All too often dogs face euthanasia because they have not be trained properly.

Last Resort

The 15-month-old male German Shepherd Dog was nervous and insecure. He nipped at anyone who came into his personal space, a behavior he had started at six months of age and that had been left uncorrected.

His owners had “tried everything”: talking to him, pleading with him, coaxing him, bribing him with food, becoming human treat dispensers for good behavior, but never once correcting him for such inappropriate behavior, nor setting clear rules and boundaries for their adolescent dog. The dog had been free to exhibit any behaviors he chose, and had learned that he could solve his problems through such displays of bravado and petty aggression. He had taken control of his home in the absence of confident direction from his owners.

Now, because of a lack of leadership, discipline, and direction, the dog faced euthanasia. In their well-meaning quest for a positive upbringing, these owners had sentenced their dog to death.

Spoiled Dog

The 9-month-old female mixed breed seemed sweet and social enough, but as soon as anyone — including her owners — tried to brush her or handle her feet, she turned into a snarling devil. If anyone came near her food bowl, she would raise her hackles and fly at them with snapping jaws.

The owners had “tried everything”: pleading with her, coaxing her with treats, hand-feeding her her meals, and even purchasing a pinch collar–which she now refused to let them put on her, displaying her typical MO of snarls and temper tantrum.

When they brought her into a local groomer, the dog threw a fit as the groomer greeted her and tried to lift her paw for a nail trim. The owners did nothing but shrug and make excuses for her nasty behavior: “She’s never liked her feet touched, even as a puppy. She must have been abused.” Their lack of leadership and discipline as dog trainers had created a spoiled dog who was destined to have a biting incident in her future, potentially leading to euthanasia for “aggression”.

Dog Training and Boundaries

These are just two of the many different realities we have seen in our years working with and training dogs — realities that have, in part, shaped who we are at German Shepherd Watchdogs,and why we go to such great lengths to secure well-bred dogs with proper temperament.

In an earlier blog, we discussed four common reasons for inappropriate aggression in dogs:

• Genetics and temperament
• Lack of clear leadership and discipline
• Too much freedom and lack of boundaries
• Ignoring the behavior.

All four factors are at work in the stories above, and in the thousands of dogs that are killed at shelters every year because of lack of leadership in their homes.

Taking Charge in the Home

In their kindness and naiveté, many owners have either unwittingly sentenced their dogs to early death, or sentenced themselves to a life ruled by a little canine despot, rather than taking the lead role as dog trainers in developing and shaping the appropriate behavior. Many of the “trainers” they seek out for help are often equally ill-equipped for successfully dealing with behavior cases requiring clear direction, boundaries, and yes, a little discipline. They too “try everything”, except for making it clear in no uncertain terms that such behavior will not be tolerated. Sometimes a dog really does need to be told “No!”, and be held to it.

Why Take Charge

Taking a strong leadership role as dog trainers in the home is not difficult, and yet many pet owners in the U.S. seem unwilling to put in the work and effort required to do so — even when they have the right tools and knowledge at their disposal!

If you live with a canine tyrant, or if you have a young dog that you want to prevent from becoming a canine tyrant, then this blog series is for you!

We will discuss:

• Five ways to appropriately take charge of the canine in your home
• Rules that every puppy or young dog should learn
• Simple ways to help you become a better dog trainer of  your dog.

We hope you will join us over the next few weeks!