It starts with developing their ability to listen to you and accept your guidance even when they’re excited and want to do something else, which gives you the ability to teach them right from wrong in any situation. Your dog’s self-control, or their ability to hold themselves back from doing...Read More
How to stop dogs reacting to other dogs?
When our dogs meet on leash, they are typically forced to approach head-on and are often unable to turn their bodies. Their forced body language, and our own, tell our dogs that we want to fight with one another. Most dogs don’t want to fight, so they display a number...Read More
Is it good for dogs to wrestle with other dogs?
When we roughhouse with our dog, because we’re not dogs, we don’t master the rules of play and will often bring the excitement level out of control. Playtime with others takes the dogs to very high levels of energy, increasing the chances for things to turn bad. We’re teaching the...Read More
Should you let dogs roughhouse?
Roughhousing with our dog is a personal choice. If we’re not training for a specific task, in which speed of reaction and hard actions are needed, like in police work, playing with the dog this way could have negative consequences over time. When we roughhouse with our dog, because we’re...Read More
Is it normal to wrestle with your dog?
Fun fighting is very much a natural part of a dog's life, especially when dogs are young. It's their way of sizing each other up, establishing pack order, and maintaining that order - and, of course, it's enjoyable for them. Dogs possess an innate drive to establish pack hierarchy. They...Read More
Should you just let dogs fight it out?
Don't hit, punch, or yell.
It usually makes it worse.
Don't: Wait until a fight to think about how to break it up.
Don't: Panic or yell.
Panic will do to a fight what gasoline does to fire - intensify it quickly.
If you don't get the dogs back together...Read More
Should I let my dog fight for dominance?
The dominance theory is an outdated and debunked theory of dog behaviour saying that dogs want to gain a higher social status relative to other dogs or people. The theory is that dogs will show aggression to achieve dominance. The problem with this theory is that it’s based on studying...Read More
How do I tell if my dog is playing or being aggressive?
It’s totally normal for dogs to play-bite, bark, chase, swipe, and lunge, as long as it’s in a gentle and friendly manner. But sometimes growling, biting, jumping, barking, etc. can shift from playful to aggressive. When dogs play, it often takes the form of play fighting, play biting and wrestling....Read More
What breed of dog likes to wrestle?
Sturdy, energetic dogs like retrievers and boxers tend to love roughhousing, but this kind of play can be overwhelming for smaller or more reserved breeds. Does your dog love to wrestle and spar with other dogs, or roll around on the ground biting another dog’s neck? Rough Play, such as...Read More
What are two things you should never do to break up a dog fight?
Never hit, or kick, dogs that are fighting. This may encourage the dogs to fight harder and/or to re-direct their aggression to you. You should NEVER try to grab the dogs with your hands in an attempt to separate them.Read More
What is the command for a dog to relax?
When your dog shows signs of relaxing, quietly say Relax.
You will then prompt her to relax by saying relax just before she shows signs of settling.
Ideally, you'd say your cue during that "sweet spot" moment just as she's thinking of relaxing.
If you see signs of your dog...Read More
How do I teach my dog to settle down and relax on the cue?
To teach your dog to settle down and relax on the cue, you can use one of two methods. The first option is where you teach your dog what you want, ask him to do it, and reward him when he does it. Start by asking your dog for a...Read More
Can I train my dog to be a sniffer dog?
You can train a dog to be a sniffer dog by starting with play, using the dog's favorite toy, and gradually introducing the scent of drugs. The dog becomes accustomed to playing with the toy and constantly seeks it out. You roll up drugs inside the toy, and the dog...Read More
How many minutes of sniffing is good for dogs?
It’s said that 15 to 20 minutes of sniffing is the equivalent of around an hour’s walk. Allowing your dog to engage their sense of smell is like giving them a mental workout. As they sniff, they’re gathering and decoding information around them, which takes concentration and effort. This mental...Read More
What is the hardest dog command?
The recall cue is arguably the most important to teach and, with some dogs, one of the more difficult. Your challenge is to teach your dog that when you blow a whistle or use your ‘recall’ word cue your dog should respond immediately by returning to you. Outdoor environments and...Read More