September 21, 2011
My 18 month old dog has started growling at strangers and the vet. I am committed to stopping this growling, can you make some dvd recommendations for me?
Full Question:
Dear Ed and Cindy, I am asking for your recomendation of training video's. My 18 month old male akita has been "growling" at strangers and vet. At my request we did a thyroid ck and he is low thyroid. His temperment is now better w strangers. I feel it time to ramp up training as he should be feeling better. I got a muzzle for at the vet office from you, so they can be safe. I want to make sure no training mistakes are at the vet office. I use a prong collar on walks. I require him to heal at all times, he knows "down" and " place" and "wait". I am committed to remove the Grrrrr, my vet chalks it up to the breed. I dont see it that way. He is my third akita. None of my dogs have been this way. I know I was to soft with him as a puppy, I was healing my heart after the loss of my female akita. I made mistakes. I dont want to make anymore.
Thank you very much,
Sue
Cindy's Answer:
Sometimes focusing on the growling can actually make it worse. Usually growling is a sign of uncertainty or being worried, which is not all that unusual in a dog in his “teenage” stage. If you start correcting him for the growling you may actually make him MORE worried about what’s making him uncertain and worse yet, remove the growling from his repertoire and he may go directly to the bite.
I would work on getting his focus on something else, like making eye contact with you (in these situations).
I’d beef up the rules and leadership for him too. Start with our groundwork program and Pack Structure for the Family Pet.
If you haven’t worked with him on marker training, I would HIGHLY recommend it. I would read our article on training dogs with Markers.
I’d also recommend The Power of Training Dogs with Markers and The Power of Training Dogs with Food.
If he’s growling because he’s uncertain (which he may be at the vet or with strangers) I’d I would also recommend this 3 part video series on fear periods in dogs, it explains how to condition the dog to things that make it nervous.
I hope this helps.
Cindy Rhodes
I would work on getting his focus on something else, like making eye contact with you (in these situations).
I’d beef up the rules and leadership for him too. Start with our groundwork program and Pack Structure for the Family Pet.
If you haven’t worked with him on marker training, I would HIGHLY recommend it. I would read our article on training dogs with Markers.
I’d also recommend The Power of Training Dogs with Markers and The Power of Training Dogs with Food.
If he’s growling because he’s uncertain (which he may be at the vet or with strangers) I’d I would also recommend this 3 part video series on fear periods in dogs, it explains how to condition the dog to things that make it nervous.
I hope this helps.
Cindy Rhodes
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