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I see quite a few dogs of about two years of age that are very much out of control. As small puppies they were sweet and gentle* but in adolescence gradually, bit by bit, they became dominant.
The owners did not recognize that this was happening. They made excuses: He only does that (growling, snapping) when ___________. (You fill in the blank with excuses like these: when he is startled, when people get too close to her food dish, when visitors try to sit on the sofa, when someone picks up his toys, when Dad hugs Mother, she has only bitten once, etc.)
Now as a young adult the dog is completely out of control. You have heard these excuses on the web, and I wonder if these people really do want to change their dogs. I have been saying for some time that people have the dog they deserve.
These excuses are unacceptable. These misdeeds are observable behavior patterns that can be overcome with specifically targeted training. A well-behaved dog is well behaved, period!
A really good book is So Your Dog's Not Lassie. This book will help anyone to understand and train their independent dog. I highly recommend it to anyone who is really interested.
*Remember: " ... umbilical cords don't last ... but training does."
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Carol Lea Benjamin
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