1) To calm the dog if necessary.
Diet. Avoid canned and semi-moist foods as these usually contain preservatives and artificial colours which cause some dogs to become over-excited. An increase in the protein content of the diet to above 30% results in a calmer dog. Most good quality dog foods contain 26% protein for adults and 28% for puppies. To bring the protein content to 30% or more add meat, chicken, fish or cooked eggs to the diet daily.
To gain control - safely. If the dog is too strong to be handled out-of-doors with a standard collar, use a choke chain or Halti with the regular leash.
2) Indoor training.
At home work with the dog on a leash until it will obey "sit, down, stay and come" on the first command. During training, if the dog is not immediately obedient, enforce the command. To sit a dog pull up on the lead while pressing down on the haunches, repeating the command "sit". Praise when in the correct position. A pinch across the spine behind the shoulder blades will make most dogs lie down from a sitting position. "Stay" can be practiced by having the dog beside you in a down position while you read or watch television. Sit on the lead and ignore the dog after telling it to stay unless it gets up - when you put it down again and repeat the command to stay. Use the nylon cord always when telling the dog to "come" and haul the dog to you if it does not immediately respond. When in front of you, tell the dog to sit and praise and reward it as if it had come of its own accord.
This training has two objectives. One is to get a joyful response from the dog as it interacts with people; at first with you and later with your friends. The dog is happy because each training session is a time of praise and reward. Dogs like to please their owners and this training will add to their self esteem.
The second consequence of this training is that the dog, in obeying commands from a number of people without hesitation, is acknowledging these people as 'leaders'. A dog in a pack looks to the leaders when anything fearful approaches and feels safe as the pack as a whole will deal with the stranger.
3) Outdoor training.
If your property is on a busy street, stand with your dog near the sidewalk and every time someone approaches, ask them to walk straight by as you are training your dog. Command the dog to go down and stay while you ensure that it stays down until the person has passed, when you release, praise and give a treat. In the city it may be more convenient to use a busy park for this, staying with your dog just off the path. If joggers are the problem, try to find a place where they are common. In the country, you might have to ask the help of neighbours, who walk quite a distance back and forth in front of the dog, never speaking to it but going from a slow walk, to a fast walk, to a jog as you control your dog and praise it for ignoring the walker. Should the dog growl, scold it with a low growling voice and many words. Have a spray bottle with a half vinegar/water mixture and spray the dog's mouth with this and scold it, if it barks.
Once the dog is ignoring the walkers and paying attention to you, walk the dog on a short lead, on your left-hand side, preferably using a Halti, and keeping your body between the dog and people who are passing you. If the dog ignores them, praise and reward. If any aggression is shown, seat the dog or in severe cases make the dog lie down, until the person has passed, then reward if he has been quiet. This method puts the dog in a submissive position which inhibits aggression.
The basic obedience which the dog has learnt to enjoy because you have made it a happy and rewarding time can be used to change the dog's attitude towards strangers he meets outside the house. If anyone shows a friendly interest in your dog, ask if they could give you a few minutes to help in its training (teenagers are good). Have the dog beside you on the lead and have the helper give the basic obedience commands exactly as you give them. If the dog does not immediately obey, you push the dog into position without repeating the command or looking at the dog. The helper praises while you slip the dog a piece of cheese. The helper then gives the next command. If possible, go through the routine until the dog responds to the helper's commands alone. Every time the dog obeys commands from someone, he acknowledges that person as a leader, not someone to be attacked. With repetition with various people he will come to regard people you meet as potential friends, who may be going to play his training game with him.
4) Chasing bikes, cars and other moving things.
Have the dog tied with a length of woven nylon rope (Canadian Tire) so that he can run to the edge of your property but no further. Ask the help of a cyclist or motorist that they drive up and down in front of the property. You have the dog beside you on a down/stay and repeat the stay command as the bike etc approaches. If the dog disobeys you and rushes forward he will be punished by being stopped abruptly at the end of the rope. You increase the unpleasantness by going up and scolding him. Repeat this over and over until the dog stays beside you , when he is praised and given a treat. With time have the dog beside you but no longer told to stay just warned to “leave it”. Again failure to chase the object is rewarded. Then move away from the dog and then maybe watch from a window ready to go up to the dog and scold if any chasing occurs.
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