As a trainer, I often come upon situations where the dog is the one in control of the house and may even exhibit dominant or severely aggressive behavior.  It is usually a difficult situation to speak about as it goes to the core of the owner's relationship with their dog.  "How can my love for the dog be causing this behavior"?  Many people do realize that they are somewhat responsible for the dog's behavior and some are blind to the detrimental effects they may be having. 

I certainately do not condone harsh treatment of our dogs, quite the opposite is true.  I LOVE my dogs and feel pain when they are in pain due to sickness or injury.  I grieve when they pass and will always feel their lack of presence in my life.  However, I do not treat them in such a way where they believe that they are over me or in charge of me.  Dogs are pack animals and expect some type of order in the pack/home.  Yes, your home and those that reside in it are a pack in the dog's eyes.  There is an order in a pack which starts with the Alpha male and female.  Each dog in this pack knows its place and is there is harmony.  The Alpha dog will put a subordinate dog in its place should the need arise.  This may take the form of a look or snarl.  The alpha does not want to hurt or injure the subordinate, because there would be one less member that could care for or defend the pack.  The point to realize is that there is HARMONY.  Failure to achieve or maintain this harmony can have pronounced effects on your dog and thus your relationship with him/her.

I believe that the dog needs to respect you as a leader first, and love/affection will follow.  The dog that knows its place will be calmer, less stressed and easier to manage.  Imagine a situation where the dog believes that, through your actions/inaction, it is the leader.  Further imagine you now asking the dog to do something.  The dog may come back and think "Whoa, who put you in charge here"?  "I guess am going to have to remind you who is in charge here"- now enters the snarl, growl, or bite.  Remember, these things can gain in intensity over time.  Stubbornness can grow into dominance which can lead to aggression.  Unchallenged, the growl can lead to the snarl which may lead into that bite.  How would you feel if at some job you had- you are in charge of a situation (job etc) and your employee shows up and starts ordering you around?

Allow the dog to be just that a dog- not the leader of the house.  Why give him/her the added stress of managing who is coming or going into the house or who is walking down the street near you.  The dog should follow your lead.  That being said, what you feel (security/insecurity) does go down the leash to the dog.  Be a confident leader and your dog will happily follow you.  Why should a dog or anyone else listen to you if you are insecure or nervous as a leader.

Failure to recognize this simple truth can lead to dogs that are assertive or aggressive in the wrong situation.  This may lead to dogs that develop behavioral issues that could lead to not only liability issues for you, but could also lead to drastic actions against your dog.  Don't Let Your Love, Kill your dog.

Seek out an animal trainer to help you now, if you believe if you have a relationship problem with your dog.  Later may be too late.

1- Because they work- since not all dogs shut down with its use, it has achieved its affect.
2- Because these techniques were used on us- tickets, firing for poor job performance, getting yelled at or spanked. We do not reward obeying the speed limit.
3- Because the act of punishment itself, can be rewarding to the punisher- serves as revenge for perceived acts of defiance

Sit Means Sit trainers do not employ punishment to get our dogs to perform a desired cue. You will not even find us yelling at our dogs. We have a system that works without yelling or employing punishment.

 

- Animal Behavior College