Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “aggression”
Correct them or Kill them. I’ve been a pretty outspoken advocate for shelter dogs, and all dogs in general for the last several years. I’ve also spent most of my time training and competing with dogs. To be clear, I deal with all types of dogs, not just the ones I choose, but also the ones that are chosen for …
If you’ve ever visited a shelter, one thing is very apparent to you and that is the overwhelming number of pit bulls and pit mixes there are. The numbers are so disproportionate that it’s staggering. What is the answer? Is it BSL (breed specific legislation), is it mandatory spay neuter, it is education, outreach? Or is there no real answer …
There is a trend in dog training that is ever more popular, yet their vigilance ends up hurting many dogs. This trend is the “positive only” movement. Last month I was in Prescott Arizona working with the humane society. On my last day I was asked to work with a dog that was set to be put down for aggression. …
May 4th, 5th and 6th I will be in Prescott Arizona at the Yavapai Humane Society for a 3 day workshop / seminar with staff, volunteers and management teaching our Shelter Rescue Program. The focus of this workshop is a better understanding canine behaviors through training and evaluations and how best to save more lives. I have been to YHS …
There was a study not too long ago that stated that the average pit bull has had more than 3 homes in the first year of his life. In no way should this be a breed specific comment, but since the pit bull is oftentimes the dog that is singled out at shelters, this comment cut me to the core. …
When we look at how an animal shelter performs, we typically judge them by how many animals are adopted / rescued vs. how many animals are killed. These numbers may seem simple at the surface but are often skewed by a veil of deceit. Typically this should be a simple approach: The shelter took in 100 animals, 90 were adopted, …
One of the biggest issues facing dogs in shelters is the shut down of the behaviors we’ve bred into them for so many years; namely socialization. A dog’s ability to live with, and be happy with, other dogs and people is one of the key things that makes the dog a perfect companion animal. Among the people who have done …
When I found Xena at the Yavapai Humane Society, she was first on the list to be put down. No one could get near her and the veteran employee there said that no other dog had ever scared him as much as Xena. However the new director there had a different idea. Understanding what No-Kill really means, he asked me …
There are countless thousands of dogs living (waiting to die) in shelters right now that wish they had been given the opportunity to learn right from wrong. These dogs were given up on by their humans, their trainers and by society as a whole. They will pay the ultimate price – their lives. If only the humans could step outside …
I’ve said it many times: “When my phone rings, the clicker method didn’t work.” I’ve gone into kennels of some really tough dogs. Dogs even the shelter employees don’t wanna mess with, and I always come out with a new friend. I like the tough ones, they make me smile, cause they usually always have a story. How do I convince them …
