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 dry dog foods contain 28% protein for puppies and 26% for adults. 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. Attach a 30 or 40 foot length of nylon rope to the regular collar for walks. This rope can be bought by the foot at Canadian Tire.
2) 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 as if it had come of its own accord.
When out-of-doors take the dog with both the short lead and the nylon rope attached to the regular collar. When away from traffic remove the short lead and at intervals when the dog is not expecting it, call the dog. As before, if the response is not immediate, pull the dog to you and get it to sit. Be lavish with praise and a food reward whether it comes or has to be pulled.
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. When a stranger enters your house such a dog finds it easier to relax because you, its leaders, are obviously relaxed and welcoming the stranger.
When you have a dog who will come, sit, down and stay on command, experiment to find ways that you can get the dog to relax and wag its tail. Try laughing, talking to the dog in a happy voice, squeaky toys, playing fetch with a ball - anything that elicits a happy response. Then determine the event that triggers the first signs of aggression in the dog. It might be the sound of the doorbell, someone stepping onto the property or approaching the vehicle. Get a friend to take this action and then immediately leave. As soon as the dog tenses, the family should go into the "jolly routine" above to relax the dog. The friend might repeat the action several times at 5 minute intervals the first day. Each day thereafter they should be able to go further onto the property or nearer the vehicle before the dog tenses and in the case of the doorbell should enter the house by the fourth day. For safety one of you should be seated with the dog on a leash, but not on a down-stay, when your friend enters the house. The friend sits down and joins with you in laughing and generally having a good time. Outdoors, a leash will keep the dog close to you and involved in the jolly routine. With time your friend should be able to join you in your silliness without aggression from the dog.
When the dog has accepted the presence of the stranger using the jolly routine and the dog knows the basic obedience commands, have your friend stand in front of you and the dog. The dog is on a lead and at your left side. You ask your friend to give the commands, "sit, down, and stay" one at a time. If the dog does not obey when first asked, you push the dog into position without saying a word. Your friend praises the dog and tosses it a treat. On the command "stay" your friend walks in a big circle round both of you and returning to the original spot, releases the dog with "OK" praises and rewards it. This is repeated until the dog responds to your friend's voice alone. This obedience is a powerful tool in changing the dog's attitude towards strangers in the house.
3) Reducing conditions which lead to aggression.
Stop all games which over-stimulate the dog, especially those which involve the dog using its mouth such as tug-of-war or make the dog so excited that it barks. These games arouse aggressive feelings in the dog.
If the dog misbehaves, never hit the dog as aggression provokes aggression. Instead, scold the dog in a low growling voice while staring at it.
Be careful that you and other people never tease the dog while it is restrained, either in the vehicle or tied up on a rope outside at home. Teasing can be as simple as standing just outside
the dog's reach and talking to him or as serious as children running up to the dog, saying "Boo" and stopping just out of reach. The dog experiences the frustration of not being able to respond to the situation and with every repetition his desire to attack grows stronger. Exactly this method is used in training attack dogs; they are restrained by the handler while an "agitator" makes threatening movements towards the dog's head. At first the dog does not bite but with repetition the stimuli add up, the dog loses his temper and bites.
Even without provocation, restraining the dog causes such frustration in some dogs that they develop a hatred towards all people and animals they see moving freely. For this reason it is better that the animal is tied as little as possible. At home he might be tied for a short period outside, then brought in where he will have company and will probably lie down and sleep. If you are working outdoors tie the dog to your waist with the nylon cord so he can stay with you.
When away from home try not to leave the dog in the vehicle more than absolutely necessary. Instead use this as an opportunity to socialise the dog by walking him among people. Ask people not to touch him and if he shows uneasiness or the first signs of aggression (stops, stares, hair rises on the shoulders, ears or tail up) use the jolly routine to change his mood. It is also useful to get the dog to sit or lie down as these are submissive postures and not compatible with aggressive behaviour.
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