Expert: Cassie - 1/2/2008

Question
Hi There,
We have noticed that our dog has become aggressive towards other dogs at
the park when she has a tennis ball (she is obsessed with these by the way,
and usually has 2 in her mouth). She seems to be fine when the ball is out of
the equation, but the likelihood of there not being a ball at a dog park is
unrealistic. We are concerned that this may lead to other problems down the
road. We have had her since she was a baby, and she did very well in basic obedience classes. She is a pit bull/jack russel mix, and full of love. Did we
take a wrong turn somewhere? Is there something we can do? Any help would
be much appreciated.
thanks!

Answer
Visit this website for more information:
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/

Follow these tips:

1. Lay out a flat hand, with your palm facing the floor

2. Curl your fingers, but not to the point of making a fist

3. Now very firmly nudge your dog with your fingers

4. Snap and point at the dog while saying loudly, with a deep voice "Chtt" You must stand up straight, shoulders back, with no fear whatsoever, or your dog will sense it.

Take your dog on daily walks and be sure to use a Gentle Leader® Headcollar.

The Gentle Leader® Headcollar is NOT a muzzle. When fitted properly, your dog is free to open his mouth to eat, drink, pant, fetch, bark and even bite - except when you close his mouth by pulling on the leash.

The Gentle Leader® Headcollar features two soft nylon straps - the collar portion fits high at the top of the neck, and the nose loop fits loosely and comfortably across the base of the muzzle. Each strap has a distinct and important effect.

The Nose Loop - Dogs are naturally "pack" animals with a highly structured social order. One of the ways the "pack leader" will demonstrate his position is to gently but firmly grasp a subordinate's muzzle in his mouth. This is a non-aggressive, very clear signal regarding who's the boss! The Gentle Leader®'s nose loop encircles your dog's muzzle in this same manner, letting him know in his own language that you are his leader. Dogs feel more secure when they know who the leader is.

The Neck Strap - Gentle Leader® applies pressure to the back of the neck rather than the front of the throat, working with your dog's natural relaxation instinct with an amazing calming effect. Also, dogs tend to pull against pressure so the gentle pressure at the back of the neck causes the dog to pull backward, not forward. This means an end to leash-pulling forever!

5. Follow this plan IN ORDER: Discipline, exercise, affection.

6. If your dog doesn't have exercise, it will cause her to  become unbalanced, bored, and frustrated.

7. Show your dog that you're the boss. Don't leet her push you around.

8. Never put her in time-outs.

9. Don't crate train.

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This is what famous canine behaviorist Cesar Millan has to say:

Dogs become aggressive out of frustration and dominance. The frustration comes from a lack of exercise, and the dominance comes from a lack of calm-assertive leadership.
When dealing with red zone dogs, I start by working with the owners, explaining how to establish themselves as pack leaders and to understand the animal in their dog. This is a crucial part of rehabilitating your dog: changing your behavior. If you revert to your old ways, so will your dog.

For many of these dogs, it is a lack of adequate exercise that is the root of the problem. Physical activity burns the dog’s excess energy and helps maintain his healthy state of mind. This is important because, in order to talk to the mind, you need to remove the energy from the body.

If you live with an aggressive dog, I urge you to find a professional dog trainer to work with you and your dog. Most cases can be rehabilitated with time and dedication, and we owe it to our dogs to try.