How to Keep Aggression at Bay in Puppies

Dear Alex,

How do I get aggression out of my 8 month old? He’s starting to chew through the fence to get to the neighbor’s dogs.

Please help!
Sabrina

Dear Sabrina,

Aggression is a very serious issue, and should not be solved or managed without the help and guidance of a certified professional. Those of us who are certified in canine behavior modification will work alongside you, and teach you how to manage your dog’s aggression safely.

That being said, I think it’s important to now discuss how to prevent aggression and proper socialization in a new puppy. When you first bring your new puppy home, it’s vital to begin the socialization process with people and other animals. This will help set your puppy up for success, and will teach him important skills he needs to prevent him from getting hurt, or from hurting someone else.

The first thing to do is to test your puppy’s disposition when it comes to food and treats. While your puppy is eating, try petting him all over his body. If he doesn’t growl, give a sideways glance, or go after you, praise him and let him continue eating. Next, try to get close to his food bowl. It’s a good idea to test this by standing near the bowl first, and if all goes well, move on to placing your hand near the bowl. Again, if you do not get a negative reaction, praise him, and let him continue eating. Now try to touch the bowl as he’s eating, and try to take some food out of his mouth. If he continues to act politely, praise him, and let him finish his meal is peace. This process should be repeated at every meal, and should be done while he’s chewing on, or playing with toys as well.

If you ever do get a negative reaction, make a startling sound (a stomp, clap, etc.) to snap him out of his reaction, and pick up the bowl of food. Once he’s calm, try to put the food down again. The moment he gets feisty, pick the food up again. This will teach him in order to eat, he must not act in an aggressive manner. Is he does, his food is removed. He will eventually learn to be nice and polite while eating. It would also be a good idea to call a certified professional at this time so his aggression can be dealt with properly.

Another important part of socialization is being able to pet your dog in all areas of his body. People are constantly going to want to greet and pet him, so the more you get him used to it, the better. The best time to do this is when you and he are both very calm and relaxed. Once the energy in your home is quiet, massage his ears, gently tug his tail, rub his belly, and put your hands in his mouth. This shows him to be calm while being pet, and desensitizes him to being touched. You never know—you may need to take an off limits item out of his mouth, a child may tug his tail, or a vet may need to take a look at his underside. We want him to react appropriately, not aggressively. Doing this massage exercise will teach him to do so.

Another important aspect of socialization is getting him used to playing properly with other dogs. If you have friends or family members who have dogs without any aggression issues, set up play dates. The other dogs will teach him boundaries, and will show him acceptable play. By playing with other dogs, he will also learn how to read other dogs’ body language, and how to respond to other dogs’ social cues. If you notice him not heeding to other dogs’ warnings, or if you notice he keeps going and instigating play despite the others removing themselves from the interaction, it’s time to put an end to the play date. This would be a good time to call a trainer so he or she can show you how to properly step in and teach him correct play.

All of these exercises and steps will help your puppy be the best version of himself he can be, and will help him lead a happy, healthy life with your family. WOOF!

-Alex

Alexandra (Alex) Macias has been a certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist since 2008, and is the owner of Alex Macias Dog training, a Long Beach-based dog training company. To ask Alexandra questions for a future article, leave them in the comments below, or email her atalexmaciasdogtraining@gmail.com.

How to Keep Your Dog Calm, Cool and Collected During Fireworks and Celebrations

As the Fourth of July quickly approaches, we thought it would be helpful to write a column on how to keep your dog calm, cool, and collected during the fireworks and celebrations. First and foremost, remember that fireworks, loud music, and rowdy parties may be fun for us humans, but they are generally terrifying events for dogs.

The best thing to do during the Fourth of July is to stay home with your dog, especially if he does not handle loud noises well. Try to keep the routine as normal as possible, and make scary situations positive by doing training exercises, or playing games with him. This keeps his mind off of what’s going on outside, and keeps him focused on something and someone he knows. You may also need to use more treats than normal, even if practicing a command your dog already knows. Remember he’s scared, and we all need a little extra bribe when we’re in a scared state of mind. Giving him treats will also make the situation positive, and help desensitize him to the noise. If he gets treats every time a firework goes off, he might start to think the fireworks aren’t so bad after all.

