@EC well. No. Not so. I was 16, forced into a silly babysitting job.... after we had pizza n put dishes away? I heard a noise n said? Whats that n pointed at door. Was told thats the dog. Can i see it?....No. Please?.. ok. Opens door? And there holding a beautiful sit stay? Is a gorgeous lovely black bitch? Just loking at me all happy. 16 yr old is holding open door. I go... ohhh and bend n reach out w hand? Palm up. And dog goes for me fast w growl. I snatch hand back. Boy goes you can pet her this way? But not reach out to grab - i try both ways and see i can turn her on? And off?. Me- can she come out? No. Pls? Okay... She ran @ all nite w 2 little kids abt 4 n 5? And their older boy and me. Then it was bed time. She went back into the laundry room... kids to bed, i sack out on couch. Never heard another noise out of her. Wed cone back from s.a. cpl years before and i was pushed into babysitting and was scared to death... i used to.lay in bed n shake... that little blk bitch? Adter meeting her? I was never scared again at nite in the dark. Because out there? All over? Are dobermans sitting patiently behind closed doirs? Waiting for someone to come in, try to pet them so they can silently launch into instantant attack mode, keeping our world safe from bad guys. And.. heh. The bad guys have No idea what theyre walking into. LoL Few years later? Buy my 1st doberman. Hell of a dog. Had dobermans ever since So i *knew* exactly what i wanted in a doberman and it was that little bitch i saw at a babysitting job in h.s. Theyve never let me down. I have anazing stories abt my dobes. My dau? Grew up w 3 litters taking care of ears, learned how to separate dogs that fought, did dog n horse 4h. Eventually won everything ;) But she.met a man? They talked. She asked him do u have a dog? Yes. What kind? 2 - brown dogs. What kind? Just... brown dogs... what kind? (Sigh) dobermans. She said - get outta town !! I was raised w dobermans !! Been together years now. I think i ran into that boy? Abt 7 years later.. And tge dobes? Theres a good chance i may have run into them back in s.a. as a kid. ;) But i never wavered. I knew what i was walking into before i bought my first.
@EC He is one of the most beautiful dogs I’ve ever seen… in looks and temperament. Never seen dogs being trained like this before, very effective and very interesting. Prince is stunning. 😍
I'm 54. I've had dogs almost every year I've been alive except for two. I had a farm at one point with seven dogs living with me; a sheltie/husky mix, a purebred collie, a pit/beagle mix, a purebred Belgian Mal, an ancient lab someone left in my driveway, and two little puffy maltipoos. Not one dog fight. Not one argument at meal time. I had one rule, and that was that I'm the boss. I could take food out of their mouths and they let me. I've worked for 4 vets over the span of 25 years, and I have had to handle aggressive, fearful dogs at least once a workday, every workday. So I know dogs, is what I'm getting at. I know behavior, I know attitude, I know body language. People can watch these videos and cringe in horror all they want, but you know what tells me this guy is a good guy and treats dogs well? Not how he acts, but how his dogs act. Prince goes through some real shit, man. For a dog, he gets put through the wringer by other dogs. This is stressful! To be on your home turf and have strange dogs constantly come up and challenge you? BUT Prince handles it with grace, calm, he's responsive to his owner and obviously loves him. There is no fear in Prince, never a cringe, never an avoidance of his human. This is a dog who has a great home environment that rewards him, makes him feel secure, gives him reassurance, and Prince always knows everything will be all right. You've got a new fan.
Amen Jessa!! That "Hey!" @7:56...when Joel waits to pop the collar PRECISELY when the shepherd needed it while Prince patiently anticipates is really really demonstrative of how well Joel and Prince work TOGETHER as a TEAM! Great stuff.
Prince is working a job. People forget most dog breeds were bred for jobs. Many behavioral problems are because dogs bred for work no longer have a job.
