Austin Dog Trainer Blog

Bad to the Bone: Analyzing and Assessing Dog Bites

We are very excited to announce that our new DVD, Bad to the Bone: Analyzing and Assessing Dog Bites is set to shoot this Sunday and should be released for purchase within the coming months. The presenter is Cara Vacchiano, Austin Dog Aggression Consultant. In addition to helping dog owners with canine aggression on a routine basis, Cara teaches other dog trainers and dog behavior experts how to work with aggressive dogs. In this new DVD, Cara will teach dog trainers, behavior experts, veterinarians and their staff, and animal control officers how to properly assess bites to both humans and other dogs. The DVD uses actual photos to help dog behavior professionals assess risk and weigh the factors involved in tough dog aggression cases. There is currently no product like this on the market and dog trainers and consultants are eagerly awaiting the release of this much-needed educational product!

The puppies and mama cleared their vet checkup and are doing well!

The babies and mom all cleared their vet checkup today and are catching up on their beauty sleep. The 7 puppies that are now being raised by our apprentice at our Austin Dog Training Center ranged from 4/10ths of a pound to 7/10ths of a pound. Although I was worried about her attention to the pups at first, Cider's instincts have kicked in and she's turning out to be a wonderful mama - the puppies are content, happy, and quiet.  Rev, Cinder, Nutmeg, Chester, Harry, Hermione, and Ron can't wait to meet all of the friends that have been asking about them. So far, they've been visited by an infant, a toddler, many adults, and a fox and they can't wait to continue their socialization as they grow up. Here are more shots from day one of these tiny baby angels:

Rev

  Cinder

Tiny Nutmeg, the runt! She's eating very well, so she'll catch up on weight soon!

   Hhhhmmm. I can't tell from the picture which one this is. Could be Chester?

Cara, Austin Dog Training and Dog Behavior Consultations

Mama and puppies are resting quietly!

After a very long delivery day (8 am to 5 pm from first pup to last pup), mom and pups are resting quietly. We have 4 handsome devils and 3 beautiful princesses. Chocolate and black! We'll keep updating with videos and pictures. For now, here are a few early shots:

Cara, Austin Dog Training and Behavior Consultations

We're in labor!!!

We brought home a pregnant labradoodle bitch about three days ago. She has settled down nicely - has a wonderful temperament and phenomenal looks and is now delivering her pups in our training center! I will post pictures and some video asap, but for now, we have one female puppy and one male puppy! We;ll keep you posted,

Cara, Austin Dog Training

Only the alpha shows aggression

There are so many myths out there about dominance and alpha dogs! In fact, one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of dog behavior, dog interactions, dog relationships, and dog aggression is the area of dominance and status relationship. I recently read on another dog behavior blog that: "ONLY the leader shows aggression and says when it is ok to show aggression." That simply isn't true!

In both dogs and wolves, canine behavior consultants and ethologists see dogs of all ages and status level in the hierarchy growling and engaging in aggression when challenged for a valued food source. According to David L. Mech, the world's leading expert in wolf behavior: "regardless of the rank of a challenger, the owner tried to retain the food it possessed, as Lockwood (1979) also found with captive wolves. Wolves of any rank could try to steal food from another of any rank, but every wolf defended its food." If you would like to read more about the relationships and status hierarchies of wolves, I strongly recommend going to the source of the top material and ignoring "popular advice!"

We also know that it is not true that only a leader shows aggression in relationships among domestic dogs. For example, a young pup will often resource guard a bone from older dogs whose higher status in the group is clearly and unequivocally established. Mothers will aggress against dogs coming towards their litter. Dogs that are lower in a social group will frequently "correct" other dogs for rough play, invasion of space, and inappropriate behavior. In fact, Patricia McConnell, a leading authority in dog behavior and ethology who speciailizes in aggression in domestic dogs, theorizes that owners who try to reinforce the dominant dog's position in the "pack" often cause more problems to arise in the group because they tend to misinterpret who the alpha dog is! Owners, and sadly many so-called dog behavior experts, often misidentify the second or third in command dog as the alpha simply because one of those lower dogs is more likely to fight or demonstrate aggression since they are not secure in their position in the way that a true alpha dog is.

Although it is important to pay attention to status relationships and pack dynamics in some cases, methods of training and behavior modification that rely solely or very heavily on these relationships as their methodology tend to be drastically outdated and uninformed. When selecting your dog aggression expert or canine behavior consultant, look for a consultant that that maintains their education on a regular basis by attending seminars or teleconferences on at least an annual basis and avoids relying on common myths and fads for their information.

Cara Vacchiano, JD, CPDT, CAP1

Dealing with aggression in your dog

    

When you have an aggressive dog, whether your dog is biting people, other dogs, or other animals, you often feel hopeless. You wonder if you did something wrong to cause your dog's aggression. You begin to ask yourself if it is safe to keep your dog. Struggling with an aggressive dog can be frightening and very emotional, but you shouldn't give up until you have sought help from a qualified professional.

Where should you turn?

First, know when it is time to turn to a professional dog behavior consultant that works with aggression in dogs. If your dog snaps at a person on more than a "rare" occasion, call in a professional that works with canine aggression. If your dog has snapped on an extremely rare occasion when overly frightened or in pain, you may decide to hold off on calling a professional dog trainer. When the snapping occurs on a weekly, or even monthly, basis, it's time to get some help! Frequent snapping is a warning that something is wrong that must be put right.  It is also crucial to get help when your dog is biting and doing damage! If your dog bites another person or dog and breaks the skin even one time, it's time to call in a professional behavior consultant.

Second, don't turn to "hobby" or "entertainment" sources! Your neighbor who took a class with her dog, your friend who used to train dogs years ago but isn't up to date on the most current developments in canine behavior and aggression, and your favorite television show cannot properly assess your situation and give you a behavior modification plan that is best-suited to address the particular aggression issues you are facing with your dog. If your dog has an aggression issue, you need to implement a plan that is tailored for your individual dog based on a thorough and complete history of the aggressive incidents.

Lastly, remember that aggressive dogs can be rehabilitated very successfully in many cases. It can take time, effort, and an investment of resources but it can be done ! Don't give up until you've worked with a professional who has experience working with the type of dog aggression you are facing, who can tell you where they obtained their education, and who regularly attends continuing education courses to maintain the most up-to-date knowledge in the field of aggressive dogs. To begin the search for a canine behavior consultant in your area, go to www.iaabc.org and use the consultant locator. 

Cara Vacchiano, JD, CPDT, CAP1
Austin Dog Training and Behavior