Aggressive behavior.....
Daniel was a lifesaver for our dog Knox. Knox is an Italian mastiff. He was an amazing family dog, but extremely protective and aggressive to outsiders. The first time he met Daniel we thought Knox would kill him. After Daniel worked with Knox for a few weeks, they became best buds. After months of working with Knox he was still too aggressive for us to keep due to having so many children run in and out of our house. It broke our hearts, but Daniel was able to relocate him to a wonderful family. Daniel still gives us updates on how he is doing, which we greatly appreciate. Daniel's patience and training was extremely impressive for us to see. We would highly recommend him to anyone to help with any type of aggressive dogs.
- April Wood White
NOTE: aggressive and dangerous have different meanings.
|
From DanielAllow me to cut to the chase. I am in no way inferring any specific breed of dog is "bad." While it's true I prefer some breeds over others, (I LOVE ALL DOGS), but some people should not own certain dogs or a certain breed of dog.
WHY, as a dog professional, would I state this? Because I have trained the majority of the breeds in this area. I have witnessed their behaviors and mindsets, I know how the general population is bred and what they are bred for, and, I follow statistics which only back what I have witnessed. I know the characteristics of the breeds themselves as well as the human characteristics as to WHY each human selects the dog he or she chooses. There are definite breeds prone to aggression. Some are large breeds, some are small. Chihuahuas, in example, are known to be an aggressive little dog. They might not make the stats as dangerous because they do not pose a serious threat like a Shephard or a Rottweiler. Remember that aggressive and dangerous have entirely different meanings. ANY AGGRESSIVE DOG, REGARDLESS OF SIZE, NEEDS TO BE TRAINED SO HE DOES NOT BECOME DANGEROUS! |
Let me give you an example. German Shepherds are a beautiful, intelligent, energetic, protective and confident breed. They make excellent guard and watch dogs, (there is a difference), and are usually good with children when introduced and trained as puppies. They are one of the most capable and trainable breeds and thus are selected nationwide as "police dogs" and a commonly used for guiding the disabled. Their loyalty is unsurpassed.... usually. The German Shepherd is my choice in a breed and "Gunny" was my loyal companion for many years, and before him, Abby, was my best friend for 15 1/2 years. I can't imagine life without either of them. Gunny would fetch, roll over, and play dead. However, just as with people, there can always be a downside to a dog's personality and I have witnessed this in Shepherds. German Shepherds may be my chosen breed, but, just as not everyone is skilled enough to drive a race car, not everyone should own a Shepherd. I have worked with Shepherds who were obstinate and did not take to command easily. By the time I was called in, the Shepherd ruled the roost, some even becoming dangerous. Not a welcomed characteristic in any household, especially those with small children or vulnerable adults.
THIS is precisely why, while I am obviously training your dog, I am also here to educate you in your role as the "master."
As I have stated previously, not every dog is suited for "any environment." One must be cautious when dealing with a dog who holds aggressive tendencies. Many dogs make the list for having the propensity to carry more dominant, protective, and active behaviors in their roles. It can become a hazardous environment when dealing with these particular breeds, and unfortunately, it is not always a happy ending for the family. In saying this, understand, a dog of ANY breed can be dangerous.
As a father of four and a professional dog trainer, I have, and always will hold the same stance. Children come first.
I applaud April and her family for recognizing that some risks are simply not worth it. I am always available to assist in placing dogs in the proper environment more suited for their temperament.
THIS is precisely why, while I am obviously training your dog, I am also here to educate you in your role as the "master."
As I have stated previously, not every dog is suited for "any environment." One must be cautious when dealing with a dog who holds aggressive tendencies. Many dogs make the list for having the propensity to carry more dominant, protective, and active behaviors in their roles. It can become a hazardous environment when dealing with these particular breeds, and unfortunately, it is not always a happy ending for the family. In saying this, understand, a dog of ANY breed can be dangerous.
As a father of four and a professional dog trainer, I have, and always will hold the same stance. Children come first.
I applaud April and her family for recognizing that some risks are simply not worth it. I am always available to assist in placing dogs in the proper environment more suited for their temperament.
Human Fatalities - a sad realityIn 2018, 36 deaths were recorded in the United States due to dog attacks. In 2019, 48 deaths were associated with fatal attacks. In 2021, 51 deaths were recorded due to vicious attacks. Sadly, in 2020, amidst the Covid crisis, 62 fatalities were recorded by dog attacks, the highest recording in U.S. history.
To be clear, these stats are not shared to sway anyone against a breed or to "dog" particular breeds. All dogs are capable of biting. Not all dogs can kill. This information is shared to increase public awareness of the dangers in having an aggressive dog and not training them as well as, in many of these cases, the owners swear their dog(s) had never displayed signs of aggression. No "family pet" is aggressive...... until they are. The first step is to acknowledge that any dog can inflict harm under the right (wrong) circumstances. |
What personality fits YOUR needs?I've trained dogs who were simply not in the proper environment to fit the needs of their breed. Dogs, like humans, differ in personality and have different requirements. Unfortunately, these dogs behavioral issues were not of their making. A dog needs to "fit" the environment of the master. Just because a Border Collie is known to be the dog with the highest intelligence does not mean a Border Collie is the best fit for an individual or family. I always recommend people research breeds before selecting a dog, or any animal in general.
|
|
IE: A client of mine told me how she came about choosing the breed of dog she has. She said when she and her husband were ready to include a dog in their household, her husband was adamant about getting a Border Collie. Her cousin had two Borders and he loved how smart and well-trained they were. Though the wife also adored Border Collies and knew she wanted a long haired dog, she still said no. She told me she researched many breeds, and after she did, she determined a Border Collie would not fit well in their lives. She was correct. Borders require ample exercise and roaming space. Her cousin has acres of private land and though my client had enough room in her backyard, it was not fenced and she lived off a major road. Borders are known to be car chasers when bored, and Borders have such intense energy levels, they need a job to do or they can destroy your home. She said although she worked from home, even with a fenced yard, she felt a super-high energy dog would interfere with her work performance. She didn't have time nor the desire to devote to playing fetch. She wanted more of a lapdog. I gave her kudos for doing the research on finding a perfect match. She is now a proud mom to not one, but two Westies, three years apart. Westies fair well in most any environment, and although stubborn, are trainable if you can outlast their stubborn streak. She assured me, no one, including her husband could outlast what she considers her "skill" of tenacity and perseverance. I met Ozzie when he was younger and got to train him a little. He definitely had the "Westietude" but he learned to walk with a slip lead and now years later is a big brother with a playmate named Izzy.
|
|
