Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:09 pm Post subject: Dominant behaviour? pics added pg3
Hi guys.
I have been told today that my dog is showing signs of dominant behaviour towards me. The reason they have suggested this is a very high tail and a slight disobedient side to him on ocassions! No one has suggested this to me before and I am unsure as Harley is my first dog.
Could this be correct and we have an on going battle for dominance (unbeknown to me ).
If you feel that this is the case, what would be a good way to resolve this matter? Or is it not as simple as that?
Any advise would be greatly received
Gav
Last edited by GavK on Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:03 am; edited 1 time in total
There are people out there who sadly feel that dogs are going to try to take over the home/street/universe. While I'm not a trainer or behaviourist, I feel very much that the whole "dominance" thing is much over and mis-used and I place a good deal of blame for this on a certain well known TV personality and his dreadful show and worrying popularity
A certain Mexican on TV has done all dogs such a HUGE disservice, with his catchy phrases and flashy teethy grin and now every Joe Public and his wife seems to think every dog is trying for World Domination.
If you haven't had a problem before, then you haven't got one now. So when the next person says anything about Dominance, just smile, nod politely, walk away and forget about it.
How old is he? It sounds more like a typical cocky adolescence pose and the occasional disobedience would also be typical adolescence...
The dominance theory is much overused, I bought the book of a certain Mexican just to see what all the hype was about - its long gone in a charity bag as it wasn't for me but this is where alot of wannabe dog behaviourists (and theres alot of them out there!!) get their misguided theories from!
How old is Harley? Most dogs go through a stroppy teenager phase where they seem to be more inclined to disobey, do their own thing etc.
Just continue to be consistent and if you give a command make sure he does it, even if it means you have to fetch him when he fails to recall etc. But try not to test out unreliable commands so that he has less chance of failing.
Never watched the show but read some bits online about him and his methods and I think it was his smile and evident eagerness for fame and fortune that put me off.
Sounds like cobblers in my admittedly limited experience. Olly is naughty and mischievous on occasion, but it's not dominance. It's dogginance! (Sorry)
What a very strange thing to tell you based on so little
I presume theres no sign of aggression or anything like that. Sounds like a bit of teenage 'naughtiness' not seeking world domination
I went to a trainer in Norfolk once who told me that my dog was in a terrible state of anxiety and I needed to get him outside the hall. I did as I was told where he managed to find the only bit of fox poo for miles around and roll in it. This according to this person was his way of trying to hide himself because he was anxious My old boy was the most laid back dog you'd care to meet, I don't think he had an anxious bone in his body (unless you count anxiety about where the next bit of food was coming from).
Sometimes people set themselves up as experts when actually they're no more expert than you or I. Unless there are behaviours you are worried about I would just relax and enjoy your dog its unlikely he's plotting your downfall while you sleep
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).
and the occasional disobedience would also be typical adolescence...
