Thank you, I’m glad you found it helpful! We are doing most of the things you mentioned in the article. I have been using avoidance, reward and general confidence building techniques, as of yet without a muzzle (I plan on purchasing one). My dog Barley used to bark and growl at people in hats, people on bikes, people with backpacks, people in wheelchairs, and a whole lot of other things. So I don’t know how to positively reinforce his good behavior while outside. For a long time, I let both of these destructive feelings overwhelm and poison me. Socializing your dog is totally possible at any stage of life. The distraction of walking can be helpful. This is a great article! 8. Let’s explore how to socialize an aggressive dog and why socialization is important (for puppies and adults alike). Muzzle training is an absolute must for dogs that have snapped or bitten someone, and a great idea if you think your dog ever might hurt someone. Keep training sessions extremely short – five minutes or less, in general. For dogs wearing muzzles, squeeze cheese is a great reward that fits through muzzle bars easily! Give your dog treats for remaining calm, even at that distance. As I discussed in our mini-dictionary of training terms, you’ll largely focus on counterconditioning and desensitization. Current pet ownership statistics show many dog owners own more than one dog or may own multiple pets of different species, such as a dog and a cat. If your dog is large and you struggle to control her, a head halter might be a better option. One of the best ways to prevent jealous behavior is to properly socialize your dog. We have a lot of great dog savvy friends and family who are happy to help us. Properly socializing puppies at this age is crucial to avoid fear, aggression, and anxiety relating to sights, sounds, social situations, and much more. I generally teach dogs that when they notice their trigger, their job is to touch my hand as fast as they can! Part of your socialization plan should be to help your puppy get used to being handled. One of my all-time favorite dog podcasts, Drinking from the Toilet, recently aired an episode called “Puppy Thoughts.” As someone who’s always thinking about my next puppy, I loved Hannah’s approach to the subject. She has had 3 Meet and greets and barked and showed no interest in knowing anyone and only wants to be with me. He loves car rides . But if you focus on really excelling at each step in this guide, you’ll be able to make a significant difference in your dog’s unwanted behavior. Hi there Kayla! Ask people not to approach and request that they control their dogs. You’re on the right track so far. Lots of great tips for socializing your dog! If she’s barking, lunging, or won’t eat, you’re too close. Hi Kayla. A socialized dog can handle new interactions and experiences without growing overly anxious, fearful, or aggressive. Instead, focus on what you can do to help socialize your aggressive dog. Just take your pup out and about and let them experience the world! In part 1 of this article I talked about how to identify the behaviours that demonstrate that your Husky may be displaying Jealous, Over-Protective, Possessive behaviours.. While being best buds won’t cure things (my dog will even growl at his best friend Monty if tries to steal food), it can help make things better. Thank you !! Hi Kyra, it sounds like you’re struggling with some leash reactivity with your dog. Practising socialization is a big help for Yorkies’ jealousy. If she reacts negatively, take a break, then reset further from the trigger. Common examples include men in hats, thunderstorms, or other dogs. It's downright scary at times! 38 Comments. But sometimes, for whatever reason, you miss out on that critical socialization period and your dog ends up with frustrating behavior issues or even becomes aggressive. Kayla’s a pretty busy trainer, so I’m not sure if she’ll see this. K9ofMine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Puppies are primed for learning about the world when they’re about 3 weeks to 3 months old. Some dogs get jealous if they see a small pet such as a hamster or bird perched on your shoulder. The goal is to gradually expose your dog to something upsetting while pairing that upsetting thing with awesome treats. I really want to be able to have him around people and other dogs but I am scared of him biting someone. She also barks at every noise she hears. How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A Puppy? The dog will feel his enthusiasm with the other dog and even if it was not a jealous dog before, it could become. But, I sent her an email and forwarded your contact information to her. The main goal of this step is to totally and completely avoid problem situations. Try walking with the other dog, leaving at least 10 feet of space at first. Seek out large breeds, like a German Shepherd, and smaller breeds, like a Chihuahua. Keep your dog close to you when passing others, turning corners, and going through doors. This advice is perfect even if you’re looking at shelter dogs or a dog that’s always in your home. Instead, try to think of the last time your dog reacted aggressively towards each of her triggers. I need help with my foster dog. Sources 1. https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/AnimalWelfare/Pages/Socialization.aspx 2. