Dog Anxiety

Many dogs suffer from fear and anxiety, but every dog reacts differently when put in stressful situations. In fact, anxiety problems can even lead to aggression and disobedience in some dogs.

To treat a dog with anxiety, first we have to find out what is causing anxiety in the first place. There are many factors that can contribute to your dog’s anxiety such as:

• Loud noises like thunderstorms, gun shots, and fireworks
• Medical conditions in the brain or nervous system
• Re-homing and separation from original family
• Being left alone
• Trauma and frighting life experiences
• Trapped or pent -up energy
• Not getting enough attention or brain stimulation

Dogs exhibit different signs when they are anxious or stressed. Some react more aggressively than others, but the signs are usually the same in every dog:

• Excessive chewing, licking themselves, or destructive behaviors like tearing up shoes, carpet, and furniture
• Using the bathroom inside the house or in their crate.
• Excessive pacing and panting
• Whining and crying
• Showing teeth and biting
• Excessive barking for no reason
• Freezing and putting hackles up

How to prevent anxiety:

The first thing to remember when treating a dog’s anxiety is understanding the fact that dogs are animals, not humans. Their brain does not develop the in the same way, nor do their behaviors or emotions.

Dogs are pack animals by nature and in every pack there is a leader, also known as the alpha. A pack is very organized, with the alpha enforcing all rules and boundaries. In a pack of dogs, everyone has a place and the alpha makes every important decision.

When you adopt a dog, you automatically bring him into your “pack.” Their natural instinct tells them that they need a pack leader and , if you do not establish yourself as one, they will take charge and become the alpha.

Dogs who maintain alpha status suffer from anxiety because they instinctively feel the need to protect and organize their pack. They will remain on high alert in case there are any unexpected dangers lurking around.

Most humans do not understand their dog and his communication style which is why owners will get frustrated. An angry owner can also lead to an anxious or nervous dogs. One way to illustrate this communication error is by imagining that you are the CEO of a foreign company. Everytime you try to tell your employees what to do, they cannot understand you because they do not understand English. Do you see how this can cause confusion?

On the other hand, submissive dogs that do not want to be an alpha also suffer from anxiety. When there is no strong pack leader, the dog becomes skittish and insecure because he thinks that there is no one there to protect him.

Knowing how to insert yourself as a pack leader is very important to your dog’s mental well-being. This can also prevent your dog from having anxiety in future.

How to fix anxiety in your dog:

• Visit your vet to rule out any medical condition that could be triggering anxiety
• Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise for his/her size and breed
• Stimulate their brain by training your dog to develop communication skills
• Establish yourself as the alpha and fulfill their need of having a strong leader
• Establish rules and boundaries
• Have scheduled feeding, walking, and play time
• Treat your dog like a dog, not a human child

By following these easy tips, you will fulfill your dog’s instinctual needs, therefore creating a confident, secure pet.

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My Dog Is Distracted Outside

I get this question often from my dog training clients: “Why does my dog misbehave every time I take him outside?” The answer is simple, you are not the pack leader.

Dogs are extremely intelligent species. They read humans better than you can imagine, and can sense when you are fearful, anxious, and excited.

Dogs that behave inside usually get enough attention and discipline inside of their home and understand that there are rules and regulations in place. They know where they belong within their human pack and understand that the rules inside the house always get enforced when there is misbehavior. Dogs are territorial animals by nature, so they understand when certain guidelines are set within a specific space.

When your dog leaves the house, the space changes and so do the rules. To prevent your dog from misbehaving, you will have to start training your dog both inside and outside the house. You will have to teach your dog that his restrictions apply in every situation as long as he is with you. A pack leader stays a leader, no matter where they are. So, if you allow your dog to run wild outside the home and take charge, they will automatically consider themselves the pack leader.

Now, lets find out how we can establish ourselves as a pack leader in any environment:

• Apply the same rules outside
• Stay consistent; always follow through with the training
• Make sure your dog is calm before you leave the house
• Always challenge your dog by putting him in situations where he misbehaves and then apply corrections
• Do not let your dog greet, play, or pull you on walks, unless it is with your permission
• Practice as much as you can to create a new habit for your dog.

Following these tips will help you to always stay in charge of your dog, no matter where you go.

 

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Dog Barking Tips

Barking is natural. This is the only way dogs can vocally communicate with each other. Although barking is perfectly normal, sometimes it becomes a real problem when you cannot control it.

