How to Train Your Dog to Respect Your Personal Space

Hello Mercy, I would start by working on pup's general relationship with you since he is so bold as to take food from your hands. Check out the article I have linked below and the three methods found there. I would choose two or three of those methods to practice to help gain pup's respect for you gently and calmly. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you I would also teach Place, Leave It, Out, and Drop It. Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Place command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Drop It – Exchange method: https://wagwalking.com/training/drop-it I would give pup more to do, by using pup's meal kibble ration to stuff puzzle toys, dog food stuffed kongs, kong wobbles, and similar toys pup can entertain himself with. Finally, once pup understands the new rules, when pup disobeys a command or rule he has already been taught in order to get your attention, you may need to use a remote training collar so you have a way to enforce commands without having to give additional attention. The correction should be on pup's working level, which is the lowest level pup indicates they can feel when standing and calm when you test ahead of time, and corrected only for something pup knows and chooses to disobey, giving pup better options, like a toy to choose instead. How to and fit video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cl3V8vYobM Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Tiffany, If he is okay with you doing some proactive training with pup, seeing is often the best way to show someone that. I would use gentler methods in this case, especially if he is hesitant about training. Teaching things like Place, Down, Out, Leave It, Sit, and Wait - as some options for commands that can help with boundaries, using methods that are reward based and calm. Some benefits of boundaries are: 1. Helps anxious dogs feel less anxious because they don't have to be in control as much, and communication is more predictable. 2. Makes it easier to involve pup in other areas of your life, like travel, public places, friends' homes, the vet, the groomers, hiking, ect... 3. Often reduces yelling and harsh interactions with pup because there is calm, consistent communication; listening and respect present; more confidence and a proactive approach from those who live with pup, instead of just reactivity to pup when they do something you don't like; it can decrease behavior issues like aggression and reactivity because there is more respect for those giving the boundaries and a clear understanding of rules. 4. It helps provide mental stimulation by having pup work on skills like listening, self-control, the ability to learn new things, and problem solving. Mental stimulation has a lot of benefits, including less pent up energy, less anxiety, release of calming hormones, greater self-regulation, greater satisfaction, less boredom, and greater cognitive function. Often teaching pup just one or two commands that would make communication with pup easier, with permission, and having the other person see the effects of those commands and boundaries, speaks louder than a lecture on it, if the person will agree to a couple of specific commands. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

As a dog owner, you probably get upset when your dog growls. Your first reaction may be to suppress the growling by scolding or punishing the dog. This is never a good idea. By teaching your dog that growling isn't acceptable behavior, you're taking away its ability to warn you that it may bite. You may have heard stories about dogs that bite with no warning. But, in many cases, this is because the owners trained their dogs not to give a warning growl first. The key to getting a dog to stop growling is not to suppress the growls, but rather to deal with the underlying problem. Once the pain, fear, possession aggression, or territoriality has been dealt with, the dog will no longer need to growl. In-Depth Training Territoriality, possession aggression, and fear are serious behavior problems. Depending on the degree of the behavioral problem, the dog may respond well to a training program or may need a much more in-depth behavior modification program. A dog trainer or animal behaviorist can help you evaluate the dog, and determine the best course of action for dealing with these issues. As you work with this type of trainer, be as specific as possible as to what you think triggered the growling. The trainer will likely work with the dog to slowly condition it to accept the trigger and not growl in its presence. Next Steps While you're working to determine the cause of the growling, don't ignore it or it's likely to get worse. Be careful around your dog until you figure out why it's growling. Additionally, you may want to help your dog modify its behavior until the situation is under control. For example, if your dog always growls at the mail carrier, close the window shades and eliminate any sightlines while you work on the problem. If possible, eliminate triggers, avoid stressful situations, and caution others (both dogs and humans) to keep their distance in order to prevent a dog bite. For example, you may not want to introduce your dog to new dogs, bring it to a dog park, or host a loud party until you get help.

Hello Carl, This is an issue I highly recommend hiring a professional private trainer to help you with in person. Pup will need to be desensitized to wearing a basket muzzle for safety. Their overall respect for you in general will need to be build through doing things like practicing obedience commands, keeping interactions with pup calm and consistent, possibly implementing some new rules around the house like staying off furniture, and having pup work for everything they get by having to perform a command, like Sit first. With safety measures in place like a back tie leash and a fake arm, pup will need to be counter conditioned to people being around while he is eating. This is done very carefully and gradually, tossing treats to pup from further away when they respond well when you walk past, gradually decreasing the distance as pup improves through practice, by feeding pup their meals in portions, and eventually practicing touch with the fake arm, rewarding pup with more food each time they are touched. This procedure has to be done very carefully to avoid making the aggression worse, to keep you safe, and to make progress, so I highly recommend only doing it under a trainer's supervision and guidance. Look for a trainer who specializes in behavior issues like aggression. Not all trainer work with aggression and have the experience you need so ask questions. Check out their previous client reviews and referrals from those with similar training needs as your also. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Susan, The circling is an obsessive compulsive behavior, likely from stress and being confined in a small space. Some herding breeds will develop circling in those types of conditions. For the jumping, I recommend practicing the Step Toward method below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-australian-shepherds-to-not-jump For the circling, you will need an interrupter to get pup's attention to "snap" them out of the compulsion, but you will also need to teach an alternative behavior that pup can do instead of circling, and reward the alternative behavior. This will take a lot of practice since it is an obsession and a way pup has learned to manage their stress. Typically an interrupter like a Pet Convincer (no citronella, only unscented air), a remote training collar with low level stimulation or vibration, would be used to interrupt. Pup would then be taught alternative behaviors like fetching a frisbee thrown out ahead of you throughout the walk - to teach forward movement, and a formalized heel with lots of turns and changes in pace to help keep pup engaged. Having pup carry something during the walk can also sometimes help keep pup's brain in the right mindset. Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Finally, work on stimulating pup mentally to help pup get their energy out and give their mind a better outlet. Check out the Youtube channel below for some ideas of things you can teach. Simply having a thirty minute training session each day, where pup practices known commands or new commands or tricks, simply to challenge their mind and help them redirect some nervous energy. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZzFRKsgVMhGTxffpzgTJlQ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden