The traditional wisdom is to not allow an aggressive dog to exhibit certain behaviors we usually think of as "Dominant Behavior." Things like backing into your leg, being pushing or deminding with the ball, or growling or barking at you. The traditional wisdom is that if you allow these behavior you are encouraging them.
I counter that dominant dogs needs an outlet or the dog will be frustrated and act out, instead the Superdog Method we sometimes encourage certain behaviors during training.
For example, I allow my Border Collie Archie to lean against me and growl. We snarl at each other like adversaries pitched in an epic battle. The difference is Archie knows it is a game, one I can always win and will stop in an instant if told. Also to Archie the Dominant Behavior is more about Play. We play fight for about 30 seconds per match, then I love on him and pet him good, then we re-start the game. The dog is so relieved and is then good because he instinctively knows snarling is bad but it makes him feel so good that he agrees to be obedient as the price of the being allowed to act out.
We seek to let the dog perform the behavior, then teach him the rules and limits to inhibit him, changing the motivation for him initiating the behavior.
In conclusion, trying to stop or eliminate dominant behavior is an ineffective approach. You want to be able to have your dog under control and inhibited while allowing the behavior in a structured training environment. Growling and snarling can be involuntary responses that needs to addressed by training. The goal of such training would be to use the snarling, leaning against your leg and aggressiveness as a reward system. "If you are really good, I'll let you snarl and show teeth at me, but the game is 'You Have To Stop In An Instant' then I pet you and you act submissive, then we start the game again.
What Superdog does is not dominate the dog or come at aggression with aggression. We train the behavior and control and manage it. Extinguishing the behavior is not our goal.
We do this because it works over and over again. Besides that, the dogs like it and it is kind of fun for the trainer too.
The only thing I know that controls genetic and instinctual behaviors is a doggy parent with the right attitude about what the relationship is going to be like. Remember, Superdog is Obedience, "It is going to be this way because I say so is why."
Most dogs like Archie can be trained if someone loves the dog enough. Many of the dogs you see in the pictures were animals other dog trainers, behaviorists and veterinarians gave up on.
Many consider www.SuperDog.com the #1 dog aggression experts in America.
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