On Nov. 3, 2007, my husband Don closed the gunshop he'd owned in Yakima, Washington, for 30 years. Several months earlier, I'd sold my 15-year dog-training business. Don and I were setting our sails for RETIREMENT!

To commemorate the closing of Shooters Supply, which had been a Yakima icon for three decades, our good friend Phil Lamb presented my husband and me with a bottle of Glennfiditch Special Reserve and a few words of advice scribbled on a note card. He wrote, "Retire, but don't rust."

Wise words. Good advice. "Don't rust" is more than just a catchy phrase. I consider "not rusting" a moral obligation. None of us should ever really "retire" from using the skills, talents and gifts we've accumulated. We have a duty, a responsibility, a mission to use those skills to help others live better lives. That's a responsibility from which there is no retirement. Ever.

It took me a good 10 years to realize that I'd been led down the "dog-trainer career path" for that very reason. It's not so much about helping dogs as it is helping people to fully enjoy their dogs, which were put here on earth by God to bring us joy and pleasure. Dogs are one of God's purely fun, pleasurable gifts to us. They enrich our lives. They teach us patience and grace, self discipline and self control. They relieve our stress. They teach us to love and to accept love. They teach us humility and compassion. They make us better human beings, which is the ultimate challenge for all of us.

After many years in central Washington, Don and I are now living in a quiet, secluded Montana river valley. This blog will help me stay in touch with many of you I've met through the years, and hopefully many more I have yet to meet. Updates will happen at least every other week. Look for articles and insights on a variety of training and behavior challenges, plus some good information on nutrition and health. I'll also be reviewing new dog products, from toys to grooming devices.

In between blogging and playing outside in our Montana paradise, I plan to conduct some small group obedience classes in the local community on a strictly volunteer basis. I'll be available for professional consults (for a fee) on a VERY LIMITED basis. I would rather just "give back" to the dog community, while enjoying a bit more down-time than either my husband or I has had in the past 20-odd years.

Stay in touch. Feel free to forward this site, or refer others to it. I invite you to send me your questions on anything dog-related. If I can't answer it, I'll refer you to someone who can.

Now, let's go walk our dogs!

Dogtalk

Monday, August 11, 2008

How to stop a fight before it starts

1 comment:

BOOKMARK THIS SITE...

How to locate an article

Training and Behavior

Health & Nutrition

Lessons from the Dogs

Breed Profiles

Miscellaneous

An Unforgettable Student

Dog Humor

Axiom Archive

Blog Archive

About Jan Manning

Retiring, but not rusting