@@OakwiseBecoming No lie. My Belgian Mal herded horses for me on the farm. She worked her butt off as a young dog, and my vet called her "a Golden Retriever in a Mal body". When I sold the farm some years later, after most of the dogs had passed, she went with me to a small apartment. She was 15 and was very happy to sleep on a couch most of the day by then! I'd never, ever have one in an apartment, not unless I went for long-distance runs every day.
@@jessakent2049 What a wonderful story. I have a big respect for dog owners. Owners of dogs of a trade particularly. That's a lot of work for dog and owner alike, and doing farmwork is definitely not a skill for the ignorant.
Update on Ace - I have gotten him involved in playing some of the games ru-vid.comUgkx1_veP7CApJK_GWy_TczaMciuG64PqJeU and I can see a difference in his confidence already! My other dog played along and he became intrigued - now its a daily part of our routine - about 3 times a day we do the shell game and the muffin tin game. I am so grateful for coming upon your training techniques!
One thing I noticed that Prince seldom does with other aggressive and unsocialized dogs, is that Prince initiated the Cowboy Stare-down right into Jack's face when out of the fence, and for a reason. Usually, Prince tries to sniff and only bites back when bitten himself or does the play duck to try to socialize with unsocialized dogs. The moment Prince appears on another side of the fence, Jack picks a fight right away like every other aggressive dog and acts frantically. However, right after the butt touch that stops and calms Jack down, Jack is no longer out of his mind acting crazy, and the conscious thing he did was to mark the fence in front of Prince. That was a clear sign he isn't anxious or frantic like other unsocialized dogs, but in his clear mind to pick a fight. When Prince is out of the fence, even Beckman is like "come on Prince, really?!". Prince can tolerate one or two crazy behaviours from unsocialized dogs but not clear mind jerks that are picking a fight. Prince here is intelligent and gentle while being able to protect himself, amazing!
This video also shows why many “trainers” can’t be trainers (and also why I can’t be); this job can take huge amounts of patience and stamina. Props to anyone who can go head to head with strong animals and not give up!
@@greenwave819 you have to understand that they need structure and limits. Just like a young child. They become happier and healthier if they have rules in their lives. Unlike children though, they’re 80 pounds of pure muscle with very big teeth.
@@greenwave819 No. What your comment shows is that you just don't like Joel. I don’t think you are Purely Positive, which tells me it's about you, and Joel has triggered something in you. Maybe you’re the opposite of Joel, you perhaps lack confidence in yourself, have a dog that you tried to train it, but you didn't know what you were doing. You don't have to agree with anything, but what you say, how you say it and write could be better to give yourself some credibility. Good Luck in all your endeavors, sincerely. 🌟
Ever since I started watching these videos I can't stop telling my dog to chill when he gets out of line. And just for the record I would definitely watch longer format videos from you
Gosh, it’s those dang GSDs! He is just like mine. But, I straightened it all out. “I’m over it”. And “I’m the boss.” He doesn’t get to do what ever he wants all the time. Nope!!!Purely positive with treats only DOES NOT WORK with all dogs. Nice work here Joel!
@@vikingdogmanship No, me either. But there are some trainers who think a pop on a leash is too harsh. I’m here to tell you, pop on a leash works, and treats do not always work for stubborn dogs! 😍
@@User7688.--_ It’s ok! Here’s what happened….Joel is not a purely positive trainer. So, I was saying “purely positive” training does not work. I was complimenting Joel. There are some trainers on RU-vid who only use treats. That’s called “purely positive”, and I am here to tell you, that didn’t work for me. My GSD was getting evil. Tried to bite people etc…I got a “balanced trainer” similar to Joel in my area. And in 1 day, my dog was completely changed. Now he is a great, well behaved dog. I feel like I was duped by purely positive videos! So, Viking was agreeing with me. I believe balanced training with some pops on the leash and some treats are the way to go! Some dogs are super stubborn and aggressive if you don’t get a handle on it QUICK!!!! Hope that explains! Thanks!!!!
I had 2 German Shepherds and they required constant training. I also never really treated them as a kid cuz they could easily injure or hurt someone. But it was worth it to see them well behaved.
