Don't you hate those yappy little things that strike at your ankles? One of the frequent challenges in dog behavior modification is working with those dogs who express the dog instinctive behavior of vying for position in the pack – your family – through actions of aggression dog dominance. If your dog snaps or lunges when disturbed by human touch, then you have a problem with nasty dog dominance behavior. Be of good cheer, though, because it CAN be solved. Here is an example to show you how to change such unwanted dog behavior.



"She bites when disturbed!" said the distraught owner about her little Jack Russell Terrier, "Bitsy."

I allowed the small dog to smell me, but I did not pet her. I have to accomplish my goal before I share affection. This dog also had no relationship with me at that point, so walking was the best way to build one. Otherwise, she might bite if I touched her or tried to work with her, in an effort to try to gain control over me. That is a typical pattern with those prone to aggression dog dominance. If I do not set some rules, she will try to tell me what her rules are.

Bitsy gave a temper tantrum - standing up on her back legs, bucking, screaming – for about the first five minutes of our walk. She tried every trick, but it did not work, so she finally submitted and walked behind me. After a thirty minute walk, I brought her back inside. Then I did a couple of basic exercises to remind her that I was "Queen Bee" in this house now!

I touched Bitsy lightly with my foot. She snapped aggressively and made a lunge at it. So I put her on the ground until she was calm. She was a very determined little one, and we had to repeat the exercise many times before she surrendered to me and would move away from my foot. I repeated the exercise by touching her with other parts of my body until she would move out of the way each time. She had to submit to every part of me!

Some dogs do not like to be touched when they are disturbed. However, there is simply no excuse for snapping at the owner, and such dominant dog behavior must be stopped immediately before it escalates.

I always teach my dogs, and the others with whom I work in dog obedience training, to wait for permission to receive affection. As hard as it seems at first, I do not pet them when they nudge me or make demand of me in any way. I always give correction for demanding. Then the dog either lies down or moves away and returns to me when invited. The dog soon learns that the calm, obedient behavior is that which is rewarded.

Being the Pack Leader is about being RESPONSIBLE, not about pleasing your dog. If I let a dog demand of me, then it will not remove itself when visitors are present. Even worse, I would lose the Pack Leader position! What if we were confronted with a critical situation on the road, or an undisciplined dog bolted out the door when opened? He could be killed right in front of me, and there's nothing I could do. Only Pack Leader position can provide the necessary control to prevent such things.

Telling your dog where to walk, when to eat, when to come or stay … These are all things the dog would learn in a pack. Dogs respond well to discipline, and expect it of their Leader. It gives them boundaries and makes them feel secure. They deserve that!

So for peace and harmony in your home and a right relationship with your dog, take your position as Leader of the Pack and command his respect. He will love you for it, respect you for it, and yield to your wishes without any display of dog biting, aggression dog dominance, or other unwanted dog behavior. You don't have to live with that, and neither does he.