08/08/2024
This post is solely for educational purposes.
One of the biggest challenges dog trainers face is starting with a new owner that has underlying fear or anxiety towards their dog. We strive to build the trust and relationship between owner and animal to create a stronger bond. This bond can aid the owner in truly overcoming their dog's aggression. When it comes to aggression, 99% of aggressive tendencies can be overcame or diminished too next to nothing. The 1% of the time that it cannot be is due to a mental disorder, called idiopathic aggression. It has been made clear to me recently, that a vet in Mill Hall, off the Salona exit, has instilled certain fears into current and past clients about their dogs that suffer from aggressive tendencies. Out of respect, I won't mention his name. I am not a vet, so I will never give out advice a vet should administer, but I am a behaviorist.
I am disheartened by the information I have received previously, as well as, the information I have received today. Causing mistrust and fear between owner and dog helps no one. Euthanasia should be the absolute last-ditch option. Only after all other possible options have been exhausted, then the topic may be brought up, but even then, most likely will not be needed. Until industry professionals start opening up to the reality that no one knows everything, we will always face these problems. We need to start being for dogs before we are for our reputation. Reach out to those that specialize in certain fields, refer owners to others when you don't have the answers, create a community of people to fall back on. Only then will dogs start coming out on the other end better, rather than worse.
If there is any information I wish for people to remember it is this:
Resource guarding is not a reason to euthanize your dog. Proper training techniques that deal with that aggression can make it manageable and/or stop it all together, especially if the dog is less than a year old.
Dominant dogs might not respond well to calming/sedative medications like trazadone. They may show aggression that was not previously there due to the inability to properly control their resources.
Fear aggression is the most common type of aggression but can be elusive and not present as fear. Improper techniques can make the aggression worse or more unpredictable.
Majority of the time, spaying and neutering will NOT remedy aggressive tendencies. Dogs learn through patterns, systems, and past experiences, you have to address the root issue to truly get rid of aggression.
Over medication will only suppress aggressive tendencies, only training will truly relieve the aggression.
Mental stimulation is equally as important as physical stimulation. Add stops in your walks to spend time on commands to keep your dog's mental focus up, as well as tire them out quicker.
Most issues owners face with their dogs is caused by lack of understanding in how dogs think. Lack of understanding or anthropomorphism can lead to confusion, misinterpretation, and even death (euthanasia). When trying to remedy any issue with your dog, getting multiple opinions and varying professionals is NEVER a bad idea, in fact, it is encouraged. There is a million ways to train a dog, but behavior is consistent 100% of the time.