I almost lost my finger for one XD although it was my mistake giving the wrong command for my mother's dog....little context: my mom taught her dog zeus who is a pitbull to use the command "enter" to get off the gate where we enter and leave our home When i was gonna throw the trash i was not aware of this and said "leave" and guess what? For him its you can leave home and well he got in a fight wheb i tried to separete both the german got a little bite in my finger, it didn't go to the bone but was close and only got the meat part under the dot of my finger you know the ones you use to touch your phone,anywah now i can't feel anything in that finger but hey it was my bad for not knowing the right command😅
Omg this this is my house right now...I am tired of being bitten and pulling apart two dogs whom used to never fight. I cannot live like this. Spending thounsands on training correction collars,special stuff its rough. I can't function or have people over.
@@nightfighter7452 ...not an option. I am not that type of person. I am stubborn and don't give up. Help is what we need. I believe this can be corrected I need the proper tools to do so. Also fighter is in your name...wouldn't you fight for something you love?? I know I am gonna darn well try!!!
@@moonlight02161 sometimes you need to do what is best for the dogs though and not for yourself. There are situations whereby a relationship can not be rectified and the dogs are in a constant state of anxiety when living together. That's no way to live, it's exhausting and frightening for them. The kindest thing can be to let them live elsewhere and be at peace.
@@rachelr6464 three trainers, and the vet who have seen him since day one when we got him say no rehomeing due to how it is. The one root dog who caused the ripple. Now I will say I will continue to look for as long as I can. I had a best friend who fell into drugs and everyone gave up on them. 4 times in rehab plus losing practically everything. I helped her finally stay the course and here we are 8 years next week sober. She runs a very successful business has her kids back. The right help and things xan make the difference. The right training,the right trainer is what I am looking for. If he were to be rehomed and one day he snapped and severely injured the new family member he would be hauled off to the pound and put to sleep. Scared alone and no one. I would never do that he would atleast be with us. So I understand for some its easy to rehome however there is alot that happens with that prosess. So training or...well we will do our best. I appreciate the input but rehoming is not an option.
I think your voice has some kind of dog calming vibe. I was playing your videos the other day while grooming my dog. He hates being groomed, which is unfortunate because he’s a Keeshond, literally the world’s fluffiest dog! But I noticed after a while that he was calmer than usual. Not jumping around as much. I put it down to him listening to you talk. Amazing!
Prince is honestly like a dog therapist, such an empathetic and good boy, he's also firm and stands up for himself in situations like this, sending all of u lots of love. :) ❤
"When your dog misbehaves, that's an opportunity to correct them" What an impressive virtue. It's funny, though, because as soon as Prince starts getting a bit too close for comfort, you gave the most exasperated sigh 😂 It really is hard, but, important, and gratifying.
You can tell that prince is as much as a trainer himself. The partnership between these too. Prince does his show and watch Joel for his que. The trust between these two. This is amazing.
I adopted a 7 year old shepherd husky from a young family. It took time to train him not to pull on walks. Yet sometimes he would bolt like a canon ball for squirrels. You had to remain always ready. He was so strong and fast the leash would leave a rope burn on your hands. I took to wearing leather gloves for his walks. I waited about a year before dominating him into belly up submission. I wanted to make certain I would win as alpha. He lived another 10 years as one of the best dogs I've ever met. One of his most admirable traits was his efficient moderation. There were many incidents when a stray dog would rush up to attack him. Buzz reacted so quickly that I could never see exactly what he did. But in seconds, Buzz would send that stray off packing, running away faster than he came. And just as quickly, Buzz was entirely calm and relaxed again as if nothing at all had happened. He had nerves of steel for everything but fireworks.
I personally couldn’t have a strong big dog because I really don’t think I’m physically strong enough to control it if things got out of hand. I think this is were you have to read up on what type of dog Is suitable for you. Great video!!😁🙂
You have to be so in tune and switched on to do dog training. The amount of concentration to stay in the correct mindset to constantly evaluate the situation and deliver the appropriate consequence to unwanted behaviours is actually insane. It takes some real mental fortitude and emotional burden to create a well trained dog and Prince is a testament to that.