If staying home is not an option, and if you have a dog who is especially anxious, you may want to consider crating him, or putting him in a small area away from any doors or windows, like a laundry room or bathroom. Even if a window is closed, a dog may go through it to escape a scary situation. Dogs are den animals, so a crate or smaller space can provide much needed comfort for a dog who is in the middle of a “panic attack.” Give him plenty of toys to chew on that will last a while, like bully sticks or Kongs to keep him occupied, and his mind off of the scary noises. Make sure all doors and windows are secure, and consider shutting the blinds or curtains to help shut out the festivities even more.

It’s also important to try to provide a soothing, calm environment. Providing some white noise in the background can help soothe him. Items like a table fan, a radio set to static or classical music or a ticking clock can create white noise to drown out the fireworks, loud music, and other celebratory sounds.

If you would like to take your dog with you to the party, remember to take his needs into consideration. Don’t force a dog who is timid, anxious, nervous, or unsure in new situations to go to the celebration. If your dog is not going to enjoy himself, consider leaving him at home where he is comfortable. Keep in mind though, even if your dog is not generally anxious, and is normally comfortable in loud situations, make sure he is microchipped, or if he already is, that the chip has up to date contact information. Also make sure he is wearing his collar with a current license and tag on it. It’s important to plan for the worst, so just in case your dog escapes or gets away from you, he can be properly identified by someone, and his chances of returning home safely greatly increase.

If your dog has absolutely uncontrollable anxiety, consider checking with our veterinarian to see if there’s something he or she can prescribe to take the edge off. You may also want to consider making an appointment with a dog trainer to discuss his behavior issue, and create a training plan to keep him safe and happy.

Happy Fourth everyone! Keep yourself, your family, and furry family members safe and healthy! WOOF!

Alexandra (Alex) Macias has been a certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist since 2008, and is the owner of Alex Macias Dog training, a Long Beach-based dog training company. To ask Alexandra questions for a future article, leave them in the comments below, or email her atalexmaciasdogtraining@gmail.com.

 

How to Leash Your Dog in 10 Days (or More)

Hi Alex,
Any suggestions on how to get my dog to stop pulling on the leash when we walk?

Thanks,
Jill

Hi Jill,

Leash skills are one of the most important things we can teach our dogs. They need walks every day (and let’s face it, it wouldn’t hurt us, either). Pulling on the leash makes walking a chore, instead of something enjoyable we and our dogs can do together.

First, let’s discuss the type of leash you are using. It’s best to use a four to six foot nylon, rope or leather leash and to stay away from retractable leashes. Retractable leashes can break, and make controlling your dog tough. Next, choose a side of your body to walk him on. Choose the side that’s comfortable for you, but remember—every person who walks him needs to walk him on the same side. This provides consistency, and lets him know he must follow the rules for every walker.

When you walk, it’s important to hold the leash at a length that will keep him at your side, and not in front of you. Once you have him at your side, begin walking. If he starts to pull, stop walking, and put him in a sit at your side. As soon as he’s calm, give him the command “let’s go,” and start walking again. The moment he begins to pull, stop again, and put him in a sit. This process teaches him that in order to get what he wants (to walk), he must not pull. If he pulls, he doesn’t get to continue moving. It’s probably going to take you a while to finish your walk while walking like this, but stick to it! Don’t give in, or he will never learn he must play by your rules.

There are also some tools you can try that make walking a lot easier for both you, and your dog. The two I like to recommend to my clients are the Gentle Leader and Easy Walk Harness. Let’s start with the Gentle Leader.

The Gentle Leader is my favorite, but cannot be used on breeds that don’t have much of a muzzle, like Pugs and Old English Bulldogs. The Gentle Leader is essentially a horse bridle. It has a nose strap that goes around the nose of the dog, but is not a muzzle, so the dog can still eat, drink, yawn, and even bite. (Aggression is another topic, for another day). The nose loop attaches to the leash under the chin, and the neck strap buckles behind the ears. When the dog starts to pull, the neck strap creates gentle pressure behind the dog’s ears, which is uncomfortable, so he stops pulling, and comes back to your side. The Gentle Leader is a great option for most dogs. I just love it!

The Easy Walk harness is just like any other harness, except it attaches to the leash on the chest, rather than between the shoulders of the dog. Because it attaches on the chest, it creates gentle pressure behind the dog’s front legs when he begins to pull. This corrects him for you, and is slightly uncomfortable for him, so he will stop pulling. This harness is a great choice for breeds with short muzzles like Pugs and Old English Bulldogs.

Both the Gentle Leader and Easy Walk harness should be fit by a professional dog trainer to make sure they fit and work properly. Both can be purchased at Petco, Petsmart, Centinela Feed, or Amazon.

