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May 11, 2011

My dog has become handler aggressive from poor corrections. What can I do to fix this?

Full Question:
I have been a big fan of your work for the past year and a bit. I am hoping that in my club that I can show your article to a few of my friends stating its source and not taking any credability. Basically showing a print off. I don't know if I can. Please let me know. Thanks

Also....

I have a dog that is very good, very trained and I love him but he has problems. What has happened and I repent everyday for it is that I have mis-timed corrections and severe corrections as in hittings and striking.

This dog is a labx with rotty. Very friendly and a soft dog. You know a small correction will do he is great really. But when I was hitting him and he is too soft and he has submitted ages ago I'm still mad and hitting him and in an agressive state myself and I take the correction too hard, he is now handler aggressive as in if I hit him on his nose, he will snarl with his tongue out, now in all fairness it is too touch and I shouldn't be hitting him and I've stopped, but what do I do about this tendency. The dog adores me and I thought it respected me. He won't do anything without permission and is very attentive to me. I recently got the BH Begleithunde, but this issue I don't like. I think it is just himself being defensive and not agressive but I don't know what to do. I was thinking a rank reduction program but my trainer told me to lift up the dog, for a long period of time not letting it breathe. I've read all your articles I think and I'm not sure what to do, how to this correction properly and sefetly without makign matters worse.

I would really love your help and would really appreciate it.

Thanks a million,
Barry
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
It’s fine to print off an article to share. We don’t allow people to put our articles on their websites, but printing them off to show to your friends is ok.

As for the issue with your dog, I totally disagree with the advice from your trainer. Using more violence with this dog will only damage your relationship further. If this was my dog I’d start all over and try to rebuild the trust and do not hit the dog anymore. Hitting is never an acceptable form of correction and dogs can only take so much before they shut down or fight back. Your dog is totally justified in snarling at you for being hit, he’s telling you in the only way he knows how that he feels that you are being unfair.

I would use our pack structure program and re-establish myself as a firm and fair leader.

I’d start with our Groundwork program.

I would then start working with him with markers we recently released a new video on this as well, The Power of Training Dogs with Markers. Once you both understand the marker system, you can then start working on all of his obedience using them.

I applaud you for asking for help, instead of just continuing down the same path. I wish you the very best. Let me know how it’s going with your dog.

Cindy

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Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
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