I think having good intuition for this kind of bevaioral assessment at a subconscious level definitely helps alleviate some of what, for most, would be exhaustive consistent overanalyzing. He's been doing this for years, so he's been conditioned to process certain information faster, just as any human is with something they've trained themselves in. I don't deny that it would still definitely be exhausting, mentally and physically, to do this discipline day-in and day-out. The constantly muscle work I see him doing makes me tired and sore just watching.
@@ElysetheEevee And @SEAQTTARI think you both have hit the nail on the head. I have seen Joel shake his shoulders out after a tense meeting with Prince and the session dog. It's got to be intense for Joel in keeping everybody safe and sound.
@@ElysetheEevee Thank you for this post. It takes concentration and anticipation of both dogs' possible reactions. As a 70 y/o woman I find myself speaking in Joel cadence, with my unsocialized male 13-month-old rescue dog. He's in full hormonal territorial mode with dogs. I'm so slow. I need to be "on" all the time when training, so I have a chance of intervening at the right time. Humbling, and teaches me to focus on what's actually happening rather than being in my head. :)
I wish we could see more little dogs disciplined. I’m surrounded by little dogs whose owners allow them to rush up barking hysterically, sometimes nipping. My Aussie isn’t what I consider a big dog, but he’s the biggest one around. When I see them coming, I’ll put him on a down-stay. If the little dog isn’t crazy, I’ll let them approach. I just don’t know how to deal with people who don’t even try to teach their dog manners. Sure gives Luke lots of opportunities to practice patience with his impulse control. I’ve been tempted to produce business cards to direct them to your channel, but I’m afraid they might be offended.
Simply tell them you are training your dog and could they please keep their dogs away. I would never allow a dog to approach my dog while she is a down stay - this is a dog in a vulnerable position. Good luck, ppl have worse manners than most dogs.
@@WollongongSkyWatch it's very difficult when people's dog's are off leash and have zero recall though... 😕 that's when you have to body block your dog and possibly tell the approaching dog to go home...
@@Erin_29 tell these ppl their dogs' behaviour is unacceptable. People, like dogs, do these things because no one holds them to account. I know my my dog's safety is more important than some rude human's feelings.
IMHO there's a big difference between being nice and being kind. Nice doesn't truly help anyone & can be a huge detriment. You are simply speaking the truth and being respectful about it, no need to be hateful to them, just be honest. What they do with that information is out of your hands (unless of course their dog continues to harass your dog & in that case I would make the issue crystal clear).
@@jameschild1321 I fully agree. Case in point, yesterday, my friend and I went to the local fish market for a take-away meal. We had our dogs with us. A middle-aged man walking up the steps toward my friend's cute sheltie stops and starts telling the dog how pretty she is. I said, don't be fooled, she does bite (which is true.) What do you think this selfish man did? He continued his approach until he got what HE needed, completely disrespecting the dog and the handler's boundaries.
the shepherd started that initial fight because you can see his head starts to go over Prince's shoulders which is a dominance move. prince's head is close to the shepherds shoulders but he doesnt advance where as the shepherd advance ever so slightly and then started to go into action as you pulled the leash
It seems there are several kinds of people when it comes to how to try train dogs. The ones who punish dogs for bad behaviours but don't really reward the good. The ones who don't want to harm or upset the dog who only use things like treats and reward the dog for being good but never do any actual correction on bad behaviour. And people like you, who have the perfect balance. Able to correct the dog and make them understand that they can't just do what they want, but to also be able to treat them for being good or to correct them in a way that usually calms the dog and that makes the dog feel positive about things.
