Training Dogs

Territorial Aggression

Why Do Dogs Display Such Aggression Over Territory?

All dogs have one form of aggression or another and to some degree, it is perfectly natural. However, since our pets are domesticated then there is a certain level of calmness that we should expect from them. The most common aggression behavioral problem that dogs display is called “territorial aggression”. To sum up the definition of territorial aggression, it simply describes a dog that goes absolutely crazy whenever a stranger approaches their home.

Why does a dog display such aggressiveness? What sets a dog off?

As we stated earlier, it is natural for your dog to want to defend his home and make it known that the area is his territory. However, the following scenarios may cause your dog’s aggression over his territory to escalate:

1. Aggression is reinforced in a dog whenever, for example, a delivery person approaches the house and then after dropping off a package he leaves the territory. Your dog actually thinks that he drove the stranger away and this in itself creates more aggression.

2. When riding in a car, a dog with extreme territorial aggression tends to bark incessantly at every person he sees and every moving thing outside the window. He is saying to them “stay away, this is my territory!” And of course nobody is going to approach the car so your dog actually thinks he is “winning”. Therefore, the dog will bark even lower to celebrate his victory.

3. Another very common reason why a dog may increase his levels of barking and aggression is whenever he is acting up and barking at the door (for whatever reason) and the owner starts to yell at him in order to shut him up. Most dog owners do not realize that yelling at their dog is doing nothing but creating more aggression. A dog will think that you are “supporting” his aggression towards the approaching stranger or delivery person.

4. A fourth reason why a dog may have heightened levels of territorial aggression is whenever he is isolated or locked up when there are guests and strangers inside the house. When you first think about it, it seems very reasonable to take your barking dog and lock him up in a room or crate whenever you have guests. However, during this time, your dog can smell the “intruders” and since he can do nothing about it, is aggression levels can rise dramatically, causing stress and anxiety, which of course leads to more behavioral problems.

A well trained dog brings joy to their owner as well as friends and neighbors of the owner. A dog which doesn’t get at least basic training can be a real pain to be around. Even though the owner may think it’s cute, it may at times be a danger to itself as well as to others.

A dog which won’t come to its owner on command can run into the path of an approaching car or motorbike and cause an accident. Not only could your pet be injured or killed but so could the occupants of any vehicle involved in an accident.

It Will Never Happen To My Dog…

Imagine for a moment that you’re leaving the house with your dog. Since you’re getting in the car you don’t bother putting the dog’s leash on. Your untrained dog sees a cat or another dog on the other side of the street. If you dog runs off and starts to cross the cross will the respond to your command to “come here”?

How about another scenario in which you’re across the street chatting with a neighbour. Your dog gets out of the yard and wants to run across to you. There is a car coming towards you. Will you dog “sit” on the other side of the road when you tell them to? Or will they run into the path of the car?

But My Dog Doesn’t Need Training Because Of It’s Breed…

The size of your dog and it’s breed have nothing to do with basic dog training. Small dogs can provide just as much a hazard as larger ones in many situations.

A large Saint Bernard may knock you flying when it’s just trying to greet you, but a Miniature Schnauzer might get under your feet and trip you up when you have an armful of packages. The point here is the size of the dog doesn’t matter. There is situations where a lack of training can be down right dangerous.

Not all situations are dangerous however, some are just plain annoying. Imagine when friends visit and your dog won’t stop barking, jumping up and making a nuisance of themselves. Wouldn’t it be great if your dog would “lie down” on command and calm down.

But I Don’t Really Have The Time To Train My Dog…

Training your dog can actually save you time. Imagine not having to chase after your dog and them actually coming to you when you ask.

Training a dog so that they follow simple commands isn’t time consuming at all. In fact if you train them the smart way you actually don’t have to spend lots of extra time because you modify their behaviour during time you would be spending with them anyway. Get a dog clicker and reward good behavior with a tasty treat and a click. Pretty soon your dog will associate the click of the clicker with a reward and you can simply click to reward good behaviour.

When it comes to your dog there really is no excuse for not giving them at least basic training. You are their role model and it’s up to you to teach them the difference between good and bad behaviour. Training your pet is your responsibility and with the right care and attention your dog will be a pleasure to be around. You may even have some fun while training them!

Training your pet is all about communicating with them effectively.

The more clearly you communicate with your pet the faster they will learn. One of the best training aids you can use to communicate clearly with your pet is a clicker.

Clickers allow you to clearly communicate with your dog. They can be used to send a clear message at the exact moment you need to communicate with your pet.

If you use it correctly the animal will recognise the clicker as a sign they are about to be rewarded for good behaviour.

There are many different clickers available and most are inexpensive devices that make a sound like a cricket.

