Free Tips to Stop Dog Fights and Respect Boundaries

For this Omaha dog training session we helped a pair of Yorkie / Shih Tzu mixes, three-year-old Opal and five-year-old Bella.

The dogs’ guardian called me to stop dog fights that have started to break out amongst the pair. These quarrels started after a failed dog training session with a local “trainer;” Dillon’s Dog Training.

Both dogs barked excitedly and jumped up on me repeatedly when I arrived for the session. The guardians mitigated this a little bit by keeping the dogs on a leash, which they dragged around with them.

I had a good idea about why the dogs were acting this way. But it wasn’t until I sat at the kitchen table with their guardians that my suspicions were confirmed.

Setting boundaries, rules, and limits will help dogs see themselves as followers. In the video above, the dogs had no idea about boundaries or limits before our session.

How to Add Rules and Boundaries for Dogs

I was very pleased that the dog’s guardians instantly recognized the techniques introduced by Dillon’s Dog Training were inappropriate. I have worked with many clients who reached out to Dillon’s Dog Training before coming to me. In every case, their session with Dillon’s made things worse.

Unfortunately this “trainer” uses something called dominance theory. This theory involves punishing or correcting the dog harshly. The goal is for the dog to accidentally find the behavior you want. Once that is the case then, they tell you to praise the dog.

Dominance theory is the way that people trained dogs for a long long time. However about 15 years ago positive reinforcement became the preferred way of training and conditioning dogs. Using dominance theory to train your dog often leads to problems. It can cause unwanted actions or behaviors.

These dog training methods have been rejected by all good trainers and behaviorists for years. It frustrates me to see someone who calls themselves a professional is still using dominance theory.

Luckily for Bella and Opal, their guardians saw that the person they hired was not good. They quickly decided to stop using his harsh and strange methods.

By adding rules and boundaries for dogs, Bella and Opal’s guardians can train dogs easily. They can use the petting with a purpose strategy. This will help the dogs learn the actions and behaviors their guardians want.

Tips to Stop Dog Fights in a Positive Way

Next we engaged in a little dog obedience training. The dog’s guardians had mentioned that the dogs only responded to a “come” command when they felt inclined to do so. This is most likely a result of the dog’s considering themselves to be peers with the humans they lived with. What a dog considers you it’s peer, the listening to you becomes optional.

To help Bella and Opal start responding better, I engaged in a simple dog training exercise called Recall.

I suggested that the guardians practice this exercise a few times a day for the next week or two. If they use the hand placement and motion I taught them, they can get both dogs to come back quickly, even without a treat.

Now that we had incorporated rules and structure, I was ready to take this dog school to a whole different level. I had one of the guardian’s relatives step outside so that she could play the part of a guest knocking at the door.

It was easy to get the dogs to move away from the door. Once we set a boundary and added some distance, both dogs’ behaviors improved right away.

Security for the pack is usually managed by an authority figure. By relieving Bella and Opal of this responsibility, they can learn to respect their humans as leaders.

A few minutes later I had the relative step back outside so that we could practice this exercise again. But this time we had the dogs’ guardian handle answering the door herself.

I always love it when dogs pick up something so quickly. I suggested that the guardians call or text each other when they are on their way home. This way, they can practice this exercise together.

Dogs should learn to stay behind the boundary after six practice repetitions. They will do this on their own when they hear the doorbell.

By the end of the session, Opal and Bella began to follow some new rules. They responded faster to their guardian’s commands and corrections. They also seemed more balanced and centered.

Bella and Opal are not aggressive dogs. They simply were confused as to what their position was in the home. Now that the guardians know how to communicate and lead, the dogs should quickly see themselves as followers.

Once the dogs have gotten used to being in this follower position, they will look to their humans to handle situations rather than trying to correct the other dog themselves.
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