How to Train the “Down” Command To A Domineering Dog

A dog that’s domineering is one who becomes uncertain when made to adjust his mood. Being that your dog’s response to resistance is clear-cut, he is forced to defend himself. Your pet will actually push back when he feels the left hand on his shoulder blade and he will begin to growl. He's stressed at this point, so, he won't be interested in his food. 

This type of dog personality is very misunderstood. This dog is very active and direct by nature.  He's probably run into many emotional dead-ends when dealing with people. He translates change as negative when relating to people.

Intense hunger is prudent in the early stages of dog training. When your pet is very hungry, he will go on the down position quietly. Making the contact training better is imperative simply because the resistance between the owner and the dog and is the main issue in a dog's disposition. Make sure your dog is relaxed about the status issue and teach him that being flexible to change is actually a good thing.

Deal with the problem in a more direct manner; you will eventually have to work your dog without food. He must first learn suppleness to the touch, as if he was still a puppy. When it's time to train your dog without using food, simply place your left foot on the lead and hold on to it with your right hand then wait patiently. Increase the pressure with ease (just as long as your dog doesn't panic) down on his neck.

Make sure that you don’t place your head close to this type of pet because this will increase his problem and need to resist. When he begins to get tired and feels like lying down, talk in a pleasant and calm tone. This will automatically weaken his resistance.  Then intensify the softening sensation by scratching his ribs and top-line.

The goal is for your dog to sense that by lying down; he becomes the focal point of the group. It’s important to note that you aren't making yourself dominant – this will build up his un-sureness.  This will also reconfirm his bad judgment of people who make him alter his mood. He needs to learn that becoming subordinate will lead to a greater experience of flow.

When your dog he lies down, make sure that you rub his stomach. If he rolls over, don’t worry, that’s fine because he's experiencing the flow.  You simply want to invigorate him so that his top-line is affected. Your dog’s back will take in positive contact with the floor.  He will link you with a positive drive flow; since you are teaching him that “Down” is a calm passage. If your dog’s top-line becomes supple, you will begin to notice that with each repetition, he will go a lot down faster and with fewer struggles. 

The problem with dominant dogs is not that they're dominant, they're simply fragile, and at the same time they have a very strong sense of themselves. Let’s face it; dogs do not adjust well to change because they're fragile.  They change slowly because of their strong sense of place, so they appear to be tough dogs; this often leads to their being misunderstood. As a result of training, many dogs are pushed too soon and way too hard. Being that dogs have a very strong sense of their place, they have to be taught to push back.

Article by Kim Irvin Oh My Dog Supplies, check for current specials on elevated dog bowls online.