They are usually small plastic boxes and can be taken anywere you go with your pet.

How Clickers Work

When you first get a clicker it will mean nothing to your dog. It’s up to you to give it meaning. To give the clicker a meaning to your dog you simply click it at the same time as giving your dog a tasty treat like a piece of chicken, dog biscuit etc. Food is actually one of the things called a “primary reinforcer”. These are things which you can use to condition or train your dog. Other primary reinforcers include affection, play and water.

When you click the clicker and give the dog food the clicker becomes a “secondary reinforcer”. The dog begins to associate the click with the food.

Now that your dog has linked food with the clicker you can begin using the clicker sound to train your dog. This is known as “operant conditioning”. A click now has a positive association in your dog’s mind.

When you are clicking you are sending a clear message to your dog that what they are doing is good. So if you want your dog to sit and you say “sit”, when they sit you click the clicker to tell them sitting is good.

The clicker can be used to make your dog repeat positive behavior which is the basis of training your dog. The more you use the clicker method the more effective it will become.

It’s been centuries since humans first domesticated dogs. In bringing them into our society and homes we have placed upon them our expectations of how we they should behave. Much of our expectation changes the way dogs behave and feel. Making a dog part of a human family brings human emotions such as jealously and boredom to what was one a wild creature.

In younger dogs between the ages of six to sixteen months these emotions can’t be controlled as easily as they can in older dogs. In the same way a teenager isn’t capable of exercising the same restraint as an adult, so young dogs may have problems when expressing their emotions.

Chewing Cause #1 – Boredom

Research has shown that the most common cause of chewing is actually boredom. If you spend a little time each day with your dog and give them your total attention much of the chewing can be eliminated. Try spending 15 minutes a day each day to give you dog your full attention.

Chewing Cause #2 – Spite

Spite is another common cause of chewing. A story about a twenty-month old Boxer would be a great example in this case. Ever since he was a puppy, this Boxer had been an “only child” to a couple who spoiled him with lots of love and attention. The dog went along with them shopping, running errands, and visiting friends. He would walk gracefully and loved tagging along with his parents.

Then, a new baby had arrived and things changed. Suddenly, the dog found himself left in the car during errand trips. On one occasion, mom and dad returned to the car only to find the entire interior completely destroyed! The car seats, the padded dashboard, the upholstery, all ripped to shreds, totally obliterated.

The Boxer dog was venting his wrath the only way he knew how. This is a case of spiteful chewing, not jealousy. The canine was not jealous of the new baby in the family, but he was not willing to give up his former position in the family and go back to just being a dog.

Change Your Dogs Chewing Habit

When you catch your dog or puppy chewing a sock, shoe, or other object that he’s not supposed to, take the object away from him, followed by a firm “No!” The object should be replaced with his own chew toy. The toy will take his mind off the object that he was chewing and won’t make him think that you are taking something away from him.

If your life suddenly changes and alters your dog’s life too be sure to pay attention to the new schedule and adjust your focus to avoid your dog’s destructive chewing. Your pet will need a little extra care and training to prevent such behavior and to settle in with the new changes.

Dogs and especially puppies love to dig. It’s simply in their nature and for many puppies it’s their favorite hobby. Young puppies are especially likely to start digging as it is a natural way of dealing with and relieving doggy stress.

Being a puppy is quite stressful even in a quiet house. There are lots of new experiences to deal with and it’s common sense that this may cause a young puppy to get stressed. Strange smells and sounds, lack of attention and many other things may cause your new dog to dig in order to release some of the pressure they may be feeling.

The good news is that there is a way for you to allow your puppy or dog to dig and release their stress without them destroying your garden or other valuable possesions.

Follow the simple instructions below to help to train your dog to only dig in an acceptable area and leave other areas alone. These instructions will train your dog not to dig and claw in areas that you don’t want him to. It creates a place for your dog where he is free to dig without worrying about upsetting you.

1. First you need to determine an acceptable area where your dog can dig or claw as much as they want to. This could be a small patch in the backyard, local park or even somewhere in your house.

2. Make it as much fun for them to dig in this area as possible. Try burying or hiding their favorite toys in this area. Now your dog can dig and have fun trying to find their toys at the same time. Try digging along with them to make it even more fun for them.

3. Each day go back to the chosen area and instruct your dog to start digging with a command such as “go dig” or “find it”. After a while your dog should associate the command with digging in the dirt. You can try burying a dog treat in the dirt but be sure to make sure they find it!

4. If you see your dog digging in another area be sure to correct them with the “NO” command. Say it firmly but don’t yell. Then guide them to the chosen digging spot. This is exactly the same routine you would use to housetrain a puppy. Eventually your dog will automatically go to their digging spot when they feel the urge to dig.