Thanks for your videos. I am so glad that dog trainers/behaviorist are using balanced dogs to work with other dogs. No matter how good or experience a dog trainer is, the dog that they are using will always have a better read/understanding of of other dog’s energy/intentions. I use my dogs to work with other dogs as well. I mostly use my female with males and my male with females. I read both dog’s body language when they meet at a close but safe distance. That gives me a better idea of what is going on with the dog that I am working on. Dogs must be put in situations where they are more prone to act out, so they can be corrected. Good training with repetition creates good habits.
You and prince have an absolutely stunning partnership. The way you work in sync as a team is mindblowing. He's very attuned to what you want and need him to do, even before you give commands. I love seeing it in action.
Man I wish my little dude could just be in a safe social environment with the big dogs, the likes of Prince and the others on your estate. They're just having a great time. Wonderful to see.
Wow the "Butt Touch" was extremely helpful! I would love to see slow motion of that! Also, the training of the owners. All these things are extremely interesting and helpful. You can just make several 10-15 min vids for each aspect. People will love it because seeing the same dog provides continuity. So many things are intuitively obvious to YOU but NOT to the general public at all. Each vid, even if u feel like ur teaching the same stuff over & over is still incredibly helpful. You & Princey are simply amazing. Thank you for helping our world🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️
When I was 14yrs old, I trained my German shepherd (sabastian) since he was a pup. I never needed to use a leash & he always stayed right by my side. I did everything with that dog . I not only trained him but I even played sports with him. Now that I’m 47yrs old & after watching this video made me think about him. He died tragically by a drunk driver killing him while I was running next to him. I was a track star as a kid & now that I’m thinking about it, I think that the reason why I was so fast was because I trained next to him physically & mentally… I ran 10miles 4 times a week while he was running next to me. Thank you for this video. I’ve never had another dog since sabastian passed away.
Thank You so much for this video, So wish you were in TN, PS I Love watching your daughter surfing,, PSIf you ever come this way and y’all need a place to stay, your more then welcome to, (my house is clean even with my Shepard)
Welcome! Joel’s subscribers are the best! They help with new subscribers' questions. They write about the impact Joel's methods have had on their family life and their dog's life. They thumbs up and encourage each other. I think you'll like it here. 🌟
I started watching your videos and thought that the leash correction was a bit to rough but everything you said as to why makes completely sense ! I have been trying this with my over excessive pulling dog on walks and the first time I did the correction my wife got a bit mad 🤦🏽♂️ I explained why and she was still against the correction. However, two days after doing this correction my dogs pulling is almost completely gone ! Probably one of the best corrections to make if the dogs isn’t recalling after a couple simple easy ones. Thanks for the videos really man 👍🏽👍🏽
My Shepherd is extremely gentle every Vet says they have never seen one so calm. He very strong and fast he just loves everthing one even animals and wild.
Thanks and this is perfect for our Belgian Shepherd, full male and behaves exactly the same way. Though he hasnt showed aggression like this but just overly dominant behavior and desperate pulling, impoliteness like Jack!
Vids like these really make me love and appreciate my calm little sheltie. Never pulls on walks, looks and listens when talking to him. Only needs correction when he’s alert barking a little too much at the mail people. I wanted to be an animal trainer as a kid so I took extra care into teaching him obedience and jumping over little obstacles (and not to be so shy and nervous! He’s a nervous Nelly, but he’s gotten so much better as he’s grown!) He’s 14 now, pretty blind, if you leave the room too fast for him to notice he starts crying and you have to talk close to his face for him to hear it. He’s my best friend in the world and if I could clone him I would. Thanks for sharing these vids for owners with unruly dogs. Aggressive dogs are my number one fear when I take him out on walks because he’s never wanted any trouble and they just can’t help but be jerks to even the most unassuming little fluff balls like my George
I'm a groomer and every sheltie I've groomed so far has had an amazing temperament, they're shockingly stable dogs for dogs that were originally bred for herding 🤣
I have two heeler/shepherd mixes and they are so different from the other dogs I've had. That's why I have two now! I don't know where I learned "butt touch" as a distraction technique but it's kind of instinctual now, thanks to all the training with the older dog. The reward of having a dog like this is that they are capable of doing any trick or being as docile as can be, but as the owner/trainer, you only get to unlock the correct behavior when you learn the correct way to ask for it.
