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Dominant Dogs require special training, but so do their Owners. Too often an exasperated Dog Owner will scream or strike out in sheer frustration as the dog pushes the Owner beyond bearable limits. Or the overwhelmed Owner will treat the dog the way Helen Keller’s parents treated her, turning her into “an animal” until Annie arrived on the scene. In the words of Captain Keller to Annie Sullivan: “Give her everything she wants.” Backfire!

So let’s start with You, the Dog Owner. Understand that Your own attitude and timing are critical for a successful outcome.

One of the most important things to remember when working with a dominant dog is to keep your cool. Yelling is counterproductive and only turns a difficult animal off. Yelling escalates the problem. You can’t fight fire with fire.

Instead, remember that: “Iron sharpens iron.”

Focus. It’s up to You to be steady, firm, and consistent, and to make sure You are calm when you begin your daily work with your dog. This approach is not inconsistent with love, for those who love their children and dogs will teach them, lead them, and discipline them with a consistent, fair, and firm hand, so that they can be the best they can be. That’s your goal with your dog.

Take control. To do this, it is very important for you to establish and maintain steady eye contact when taking authority over your Dominant Dog. While the submissive dog will look away, the dominant one will hold the stare.

Eye contact is also critical for you to hold the dog’s attention and keep him in an obedient posture. In dog language, the first one to look away “loses” and submits. So let your eyes send the focused message of “control” and “authority.”

Also, YOU must “claim” all things that the dominant dog considers “his possessions,” whether toys, rugs, bones, or whatever. You must present yourself as the dominant one, and all things in the house as yours. Only then do you “invite him in” and “share” these things with him.

You cannot allow the dog to claim or take possession of anything. You do not want to encourage the development of more dominant behaviors, possessiveness, or aggression. Indeed, aggression dog dominance naturally evolves from uncorrected dominance posture. Instead, break the cycle.

Another key in breaking dog dominance behavior: Do NOT allow the dog to have what he wants “for free.” Make him earn it!

For example, a Dominant Dog should have a good walk or strenuous exercise before he is fed, such as a 30-minute walk at a brisk pace, followed by a “cool down” time (or he will get sick). He should be required to abide by rules and to respond obediently to your leadership, so that he feels he is “working” with “purpose” and “worth.”

It is exciting to watch a formerly out-of-control dog stand proudly with a happy gleam in his eye because he knows he has a job and boundaries, that he does not have the burden of controlling things and can trust in you, and that he has achieved something of perceived worth and pleased you! The dog then takes joy in obedience!

Then he’s earned the right to something he wants . . . not as a training tool or bribe, but removed from the actual training time . . . not as something he owns, but a gift from you . . . an expression of your general pleasure and affection . . . and only when YOU choose to give it . . . only in YOUR timing. YOU possess the control. Don’t relinquish it!

There is an explicit dog training technique to use on a Dominant Dog. It contains a little-known technique about YOUR FOCUS so that the dog actually SMELLS AND SENSES your authority and control!

It also applies the dog communication system of “silence, submission, and leadership” . . . the dog whisperer behavior approach, in familiar terms. After all, for effective communication with your dog, to command and control his attention and focus in a positive, constructive manner, you must speak HIS language.

. . . And that requires that YOU have a silent way to establish and maintain your OWN focus and sense of cool, calm, collected power and authority. Part B of this free article provides details of a little known secret, a dog training tip to help you do just that! (It is effective for commanding respect in the workplace, as well.)

Give dominance no place, and it will not escalate.
Give it an inch, and it will take a mile . . .

Rena Murray is a professional Dog Obedience Trainer and Dog Behaviorist with extensive Dog Behavior Modification experience, from Puppy Training to Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks to Aggression Dog Dominance issues. Committed to helping Dog Owners as well as Pets, Rena publishes self-help articles with real world examples and a free email newsletter to help you select, train, understand, communicate with, and control your dog. To learn how to turn your Dominant Dog into a lovable, obedient pet, and a little-known training tip for establishing and maintaining Your Focus and Authority as Master, visit the Dog Dominance Behavior web site today!

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The article “Introduction to Dog Dominance Behavior” and Part A of this article emphasize the critical importance of using dog pack psychology and the dog whisper behavior communication system of “silence, submission, and leadership” to communicate effectively with your dog, command his attention, and establish your authority as the Leader and Master. Now we will give you a secret tip with a concrete example of how to implement this approach to solve aggression dog dominance or patterns of willfulness and stubborn disobedience in your dog.

Yelling will not work. It only turns a difficult dog off and escalates the problem. How often has each of us made that spontaneous mistake! It is soooo important to keep your cool!

Check your attitude before you dive in. You should only start work with your dog when you are cool, calm, and collected. Then throughout your dog behavior modification exercises, you need to conduct yourself in a steady, firm, focused, and consistent manner. If the dog is stubborn and persistent, You must be more so . . . and You win! He submits!

Iron sharpens iron. You should have the iron control of an iron fist in a soft glove.

