Using Positive Reinforcement to Calm an Excited or Aggressive Dog

Puppies grow up quickly and as they do, behavior issues can begin to show. Last winter, we took in an 8 week old Border Collie who had been kicked out of her home. Keikei will soon be a year old and has exhibited leash aggression and aggressive tendencies with my other dogs when she becomes excited. The herding instinct is so strong is this working dog breed, she feels it's her job to get everyone rounded up when we go outside. Dr. Patricia McConnell, a well known animal behaviorist and author says, "Positive reinforcement is the most friendly of all training techniques."

Dog training isn't rocket science, but working with a difficult dog can be frustrating. It's so important to remain calm around your dog, especially while training. Think about how you would want someone to teach you. As long as you stay consistent with your commands, remain calm and use lots of praise and treats for positive reinforcement, any dog will learn what you are trying to teach them. Dogs are eager to learn and they want to please us. In turn, we want our dogs to see us as their leader, the alpha, and we have to earn their trust and respect. A Border Collie is one of the most intelligent dogs around. If you give them an inch, they'll take a mile and that's exactly what Keikei has attempted to do. The power of praise and positive reinforcement will train a dog much faster than trying to dominate them. And it's the best way to earn their trust and respect.

A word of caution is appropriate when it comes to trying to train a dog who shows aggression of any kind. If you aren't comfortable dealing with an aggressive dog, the best way to help your dog is to talk with your vet and ask him to recommend a qualified animal behaviorists in your area who can help you best treat your dog's behavior. There's always a reason why a dog is being aggressive, but if you don't know what you're looking for, it can be hard to find. Sometimes a medical condition can cause aggression. Animal behaviorists are experts in their field of study and know what to look for in the environment the dog is living in. Dogs can read our body language and facial expressions and if you are hesitate, afraid or timid with your dog, he will pick it up. Aggression can be a serious behavioral problem to deal with and you have to know your dog well to understand how he may react. It's important to stay calm, patient and committed. If you can't do that, it's best to enlist help from an expert.

Keikei has so much energy, she has trouble containing herself. Her aggression comes from her desire to herd everyone else. She becomes so excited, she gets everyone else all worked up every time we try to take them outside. So, we began a strict training program using positive reinforcement that includes lots of praise and treats. Dogs are as individual as we are and what works for some won't work for others. What works for Keikei is to move her to an area away from the rest of the dogs when we are ready to go downstairs. I put her in a sit/stay position and make her wait until everyone else has gone downstairs. The process of making her sit and stay, along with getting her favorite treats, has a calming effect on her and when she gets the command to move, she's much calmer and her aggression disappears.

According to Patricia McConnell, "The beauty of using reinforcements is that you can drop them out of your repertoire as your dog's behavior becomes habitual." As we have progressed in Keikei's training, I have been able to eliminate treats as motivation to get her to sit and stay. I still use them now and then because she likes them, but she will now sit and stay until I give her the command to go without having to use the treats. Training a dog is very satisfying once you've gotten to the point where they actually do what you ask and using positive reinforcement over trying to dominate them works faster and is more rewarding for them and the person doing the training.

Dogs are just as individual as we are. Training techniques that work well for some dogs don't necessarily work for all dogs. Especially if you have a dog who can outsmart you. Keikei has all the qualities of a Border Collie, the good and the bad, and it's been necessary to change my attitude about training a dog. What worked well for my other dogs hasn't worked for her. Positive reinforcement to help calm an aggressive or excited dog does work, but you have to be consistent and as determined as the dog to help them learn to let go of their aggression.

Dealing with an aggressive dog, whether the aggression is caused by excitement, a leash, another dog or other reasons, is not a behavior that should be allowed. Aggression will continue to grow if it's not dealt with immediately. Too many dogs end up in a shelter because their owner didn't know how to handle their dog's aggression or didn't have the patience to help their dog. It's always worth the time and energy to help a dog with any kind of behavioral problem. Positive reinforcement is certainly a kinder and gentler way to help calm a dog when their excitement turns into aggression. And a favorite treat helps refocus the mind, giving them a chance to calm down.

Patricia McConnell, The Positives of Positive Reinforcement, patriciamcconnell.com

The Dog Trainer's Trainer, dogtime

Dogs: Positive Reinforcement Training, The Humane Society of the United States