Not All Dogs Can Be Trained. . . “The Loving Way”
by Todd Bartelstein: Morgan Dogs, Chicago, IL
I don’t think there is a “Dog Trainer” out there that would disagree with me.
I can’t tell you how often I took “Tippy,” my new training dog out for the first time, went to pet him and “WHAM”, he bit me, or gave it his best try. We always ask… “Does he nip or bite?” “Any aggression problems?” “Oh no, he just won’t come when we call him.” Or “We’re going on vacation and thought it would be a good time to send him because we have to board him anyway.” So I call Tippy’s mom and say “Tippy just tried to bite me!” and Tippy’s mom starts to cry and say “I know, but I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you wouldn’t train Tippy.” She was sent home from two dog training schools and told to put Tippy to sleep by another. I tell Tippy’s mom it’s ok, it happens all the time and explain how some dogs have strong alpha personalities & learn how to use their teeth as a weapon, and a good one it is!
If a dog bites you, or tries to bite you, you need to give a firm but fair slap under the chin. With a young puppy, a flick on the nose most of the time will work. Then again, I’ve had that cute 3 ? month old Cocker Spaniel that’s tougher than some 14 month old Pit bulls, and I’m not stereo typing Pit Bulls, they are a fantastic breed! There are dogs of every breed that can have that kind of temperament. The more the dog wins, the tougher he or she can be. A lot of times aggression is taught accidentally, for instance, your dog is eating, a child walks into the kitchen, the dog starts to growl at the child, “STAY AWAY FROM THE DOG WHEN HE’S EATING, HE’S GONNA BITE YOU!” or the kids are in the backyard running and playing and your dog starts to run and play too. But the dog starts to bite at the ankles of the kids, “DON’T RUN BY THE DOG, HE’S GONNA BITE YOU!” It’s your dog’s behaviour that needs correcting not the children.
If you let this type of behavior continue, you’re asking for TROUBLE! I’ve had the ones that want to do nothing but please you and are a pleasure to train. I’ve had that 3? month old nipper that a flick on the nose was enough to tame, and I’ve had that 5 year old German Shepherd Dog that wouldn’t let their owners back in their own home.
So when you see that “Dog Trainer” slap Tippy under the chin or give Tippy a hard correction, it could save Tippy’s life!