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/puppies/pre_puppy_prep/the-complete-puppy-socialization-guide/ 3. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-socialization/ 4. https://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ken-tudor/2014/august/4-reasons-why-socialization-important-your-dogs-health-31938 5. https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/081001c.aspx 6. https://shouldwego.co/blogs/new-puppy-help/prepare-for-new-puppy-how-to-guide 7. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/puppies/pre_puppy_prep/conditioning-confidence-in-your-dog-or-puppy/ 8. https://www.rover.com/blog/how-to-socialize-dog/ 9. https://www.thesprucepets.com/socialization-socializing-puppies-2805086 10. https://www.dogster.com/dog-training/socializing-older-dogs 11. https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/how-read-your-dogs-body-language/415 12. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-socialization/ 13. https://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/dr-ian-dunbar/why-don%E2%80%99t-we-adequately-socialize-young-puppies-people 14. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/puppies/the-puppy-socialization-exposure-checklist/ 15. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-training-classes/ 16. https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/training/articles/dog-socializing.html 17. https://www.cuteness.com/13715541/how-to-socialize-an-adult-dog 18. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/how-introduce-dogs 19. https://www.rover.com/blog/introduce-rescue-dog-new-people/, Your email address will not be published. Any combination of these three factors, plus poor socialization, can create an aggressive dog. Hi Haley! This is the core of aggressive dog socialization. This will help you safely put your pup away if you ever need to keep everyone safe. She’s a small dog, viciously attacked several years ago, and her anxiety/aggression has gotten worse over time. Reward your dog for noticing the trigger but not going crazy – or at least reacting in a less negative way than usual. Sarah Stremming very strongly advocates for off-leash hikes or long-line walks to help your dog really decompress (although this may not always be an option for aggressive dogs depending on your dog’s triggers). We gradually moved him closer to the triggers, still giving treats. Each situation is different, since each dog’s triggers and thresholds are different. I rescued him from a kennel, he was extremely amaciated with stress and his outlook wasn’t good. My first suggestions would be to make the triggers even less extreme (farther away, quieter, etc – this might mean working on just the sound of keys jangling or footsteps first) AND try training him with super-tasty meat-flavored baby food before he eats a meal. She is great with me but is terrified of my husband when he walks around or approaches her. Before coming to K9 of Mine, Kayla worked at Denver Dumb Friends League as a Behavior Technician. There is a lot to correcting this kind of behavior and it … Dogs that come from pet stores often have it even worse than those raised in shelters. I’d definitely avoid the dog park for now. Start by Having Your Jealous Dog Stay While You Pet the Other. This is why it’s so much harder to socialize an adult dog – their brains aren’t literally hardwired for it the way puppy brains are! When you introduce your dog to something new, be generous with food treats and praise. The point is, we want to be able to control when your dog sees his trigger, so we can produce a good training situation. A socially mature dog, which is a dog between one and three years, will not enjoy playing in a large group of dogs if it is already socialized. When he is sitting on the couch or laying down in bed, she is fine. It is said that it is best to develop his … Ask a trainer for help. Avoid petting your dog in situations that are triggering to her. I have followed your articles tips with my large extremely reactive rescued cross, and can you please confirm if a floppy ear at the beginning of a walk and backwards (but not flat) ears near the end are signs of progress? A professional trainer or animal behavior consultant can help you ensure that you’re managing your dog safely and meeting all of her basic needs during the training process. Reward their good behavior in this space to reinforce proper interaction with other dogs. 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