1. Use a command such as “quiet” in a firm way and wait to see your dogs reaction. If your is dog still barking, gently move toward them and say the command one more time using a physical correction.
2. If your dog is barking at the door, ask your guest to give you a moment to calm your dog down. The key is to follow through and do not give up until your dog stops barking.
3. Stay calm and firm. Do not get frustrated, bend over your dog, or raise your voice, that only sets you up for failure. You want your dog to observe your calm energy, so stay relaxed and consistent.
4. Sometimes barking can be a result of pent-up energy or frustration. Try to fit daily dog walks in your schedule for a more balanced and healthy dog. Walking is a good exercise for both body and mind, and is a great stress reliever for you and your dog.
5. Contact us at Heaven Sent K-9 in Orange County if you struggle with excessive dog barking.

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My Dog Jumps on People

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The Men/Women Hater

Whether you have just rescued an aggressive dog from the shelter, or your family dog has just started showing aggression toward other people, it’s important to understand why dogs act this way, even when there is no need for such a behavior.

Although dogs have been domesticated by humans for hundreds of years, this does not mean that they can be treated like a human being. Dogs still have the genetics of the dog species. Dogs think and behave as a dog would, even if they have never been exposed to other dogs. In fact, because of these unique abilities, humans in the past would use dogs to carry out tasks that were out of the power and capability of a human being.

Today, we adopt dogs for a variety of reasons other than guarding and hunting. We use them in the police force and the military, for cancer detection, and as service and therapy dogs to help people with disabilities. Depending on the task that a dog was trained to perform, service dogs have the ability to detect changes in physical and mental health of their humans and alert them within 15-20 minutes before it happens. Knowing that dogs can detect our body chemical changes and analyze our mental pattern can help us understand why dogs behave the way they do.

Now you might be asking yourself, “What does a dog’s ability to sense things have to do with my dog’s aggression?” Trust me, I’m getting there…

Although in some cases it is true that dogs show aggression to a specific gender because they have been abused by a specific gender, it is not always the case. I have trained many dogs who displayed aggression towards men with absolutely no reason at all – they were never in an abusive household, never entered an animal shelter, and were raised by a loving family since puppyhood.

Dog Aggression Toward Men:

A dog can show aggression towards men for many reasons:

• Men have testosterone hormones than a dog can smell. They have a stronger physique, more muscle mass, and stronger tone of voice than a women and, therefore, are more dominant in nature. They do not think and act with their emotions as females do and tend to be more aggressive.
• A dominant-aggressive dog will sense all of this about a man and considers him to be a challenge. As we know, two dominant males can not be in one space because of this.
• A fear-aggressive dog will become anxious about this level of authority, feeling intimidated and threatened.
• They might have been abused by a man or multiple men. The past abuse and the trauma of the incident has made them fearful.
• There might be a lack of leadership in the family where the dog lives. A dog with no pack leader will see the need to challenge everyone they come in contact with to assert their dominance.

The opposite can also happen: An aggressive dog might feel safer with a man than a woman. They see men as shelter and view them as strong protectors.

 

Dog Aggression Toward Women:

There are many reasons why a dog will only show aggression towards women:

• Some dogs hate the high-pitched voice than some women have. It can remind them of an injured animal whimpering which is a sign of weakness. The dog senses this and sees an opportunity to attack.
• They sense the lower energy and dominance level and think that women are an easy target.
• They might have been abused by a female in the past.
• There is a lack of leadership in the family they live with.

Dog aggression is a very serious problem. Always consult a certified dog behaviorist to find out how you can stop dog aggression. An inexperienced dog trainer with no knowledge of the dog’s behavior can do more damage than good.

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Dog On Dog Aggression

Every day, I get calls and e-mails from dog owners in Orange County who are struggling with their dog’s aggression. Their number one concern is whether or not they can overcome this problem.
Although the internet has provided a wealth of information over the years, there are also hundreds of misleading articles online written by unqualified dog trainers that report false training techniques. Because of this, dog aggression is now more misunderstood than ever.

Dog aggression is a behavior problem that he or she learns over time, not something the dog is born with. It is curable no matter how late you start the rehabilitation process, although it is the best to start as early as possible.

The common misunderstanding between dog trainers and dog owners are that aggressive dogs are dominant dogs. Although some aggressive dogs can also be dominant, dominance and aggression are two separate things, and should be handled as such.

In this article, I will break down the common causes of dog-on-dog aggression and explain each factor in complete detail. Please keep in mind that this article does not provide tips on how to fix these problems, but instead explains how things went wrong. One can not solve a problem without finding its root.

Dominance Aggression

Dominant dogs are natural born leaders, they are genetically designed to lead and organize a pack. The desire to lead is very strong in dominant dogs compared to others – It is what they were born to do. But, contrary to popular belief, very few dogs actually possess the dominant trait.

The majority of dogs with aggression issues have been raised with no structure or discipline.
If by chance you own a dominant dog, you must take the leadership role or your dog will naturally take over. You must form a pack structure and enforce rules and boundaries.

