Capricorn Dog Training

06/08/2025

05/15/2025

Breaking the Cycle of Aggression in Dogs

Aggression can become a learned behavior when a dog realizes it works. If growling makes a person back away or lunging keeps other dogs at a distance, the dog is more likely to repeat that behavior. Over time, aggression becomes their go-to strategy.

How to Break the Cycle:
✔️ Identify Causes – Understand what consistently leads to an aggressive response (e.g., guarding food, handling sensitivity, leash frustration).

✔️ Prevent Rehearsal – Every time aggression works, it strengthens the behavior. Use management tools like gates, leashes, and structured interactions to set the dog up for success, and most of all, advocate for the dog by understanding the root cause for their aggression.

✔️ Reinforce Alternative Behaviors – Reward desirable alternative responses when a trigger is presented at a level that doesn’t elicit the aggressive behavior. Teach disengagement, recall, and make positive associations so the dog learns better ways to cope and feel safer.

Aggression doesn’t disappear on its own, but with the right approach, we can help dogs feel safer and make better choices.

03/03/2025

Introducing a rescue dog to new animals- the power of parallel walks.

In Part 2 of our series- here’s why parallel walls are critical to helping rescue dogs gain confidence when meeting other dogs.

HOW do parallel walks help?

🐕 They provide the distance for your dog to feel comfortable with another dog being near them without a FORCED interaction.

💪 They provide your dog with confidence by seeing what another confident dog does when faced with triggers.

🏡 They help you, as the dog guardian or even a dog walker at a shelter, have the space and time to react and manage the situation if the new rescue dog becomes uncomfortable or reactive on the walk.

🌲 It helps your dog learn feel safe enough in the presence with another dog to express natural behaviours on a walk like sniffing, or investigating the environment.

🧡 It helps YOU have the time to listen to what your dog is communicating on a walk, therefore increasing your bond with your new rescue dog.

Next week we will talk about what to avoid during interactions with other dogs!

02/19/2025

I love giving dogs choices, including when it’s related things I want/need them to do. Here’s an example of the “Premack Principle,” which says that “more probable behaviors act to reinforce less probable behaviors.” Most probable because that’s what the dog/cat/child/iguana wants to d...

02/06/2025

Understanding why aggression happens is the key to preventing it.

Imagine aggression like an explosion—the result of two critical elements: the fuel tank and the match:
🛢️ The Fuel Tank (Distant Antecedents):
These are the underlying factors that build over time, like chronic pain, environmental stress, or long-term anxiety. They make a dog more likely to react but don’t cause aggression on their own.

🔥 The Match (Immediate Antecedents):
These are the triggers that set off the reaction—a stranger entering the house, a child reaching for the dog’s food, or another dog approaching too quickly.

Together, the fuel tank and the match create the conditions for an aggressive outburst. By reducing the fuel (addressing underlying stressors) and avoiding the match (managing triggers), we can help dogs feel safer and reduce aggressive behaviors.

12/09/2024

Not all licking is (or should be labelled) appeasement licking.✅❓❌
I appreciate this can be a very divisive subject, and yes, dogs can lick from affection (and for many other reasons)....but if there are other signals shown that your dog is uncomfortable, they can help you determine what is actually occurring and why.
This is ALL great information !
This can help you both!
There is a video linked in the comments that goes into this subject in more details.
Dog training posters available abcdogsnz.com

11/13/2024

TRIGGER STACKING – WHEN BEHAVIOUR HAPPENS “OUT OF THE BLUE”

We’ve all had those days when nothing seems to go right and one frustrating thing after another happens to us, leaving us feeling wound up, stressed and ready to explode at the next unsuspecting person who dares to ask us something.

This “unsuspecting” person may think we have a serious behaviour problem or need anger management therapy, when the truth is that we’ve just had a really bad day or even a few bad days and don’t usually behave like this at all.

Dogs are no different and a behaviour that seems completely out of character or happens “out of the blue” is often caused by “trigger stacking”.

A trigger may be anything that increases a dog’s stress levels and has a negative impact on their emotional, mental or physical state.

These may be small things that we may not even notice or seem insignificant to us, but they are all adding to an increasing “stack” of events that may culminate in out of character behaviour.

When stress levels reach a certain point, the next stressful event, however small, may cause an explosive reaction that is completely unexpected.

Instead of just focusing on a particular behaviour and seeing it as a problem that needs to be prevented, take a step backwards, look at the bigger picture, look at events, circumstances or environmental factors that may have played a role leading up to that behaviour.

Being aware of potential stressors and allowing your dog time to decompress, relax and unwind for a few days will often mean the difference between “normal behaviour” and a behaviour that seems completely out of character.

11/12/2024

Dealing with Off-Leash Dogs: What You Need to Know

You’re out for a peaceful walk with your dog when, suddenly, an off-leash dog charges at you. Whether it’s an overly excited pup or a serious threat, these encounters can feel like swimming with sharks! 🦈

What can you do to keep your dog safe in these scenarios?

✔️ Situational Awareness – Spot potential problems before they escalate.
✔️ Teach “Get Behind” – A simple technique to keep your dog safer during an emergency.
✔️ Friendly First – Toss treats to redirect oncoming dogs.
✔️ Umbrella Technique – A creative way to create space when needed.
✔️ Spray Products – For emergency use only!

This article covers essential tools and techniques for managing off-leash dog encounters safely and effectively.

Read the full guide for step-by-step instructions and tips to help protect your pup on walks.

Read the full article here ⬇
https://aggressivedog.com/2022/08/23/swimming-with-the-sharks-five-tips-for-off-leash-dogs/

05/06/2024

next virtual leash reactivity class thursdays may 9-30, 7-8pm
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04/11/2024