Territorial Dog Case Study

Dog owners who choose to adopt older dogs are some of the bravest I know. This is simply because they are adopting a dog who has already been influenced by an outside source, during some of his or her most important, formative years.

Sometimes this is a good influence—loving, caring dog owners had to give up the dog because of unavoidable personal reasons and he or she has been well cared for.

Sometimes, this is a bad influence—indifferent or abusive owners didn’t know how to handle their dog or got bored and surrendered them.

Adopters of these older dogs can take them home with severe behavioral issues, including aggressive tendencies. This was the case with Maisey, an older pit bull who was territorial, hand shy, and showing increasing signs of aggression after being accepted into a loving home.

Rather than take the dog back or live with the issue until it eventually and inevitably got out of hand, Maisey’s owners called me and asked for help. I visited them for an in-home consultation, to observe Maisey’s behavior for myself. She growled at me from behind a gate and shied away from me when, after a while, I felt comfortable enough to try and pet her.

Although Maisey’s owners have her on a fairly structured schedule, I started her owners on a basic obedience regimen. This required a hefty amount of commitment from the owners, but it was worth it—after just a few weeks of intensive in-home training, Maisey stopped reacting to her usual triggers and instead listened to her owners’ commands instead of her instincts.

Basic obedience training strengthens communication between the dog and their owner and also works to build a dog’s confidence. Once they clearly learn what behaviors are and are not acceptable, they can make the right decisions on their own. They just need the guidance of a dedicated owner and trainer.

To learn how Peachtree Dog Training can help you and your dog, give us a call today at 800.649.7297.