Hope one of these methods work for you and your dog, Jill! Good luck! WOOF!

Alexandra (Alex) Macias has been a certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist since 2008, and is the owner of Alex Macias Dog training, a Long Beach-based dog training company. To ask Alexandra questions for a future article, leave them in the comments below, or email her atalexmaciasdogtraining@gmail.com.

Stubborn Pup Wants to Stay Out All Night, Despite Coyote Danger

Dear Alex,

I adopted my dog Maggie back in February, and everything is going great, except one thing. Maggie has full access to our house and backyard all day, but I want her to be inside at night because of our neighborhood’s coyote problem. When I let her out one last time to go potty before bed, she likes to stay in the backyard, and does not come in when I call her. Is there anything I can do to solve this?

Thanks,
Karen

Hi Karen,
Good decision to bring Maggie in at night! We all need to do our due diligence to keep our pets safe from coyotes. It can be extremely frustrating when your dog does not listen, especially when being called. For dogs that like to ignore us, or who have a difficult time listening when distracted, I like to use a technique called targeting, while also teaching the command “come touch.” Targeting gives the dog something to aim for when coming over to you, which makes coming over easier, and more exciting. In this case, we are going to use your hand as the target. To do so:

• Step in front of Maggie.
• Place a treat in your hand, and extend your arm out to the side of your body. Make sure your hand is at Maggie’s level.
• Say, “Maggie, come touch” in an exciting, friendly voice.
• Maggie should smell the treat, and come touch your hand with her nose. As soon as she does this, praise her, and give her the treat.
• Slowly increase the distance between you and Maggie, and continue to call her using the “come touch” command.
• Make sure you have a treat in your hand every time you call her for the first few days. After a few days have passed, and she comes to you every time you call her, start using the treats sporadically, and gradually fade them out. This way, we are teaching her the command without her becoming dependent on the treats.

The “come touch” command works great, and should really get Maggie’s come when called down solid. If you have any further questions, or need any more help, please feel free to send me an email. WOOF!

-Alex

Alexandra (Alex) Macias has been a certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Specialist since 2008, and is the owner of Alex Macias Dog training, a Long Beach-based dog training company. To ask Alexandra questions for a future article, leave them in the comments below, or email her at  alexmaciasdogtraining@gmail.com.

Barking Beagle Driving Neighbors Bonkers

What to do when a dog barks excessively at one's neighbors? In response to numerous readers' questions regarding barking dogs, we're reposting one of Alex's first columns to help readers get to the bottom of the noisy rover issue. Alexandra Macias, owner and operator of the Long Beach-based Alex Macias dog training, will be back next week answering new pet-related questions from readers.

Hi Alex,

My five-year-old Beagle, Kentucky, barks excessively when people walk by my house. Even when they’re long gone, he still continues to bark. I constantly tell him to stop, but he never listens, and my neighbors are now starting to complain. Please help!

-Lynda Gordon

Dear Lynda,

Barking can definitely be a frustrating behavior to deal with. There are several remedies to try. The simplest remedy is to take your dog on a daily walk. Since Kentucky is a Beagle, he needs at least a 45 minute walk every day of the week. Walks are not only physical workouts, but they provide much needed mental stimulation for your dog. When a dog is mentally tired, he or she is much less likely to perform nuisance behaviors such as excessive barking. If the walks are not enough, you may also want to try putting a backpack on him when he goes on walks. You can weigh it down with bottles of water, or plastic baggies of rice. The extra weight will add to his physical workout, but more importantly, the backpack will give him a job to do. This will add to his mental stimulation, which, again, will tire him out more.

If Kentucky still continues the barking despite getting enough mental stimulation, try a shaky can. A shaky can is an empty aluminum can with 13 pennies placed inside. Every time Kentucky barks, you’re going to tell him “that’s enough,” and give the can one, hard shake. He will learn that every time he barks, he hears an unpleasant sound. He will want to avoid the unpleasant sound, so will not bark. It’s important to say a command like “that’s enough” while shaking the can. This will teach him “that’s enough” means to stop barking. That way, you can eventually fade the can away, and just rely on verbally telling him “that’s enough.”

These remedies should work, and you should see some progress in Kentucky’s barking. Good luck, Lynda! Woof!

-Alexandra Macias

Alexandra Macias is the owner and operator of Alex Macias Dog Training, a Long Beach-based dog training business. To ask Alexandra questions for a future article, leave them in the comments below, or email her at  alexmaciasdogtraining@gmail.com.