How to Train a Reactive Dog
If you’re working so hard to make reactive dog training work, you only need to focus on three essential steps: uncover what truly triggers their big emotions, choose a method that builds genuine trust, and ditch the harsh shortcuts that wreck your progress over time. Your dog lunges at other dogs on walks, barks at […]
Aggressive Dog: What To Do First
To truly understand an aggressive dog, we have to look past the behavior itself and see it for what it really is: a form of communication. Aggression is your dog’s natural, instinctual, and survival response to defend themselves against threats, protect valuable resources, or guard against physical pain. In almost every case I see, the […]
Reactive Dog: What It Really Means and How to Calm One
A reactive dog is a dog that overreacts to triggers. They are the ones prone to barking, lunging, growling, fixating, often at other dogs, people, bikes, or loud noises. Reactivity is not disobedience and is different from aggression. This is a fact every dog owner should know: a reactive dog has a nervous system that […]
Should You Let Dogs Fight It Out? What Every Owner Needs to Know
Should you let dogs fight it out? In almost all cases, no… you should not let dogs “fight it out.” The idea that dogs need to settle a pecking order through fighting is an outdated myth. Real fights rarely resolve anything cleanly. Fights escalate, cause injury, and damage the dogs’ relationship. Addressing the leadership gap […]
What Is Redirected Aggression In Dogs And How to Stop It
“Doggy Dan, what is redirected aggression in dogs?” Redirected aggression in dogs occurs when stress or arousal from a trigger, like another dog or a loud noise, pushes them past their threshold. This behavior is very common among dogs that are always stressed and on guard because they think they’re in charge. True resolution rests […]
How to Reintroduce Dogs After a Fight: A Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Peace
Learning how to reintroduce dogs after a fight can prevent any significant damage from happening in your dogs’ relationship. Knowing what to do after a dog fight, how long you should separate your dogs for, knowing the baby steps to take when reintroducing dogs, and solving the very root cause of dog fights can stop […]
How To Get Two Dogs To Stop Fighting? The Training Secret That Changes Everything
I know you’re frustrated, and eager to know how to get two dogs to stop fighting. But before you spend thousands of dollars on training strategies that only address the triggers but not the cause, I recommend you keep your mind open and remember this: dog fights are proof you’re not giving your dogs the […]
Why Do My Dogs Keep Fighting? (And How to Finally Stop It)
“Dan, why do my dogs keep fighting?” If fights are happening regularly in your home, stop overanalyzing every trigger and start with a bigger question: do your dogs truly see you as their leader? Because 98% of the time, ongoing conflict comes down to unclear leadership. When dogs don’t recognize a leader, they’ll try to […]
How to Stop Dogs from Fighting: Proven Steps That Work
As a dog trainer that has seen what actually stops even the most intense dog brawls, I always tell owners that before they figure out how to stop dogs from fighting, they have to ask the more important question: why dog fights start. Your dogs start fights because the element of leadership – one that […]