Four Legged Scholars LLC – Dog Training – Middlefield and Surrounding Areas
Do you struggle with a dog that growls around his food and / or toys? Do you feel unsafe about his behavior?
We are currently working with a boxer / pit bull mix, named Rebel, with this same problem.
As a result, you are not alone. Rebel is learning to be more friendly around his food. Your dog can learn this too.
Rebel and I are practicing dog training. Middlefield is where Rebel lives with his owner.
His owner, Sonya, has two nieces that like to visit, and Rebel has growled at them numerous times.
Rebel likes to guard certain locations in his home, and he also likes to guard his food. She wants her nieces to feel safe around Rebel.
As a result we are working on a command called “walk away” in our protcol with dog training. Middlefield owner, Sonya, is starting to feel more confident.
If your dog has guarding issues training “walk away” can help greatly, and it is easy.
I recently, attended a seminar on aggression that involved positive dog training. Middlefield was not where the seminar was located, but it was nearby in Akron. Pat Miller with Peaceable Paws was the speaker.
Pat talked about training this command and I loved it! Basically, while you are near your dog or just a small distance away say “walk away” toss quite a few treats on the ground behind your dog.
Then walk with your dog toward the treats. You are getting your dog to turn around and walk away from the resource that he wants to guard.
Begin by practicing this with no objects around at all. Then practice around objects or locations that your dog does not guard.
Then move to locations or objects that he minorly guards. Work up to more valued objects and locations that your dog guards until your dog will turn around from any resource and walk away from it when you say “walk away.”
If you want to feel safer, you can practice the above with your dog on leash so that he isn’t able to reach the object.
Your dog will only be able to move toward or smell the object but not be able to put it in his mouth.
Remember you will want to progress slowly. Do not progress to a more valuable object until your dog can easily walk away from the lower valued objects first.
In order to create success you need to be persistent and consistent with your dog training. Middlefield dog owners will be impressed with how quick a dog can learn this simple command.
It is based on classical conditioning. The dog hears “walk away” and yummy treats fall onto the ground.
In addition, they are positioned away from the object so the dog learns to move away from the object in order to eat the treats.
Eventually, he associates this command with eating and moving away.
Johanna Teresi, Middlefield Dog Trainer, Four Legged Scholars LLC, Dog Training, Middlefield
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