Watched this video yesterday but I had to comeback just to say how Godly those butt touches are. I had the opportunity to test it this morning and it’s very effective. Thanks Joel
This is my GSD, tho she’s a female.. we are doing much better on the leash thanks to your channel. She got a well deserved correction and butt touch, after exhibiting similar behavior at the beginning of the clip. She was much better after 🙏 Question- People don’t like seeing dogs on the leash at the park when their dogs are off leash, but you have good results training and introducing them. Why is that? Edit: she was bad today. I petted a new dog today to accept him into our lives and she did accept him afterwards but she was aggressive to dog she already knew. After several corrections I just took her home
I've watched the moment at 7:47 so many times. You let Prince dictate how the interaction goes, but that doesn't mean you're always pleased with his decision. Great stuff :)
My stepdaughter and husband got a white shepherd earlier this year so I shared this with them. About same age, maybe a bit younger, but has some fear tendencies with men due to previous ownership issue. Sent several other videos to help add some more training to her current training to show how much better yours is.
I love this video. It is the second one of this channel and I am subscribing. I have an American Akita boy (50kg) and I had to learn how to read him so that we don't go in such situations. Now, he is 4 years old and a wonderful calm and loving dog. If I correct him before the stare/posture contest has started, he just ignores the other dog. Positive reinforcement could be a good thing but it is not the only thing. Also mine doesn't care for food, toys or prays. So putting the boundaries and keeping them as soon as he got home the first time was the best thing I ever did.
You all are doing the best work with these dogs, it is so appreciated even though I may never meet any of the dogs you have worked with. The whole mindset, the firm hand and knowing animals really shows in your work. Great job!
I can't help myself. Better but touches? Is this a comedy channel for dogs? Seriously amazing work. Just discovered this channel and it probably wont be long now before i get a dog.
Prolly wont be long now before u get a dog... I meant u might think on not getting a dog But getting a doberman... ? They aren't for everyone. You have to be able to simply walk right into dog training freely.. without a collar n leash. Thryre not a breed that'll tolerate a lot of grabbing n choking up on the leash. You cant rly manhandle them the way u can a dog like a shepard. Dobes are... sensitive to round pen work? Ground work Like horses are. They work better if you can read body language like you wld w a horse. Thats where prince and all dobes excell? They are extremely excellent at reading predators. Bears? Owls? Hawks? Eagles? Coyotes? Snakes? Burglars? Rapists? Etc... Dobes are premier breed at reading body language - thus "personal protection" - only breed bred for this specifically. See?
I really like that a lot of what you do is just allowing dogs--which are pack animals-- do what pack animals do to correct each other. Obviously it cant be all call of the wild but i think people forget that these animals existed fine before we bred them out. If run away and dumped dogs can form packs in the desert without human intervention, we should allow our dogs to sort out their issues to a safe extent.
Yippie ! Glad you’re back. We missed Prince. 💙🧡💚💜 I mean we missed you too Joel of course 😊 Let me pee over here cause imma big strong male Oh no let me pee over that cause I’m big strong male Let ME pee over this cause it’s my house!!! 😂🤣😂🤣
I´m glad I´m not the only person who uses his dog to train other dogs. My dog is very dominant but would never bite or hurt other dogs. He just puts them in the place, like prince does. He once was a dog like this german shepherd, when my mom owned him. But since I am his owner he completely changed and I am so proud of it. My neighbours got a playful ridgeback, with no respect for other dogs. She doesn´t know what personal space is. After she met my dog, she knew. They 'wrestled' for like 5 minutes (more like a lot of barking and him pushing her away the whole time) and after, they actually played together. Loved to just stand and watch. We got our dogs on the leash and walked home together. Ridgebacks owner told me her dog was never that good on the leash before like now. 1 Dog. 1 meeging. A whole fix.
