ASK THE TRAINER:
AGGRESSIVE DOG TRAINING IN TUCSON
When is it time to call a professional?
By Andrew C. Sherwood, Professional Dog Trainer with 25 years of experience.
Essentials: Understanding reactivity versus violent behavior
Reading time: 7 minutes
Best for: Reactive dogs, resource guarding, growling, barking, history of biting
Key Takeaway: Do not wait for a bite to happen—once aggressive or reactive reactions become a pattern, basic home leadership and early professional intervention are vital for safe remediation.
Concerned that your dog will bite? Or, if there already was an incident, can you train the dog yourself?
Dogs are some of the most violent and dangerous animals on the planet—but we know them as “man’s best friend”. Physically they are predators and socially they are pack animals. As the latter is enormously influential on their psyche, we can work together and even live together.
But what happens when the dog utilizes their predatory faculties against your wishes? Clearly, if the dog bites someone, then there is a serious issue that needs to be resolved. Furthermore, in almost all bite cases, there were signs before the bite happened which should not have been ignored. Thus provoking the question: at what point does a pet owner need to call a professional?
Whether you call it “aggression”, “reactivity” or anything else, there is a tremendous amount of grey area here.
I’ve been remediating aggressive dog behavior for almost three decades, which is long enough to have seen nearly every fact pattern of aggression and reactivity, including the attempts that those owners put forward to curtail the behavior. Many of those clients had a bite incident, or some kind of nearly violent episode that forced their hand to call me. Others called because they had concerns over their animal’s reactive behavior during a walk or some other trigger.
Fundamentally, there are two different profiles:
Dogs that demonstrate a willingness to employ violence at their own discretion (The “not yet” category)
Dogs who have already performed an act of violence (The “already did” category)
| Profile Category | Behavior Status | Remediation Prognosis |
| “Not Yet” | Shows threat precursors, lunge/bark/growl patterns | High probability of success through clear expectations and leadership. |
| “Already Did” | Has committed an actual act of violence or bite incident | Complex prognosis requiring both new expectations and deep behavior modification. |
The problem with these types of training reforms is that you need a learning curve which is extremely rapid and combined with a level of reliability that is nearly flawless. All done in an environment where nobody wants to “stress test” the subject matter, thus making the measurement of progress nearly impossible.
WHY IT HAPPENS
While dogs have been domesticated, we’ve got to remember that mother nature made them predators first, and pets second. Violence will always be part of their repertoire and the animal kingdom doesn’t concern itself with ethics over effectiveness.
I’m never surprised when a dog gets aggressive, as this is natural. I’m actually more surprised that dogs are so domesticated that they get aggressive and reactive as rarely as they do.
COMMON MISTAKES
Most people wait too long on this one. I usually get the call after a 5-year-old dog bites someone and I always think, “Man, this would have been easier for everyone if they’d called me when the dog started growling at people when it was still a two-year-old.”
Training-wise, there are more mistakes made on this issue than any other issue. Nearly all of them revolve around two different themes:
Treating the dog like a person
Trying to use gimmicks
A dog having one lunge, bark, or growl is a natural reaction in their “fight or flight” repertoire, and you probably don’t need an expert—you should just do some basic training around the home to affirm your rank and leadership.
What it comes down to is this: if you have an animal that wants to please you, and truly doesn’t understand the rules and boundaries which you insist upon, then you’ve got a shot at doing this remediation on your own. The profile for this animal is usually going to be younger dogs, or dogs that are new to the home, where rules are not fully understood.
However, anytime you notice the animal is adopting these precursor actions as a pattern, it is now considered to be a behavior. At that point, you need to take action and establish new rules and boundaries in conjunction with solidifying your leadership.
If your dog is issuing threats, the plurality of the situation tells you that this is now a behavior and requires attention. If the animal in question has already acted out something violent, my professional opinion is that it is time to call someone.
WHAT BLACK BELT CANINE ACADEMY DOES DIFFERENTLY
Many trainers in America are no longer specializing in working with aggressive dogs or reactivity. Too many bad experiences from both trainers and owners has dissuaded businesses from tackling this issue, and now it has become something which very few trainers will address.
When remediating aggression and reactivity, my protocol focuses on three distinct steps:
Firm Distance Boundaries: First, I set the rules and boundaries firmly and from a distance. The animal has to have a clear understanding of what is expected, because in these scenarios, you cannot afford to think your dog knows what is expected.
Cultivating Active Motivation: Second, I spend time motivating the dog to try harder to “win you over”, so that we can really pull out their best effort.
Emotional Development: Third, I teach the animal emotional development so that they reach their emotional potential and are able to refrain from bad behaviors. Namely: “They can think whatever they want, they can feel whatever they want—just don’t do anything I don’t want.”
Many trainers in America are no longer specializing in working with aggressive dogs or reactivity. Too many bad experiences from both trainers and owners has dissuaded businesses from tackling this issue, and now it has become something which very few trainers will address.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will subjecting my dog to the trigger/stimulant build a tolerance over time through desensitization?
No. The dog’s reactive or aggressive impulses are rooted in predatory aggression, social aggression, and emotional stability. These things cannot be adjusted through mere exposure.
Are there any books which address aggression and reactivity?
Yes! I’ve written a book with an entire chapter on the subject matter: Black Belt Canine Academy: The Ultimate Guide to Dog Training (available on Amazon). It will help you evaluate your dog’s level of aggression and reactivity, explain the psychology, and offer a step-by-step guide through remediation—complete with illustrations and tables. I cover former methods, home DIY attempts, and dispel all the myths.
Does aggression or reactivity ever get better on its own?
No. However, sometimes the dog will successfully train the owner or other pets in the house so quickly that the trigger no longer happens. For instance, if a dog attacks the vacuum and you start only vacuuming while someone else walks the dog, the situation didn’t get better—you just stopped expressing the trigger. Where this becomes invisible is when other pets in the home start adopting new behaviors to satisfy the aggressive dog’s temperament. The aggressive dog hasn’t changed one bit; the surrounding environment simply adapted to them.
NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP?
If you have decided that you’d like a dog behaviorist who specializes in aggression and reactivity, I would be happy to help. Black Belt Canine Academy is located in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, Arizona, and I offer custom private training.
During private sessions, I will go to your home and put together a pathway to success for you and your pet. I work all over Oro Valley, Marana, Vail, and anywhere in the Tucson Metro area. We can utilize Fort Lowell Park in the Foothills, coffee shops in downtown Tucson, or gelato shops at La Encantada. If you live outside the Tucson area, you are always welcome to call or text my office to arrange a video conference.