Dominant dogs do the best with owners that have strong personalities. Many assume that dominant dogs can not be controlled, but this is just a myth. Many dominant dogs make great working dogs and can be very obedient if they are matched with the right handler.
However, not everyone can handle a dominant dog. They need strong handlers who believe in discipline and structure. A dominant dog is too smart to be fooled or bribed with treats. You must let the dog know that you are faster, smarter, and stronger and that you will not tolerate disobedience.

There must always be consequences when your dog breaks a rule, or else the situation can get out of hand. When dealing with a dominant dog, you can not afford to be emotional (meaning angry), frustrated, or over-catering to your dog. Dogs that are raised in the manner will misunderstand your emotions as a sign of weakness and will soon establish him or herself as your superior.

A lack of consistency in enforcing rules is also a sign of weakness. The dog will quickly learn that you are not smart enough catch their bad behavior every time, so they will continue to push the boundaries. The pack leader (you) must always enforce strict, consistent rules.

The Leader Dog

When a dog owner is too lenient and forgets about the pack structure, the dog automatically assumes that he or she is the leader of the pack. Dogs are social animals by nature and instinctually enjoy being a part of a social group. Most dog owners fail to understand that one of the natural desires of their family pet is to be part of a pack. The vast majority of dogs are happy to be followers and prefer not to lead. But, when there is no defined pack leader in their household, their instinct is to take over.

When a dog takes the leader position, they set their own rules. If you or anyone else disobeys these rules, the dog will become aggressive. You might see a dog’s aggression in different forms, including food aggression, bed aggression, dog aggression, people aggression, toy aggression, etc

Dog Was Attacked In The Past

I often hear from my clients that their dog has never shown aggressive behavior in the past. But, on a normal day at the park, their dog was suddenly attacked by another dog in the park, and, since then, he or she has started demonstrating aggressive behavior.

It is very important to understand that your dog is not the problem here. The problem is you and your lack of leadership. Your dog expects you to be their guardian and protect them from harm. When you fail to do so, they quickly realize that they are all alone and the fear of getting hurt again will backlash in the form of aggression next time that they see a dog. Dogs who trust their handlers do not become aggressive with another dog because they feel like they can rely on their owner. They have confidence in their human leader and know that they are protected.

I personally have experienced this kind of aggression. My German Shepherd (Gunner), who you may have seen in my video clips, was attacked by a husky at the dog park when he was just 8 months old. After the fight, he became severely aggressive towards other dogs. After almost killing another dog, I was so desperate to find out why he was behaving in such a cruel manner. He started off so sweet and submissive before the attack but, after the fight, he was a different dog. His aggression was so severe that simple eye contact from another dog would stir him up. He would thrash and spin, sometimes even bite my hand to release the leash so he could run after the other dog.

I called a number of dog trainers in Orange County and they all told me to put him down or lock him up. These so-called dog trainers told me that my precious dog Gunner would never be able to interact with other dogs again. I knew that putting my dog down was not an option. I realized that I was the one who created the problem, so it was my job to fix it.

I spent months training Gunner and practiced to becoming the leader. I soon realized that the reasoning behind his aggressive behavior was because of the little knowledge I had on dog body language. That day at the park, I failed to read the other dog’s body language and missed all the warning signs. I promised myself that the next time a dog is showing aggressive body language, I will be the one who tells the him to back off, not my dog.

I’m sure some of you are rolling your eyes while reading this part, but, if you have stumbled upon this article, maybe you are struggling with the same problem. Maybe your emotions are causing your dog’s aggression. From now on, you need to do what is the best for your dog and not what makes you most comfortable.

Today, Gunner is my work partner and a very confident dog, he loves to play with dogs of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. If ever there is a problem where another dog shows aggression, he comes to me right away and asks me to protect him.
Most people take pride in their big, powerful dogs and would rather have the dogs resolve their behavioral issues on their own. But, if you take this approach, you will soon find out that dog aggression is a real headache to fix.

Always remember to consult a professional dog behavior specialist about your dog’s aggression, your own interpretation of what might have caused the aggression can be different from a professional opinion.

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The Right Way To Socialize Your Dog With Other Dogs

When it comes to dog socialization, people often think that by simply taking their dog to a park and letting them run around with unfamiliar dogs will do the trick. Even though you allow your dog to play and interact with other dogs at a young age, this doesn’t mean that your dog will become completely socialized. Although socializing your dog can decrease the chances of behavior issues in future, a dog with weak leaders has the potential to become aggressive at any age, with or without interacting with other dogs.

It is important to understand that aggression does not always come from a lack of interaction with other dogs. Typically, aggression spawns from a lack of leadership and trust.

Every dog pack has a leader called the alpha. In a dog pack, the alpha is in charge of the pack’s safety. The alpha is strong and will protect the pack from harm. Therefore, if you own a dog in Orange County, you must keep this pack mentality in mind by providing and catering to its instinctual needs for survival as a species.