I currently live in China and I’ve had my rescue dog for two years. I don’t know much about his background but I know it wasn’t exactly great. He is amazing with people, sweet and well-behaved with everyone and I’ve trained him very seriously so he has good house and leash behaviour. But he was neutered late (maybe age 4/5 I don’t know his real age) and displays this dominant, borderline bully behaviour with other dogs, especially bigger male dogs, as well as excessive marking. When he sees a dog it’s an immediate change and he is visibly reactive and high alert. Even with dogs he’s met before. Sometimes he’s good and sometimes he’s not. Your videos help so much with dog body language and dominant behaviour. As soon as I see the signs it’s a sharp pull away and he’s checked. I don’t have a controlled, large-space environment (dogs aren’t allowed in most parks here) and a well-behaved dominant dog to work with him so it’s the best I can do. I will say ever since taking these extra steps he’s more chill. Thanks for the videos.
I wish my friend would train her dog with you. Her beagle is out of control whenever I go to her house, jumping and acting nuts. She says this is just how the dog is and I told her either you respect my boundaries or I won’t come over. Some people ruin their dogs and it’s really unfair.
Really enjoying this channel although I've never had a dog unfortunately. I have to feel for poor old Prince sometimes. Must be like having a succession of sociopaths turn up at your doorstep every day!
First comment, but I've been watching your videos for 5/6 months now and it's a great channel, no-nonsense, matter of fact and educational. Very refreshing compared to a lot of online content in general with staged over-dramatization and sensationalism. Keep it up! I don't know, maybe I've lived a sheltered life or something, but before coming across your videos I didn't know there was a school of thought where you should only train a dog with positive reinforcement and nothing else (or maybe it's uncommon in Sweden where I live?). To me that's as ludicrous as saying that the earth is flat, or that a smith should have no other tools than 1 anvil and 1 hammer. Regardless of what we're trying to achieve in life, using multiple tools in the right combination for the task at hand will always be the most optimal. I use a lot of positive reinforcement because it's the best tool in a lot of scenarios, but in other it might not be, or it might be one of the tools in a combination. But when I deal with a dominant dog I'll put on my leader hat, meet that dominance with my own and make the dog understand that I'm the head honcho, pretty much in the same ways you're doing it in your videos. Ergo, "This is the way" Even if a person manages to train a dominant dog to be balanced using solely positive reinforcement, it can only be successful if they are natural leaders and are using their leadership skills regardless if they understand that or not. You simply can't make a true leader personality stop trying to claim leadership by giving them treats and positive reinforment only, regardless of species. Anyway, since I saw one of your videos revealing this to me I've been giving it a lot of thought, trying to understand where these people are coming from and how they can think that way. The biggest factor surely must be lack of common sense and critical thinking, but I also think that a contributing factor might be the terminology itself? When we talk about dominance between humans mot people will think of it as something negative with an aggressor and victim(s), doesn't matter if it's consentual or not. We separate leadership and dominance very clearly when we talk of behavior between humans, but we only use dominance in behavior between dogs. So I think a lot of people will instantly be put in a negative state of mind when we talk about dominance in dogs. Add to the fact that a very large percentage of dog owners have either zero or very minor leadership attributes (follower personalities) and it gets even worse, they will mostly get into a protective state of mind trying to save their dog from this vicious monster. Having a balanced but highly dominant dog myself, this has been on my mind a lot especially when we meet dog owners that get very nervous or scared for nothing. I've started to change how I communicate with other dog owners, mostly when we meet new dogs on walks, where I use leader and leadership at the start and only use dominant/dominance if there are more clearly dominant acts like bullying other dogs when the hierarchy is already set, taking the other dogs space, water, food, toys, placing paws or the head on top of another dogs etc. Maybe this isn't the best way to alleviate the issue, but it's working for me so far. I find that other dog owners are generally more open and want to have the meet when I use leader terms instead of dominance terms. Like "He's a true leader type and he's acting this way or that way because the hierarchy must be set before they can play". My two cents, hope it can be helpful to someone else to, take care!
