Spring is almost upon us and we, as dog owners, have to do better.
Attacks on livestock were horrendous last year. There are pictures I could show that would make you weep. Lambs, sheep, and deer were all chased, terrorised and slaughtered by dogs who, according to their owners had 'never done anything like this before.'
Those dogs may not have killed livestock before but you can be sure the warning signs had been evident for some considerable time.
Calm, well-balanced dogs do not wake up one morning and decide to attack other animals. It builds up gradually over a prolonged period of time usually starting with excited barking, lunging and/or chasing.
The problem is no one listens. "He just wants to play,' is a common excuse owners give for excited lunging and barking not realising that it is the start of the Aggression Ladder.
By the time that behaviour leads to a brutal attack the dog has been barking, lunging and chasing for months totally unchecked.
When the dog actually strikes no one is more surprised than the owner who has witnessed this behaviour for months.
Before dogs become aggressive there is a build up of excitement that must be nipped in the bud. Once that excitement escalates into the danger zone neither the handler or the dog can stop it.
Calmness should be your dog's natural default behaviour NOT excitement.
Aggression is no more than a learned response that can be transformed with commitment determination and practice. We owe it to the farmers, park rangers and other pet owners to ensure our dogs are calm and under control.
The horror of a bloody attack is a trauma you will never forget. Calm control is the answer. If you are struggling to create this behaviour in your dog join one of my training classes.