There is more to socialization than letting your dog run free in a park with other dogs – all interactions must be supervised. Human interruption must be immediately enforced as needed. Letting dogs resolve their own problems is not the right approach to socialization. There must be rules and boundaries for safe and respectful interactions. These rules must must come from YOU, not your dog. Do not let your dog bully or be bullied by another dog. If this happens you must step in and reinforce boundaries as a pack leader.

When your dog is interacting with other dogs, watch for red flags from both sides. Determine what kind of body language your dog is exhibiting while interacting with another dog. Do they seem aggressive, shy, or scared?

When you present yourself as leader of the pack, your dog understands that the alpha role has been filled and he will not see the need to establish his dominance by picking fights with other dogs or people.

In addition, when you assume the position of pack leader, your dog will trust you in any situation involving people and other dogs. He will know that you are the one who makes the first move and, if need be, you will take the aggressor position. By become the alpha, you will raise a confident dog.

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How Your Energy Can Make Your Dog Aggressive?

You have probably heard this over and over but, dogs can sense your energy. They can tell when you are excited, nervous, or scared, so it’s important to control your thoughts and emotions when you are raising a puppy or adult dog.

Dogs and people share some similar behavior traits when it comes to non-verbal communication skills, like reading body language.
The difference is that dogs exceed our visual powers as a primary factor in understanding their surroundings. They also use additional powerful tools such as the sense of smell and hearing to understand and analyze their environment to the fullest extent.

Dogs are extremely watchful of what we do on a daily basis; they quickly pick up on our life patterns and learn about every individual around the household. They can tell who is anxious, confident, and who can they push limits around and how much. This may be why your dog is behaving differently around each family member.

As a dog trainer in Orange County, most of my aggression cases come from overly-humanized dogs. These dogs come from families who have over-catered to their dog and have replaced their dog needs with humans needs. These families often think that this is the most humane way of treating a dog, but they fail to understand that a dog is not a human.

A dog can quickly become unbalanced when they grow up with a family who does not understand, or refuses to identify, that a dog is in fact a different species, complete with their own unique needs and lifestyle.

Dogs require discipline, affection, and stable human contact to grow into confident adults. Dogs play rough, discipline each other in their pack, and have very predictable social behaviors; they do not understand complicated human emotions.

The Emotional Human:

If you are the type that tenses up when coming into contact with another dog, you can not blame your dog for behaving aggressively. This kind of human fear can grow into a big problem. Often, this person has experiencing a vicious dog and is still carrying the burden of fear from the incident. This anxiety causes your dog to misread the presence of dogs or people and registers these things as the reason for your fear. This leads to their desire to protect you.

Dogs hear vast frequencies, even those that are inaudible to us, and have a sense of smell 10000000 times stronger humans. Dogs can smell fear: it’s a fact. When experience fear, your heart rate and breathing increases, you begin to sweat (even if you don’t notice), and your body releases both adrenaline and cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone. All of this happens to prepare your body to run away from the source of fear or to stay and fight it, also known as “fight or flight”.

As humans, we have more control over how we react to the given situation and we can even disguise it from others. However, a dog only has the capability to respond in the fight or flight manner. Therefore, you might see your dog act aggressively in response to your source of the fear.

A fearful human will raise a skittish or aggressive dog, depending on the personality of their dog. An emotionally stable person will raise a confident, well-trained dog, regardless of the dog’s personality.

The Over Catering Human:

Like I said before, a dog cannot understand complex human emotions. Trust me, your dog will be O.K. if he accidentally bumps his head on the wall. There is no need to freak out and run to nurture him – they are strong creatures. Dogs will go crazy when they are put in an overly-sensitive environment and, eventually, they will become mentally unstable. It is essential for a human leader to practice calm energy around their dog and become aware of their emotions in order to change their dog’s temperament.

People with overly anxious and excessive catering personalities are not logical dog owners; this is why the dog bite rate is increasing every year. A dog with weak leaders will see the need to overreact because they do not think that their human leader is capable of protecting them. This is due to the fact that they have only experienced love from their owner and no discipline.

Positive reinforcement dog trainers in Orange County have fooled people into false happiness theories.
A positive reinforcement-only dog trainer will tell you that any form of correction is wrong, which can cause long term damage to a dog. They deny dominance as a factor in the social pecking order and label any aggression as either fear or mental instability. Most of the time, these dog trainers have never rehabilitated an aggressive dog.

I never thought the day would come when people consider discipline crueler than taking a dog’s life at a vet’s office or forcing a social animal to live in isolation. But, unfortunately, this is the life we live in because humans have developed unreasonable expectations of a happy dog. You can see how people and their emotions can become selfish and hypocritical.

One day, I hope that all humans will recognize dogs as a highly intelligent species that require care from responsible, disciplinary owners.

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