I also cannot reemphasize enough the importance of your establishing and maintaining steady, firm eye contact with your Dominant Dog . . . so that in “dog language,” you convey the silent, unmistakably clear message that YOU are the one with the authority and control. YOU are the “Pack Leader” to whom all others in the pack must submit.

I warned that you must give dominance no place, but give it an inch, and it will take a mile! No, you have to deal with it. So here’s a detailed example of HOW:

Challenge Example #1:

Many people are presented with “impossible” situations such as a dog we’ll call “Pete.” Pete snarls when you try to get him off the bed. You try yelling at him . . . bribing him with treats . . . begging: “Please, baby,” . . . and have lapsed into tears of extreme frustration! You fear Pete, and rightly so, because he snaps. So what can you do?

The next time Pete is off the bed and out of the bedroom, shut the door. Then think of something that makes you feel “on top of the world” . . . and DO NOT LOSE THAT THOUGHT! If you lose your focus with an untrained animal, you will not be able to accomplish what you want.

Next, loop Pete’s leash around his neck and make him walk into the room beside you. [Be sure the leash is a long “training leash.”] Walk in. Then make Pete sit or lie down. This is a higher level of control.

If Pete starts to get up of his own accord, go “SHHHHH” or give a quiet but firm “Hey!” and hold a focused, firm (but NOT angry) stare. Your level, unblinking eye contact speaks volumes to Pete in potent, silent, pack language.

Then snap your fingers and point at Pete. All the while, stay focused on the thought that made you feel on top of the world, which gives you a feeling of authority and control. Dogs smell the authority scent that we let off when focused.

Expect Pete to need some repeated correction. So practice this whole procedure at least 5 times. If he jumps on the bed, remove him immediately, with your “SHHHHH” or quiet, firm “Hey!” and a focused, firm stare. Yelling will not help in this situation.

Then walk Pete out of the room beside you. For 10-14 days keep Pete out of the room. Do not let him anywhere near that bed!

Dogs follow a step-by-step process in life, so every training exercise should mirror that. You will rehabilitate dogs like Pete only step by step, with consistency, persistence, patience, and focus.

Also, while dogs respond to words in “training,” speaking will not work well in “rehabilitation,” as here with Pete. Words will not establish your dominance. No amount of yelling will establish your dominance. . . . only the body language of focused “silence.”

Challenge #2 - The Second Step:

Keep Pete outside the bedroom at the open doorway, wearing his leash. Be sure he is lying down obediently, then lay his leash down. Give him the signals through body language — your staring, snapping, and pointing — not with words.

With Pete lying at the threshold to the bedroom, you enter and sit on the bed - still very focused, exuding authoritative control. You concentrate on your “top-of-the-world” thought while making Pete wait 3 to 5 minutes. Then you invite him into the room.

If Pete does not walk in calmly, then correct him. . . Point, snap, stare . . . and place him back where he started — at the doorway, wearing his leash, lying down. Make him wait again before inviting him back into the room.

If Pete races in and jumps on the bed, firmly pull the leash and remove him from the bed matter-of-factly. Make him walk out of the room with you and lie down in front of the door. Instruct him to stay, while you keep a focused stare at his eyes.

Then sit on the bed again and think of how YOU are the dominant one . . . and how YOU are NOT sharing the bed right now!

10 minutes later, bring Pete in. Choose a corner and make him stay there. Again, correct him if he moves. If at any time he jumps on the bed, remove him from it and start over. Do this 5 to 7 times, but no more right then.

Pete will eventually have no issues with the bed. This process should take no more than 30 days. If it does, though, remember that professional dog trainers and dog behaviorists are available to help, so take advantage of our experience.

Never be ashamed to ask for help from a professional dog trainer who understands pack psychology, any more than you would be ashamed to ask a lawyer, accountant, banker, or broker for help with a situation involving their specialties. Dog behavior modification and solving dog dominance behavior problems are not easy, and no one will laugh. This is “do-able,” though, and YOU have the power to do it!

You have the power to regain your life, your home, and your right relationship with your pet. As Nike says: “Just DO it!”

Remember the old cowboy saying:

“Ain’t no horse that can’t be rode . . .
Ain’t no rider that can’t be throwed.”

Rena Murray is a professional Dog Obedience Trainer and Dog Behaviorist with extensive Dog Behavior Modification experience. Committed to helping Dog Owners as well as Pets, Rena seeks to educate as many people as possible through her self-help articles on Dog Behavior, Training a Dog, Aggression Dog Dominance, Dog Breeds, Shelter Dogs, Puppy Training, Dog House Training, Dog Training Equipment, and related matters posed by clients and bloggers. Rena also publishes a free e-mail newsletter: PAW PERSUASION POINTERS to help people better understand communication and control of their dogs, debunk dog training myths, explore right and wrong dog training techniques for specific situations, address destructive dog behavior, excessive and obsessive dog behavior, and other canine issues and concerns, from new puppy to old dog. Subscribe to this free newsletter and obtain other free articles at http://www.PawPersuasion.com.

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