EPISODE 02

Intro:

My friend Kara’s dog, Sona, was attacked by a familiar dog, forcing Kara and her partner to intervene. She later sought my advice on handling the aftermath, which inspired this session. We’ll cover preventing dog fights, managing them, and aiding recovery for both dogs and owners.

In this episode of The Trainer's Corner we explore the causes of dog fights, aggression, and recovery strategies. We discuss environmental factors, breed-specific challenges, and the emotional needs shaping behavior. You'll learn bite prevention, effective intervention, and socialization techniques to help dogs recover and build resilience.

If you want to understand why fights happen, how to prevent them, and how to support your dog after an incident, this session is for you!

Summary

(0:00 - 27:00)

• Casual introduction & dog ownership habits: Discussion about always taking dogs on errands and concerns about tying them outside.

• Dog theft concerns: Mention of dog theft incidents, including a story from Milan.

• Kara’s dog fight incident: Kara recounts an unexpected attack on her dog by a friend’s Malinois, detailing the escalation and difficulty breaking up the fight.

• Intervention strategies: Discussing effective ways to separate fighting dogs, including the risks of using hands, slip collars, break sticks, and citronella spray.

• Preventative measures: Importance of setting boundaries and intervening early before play escalates into aggression.

(30:00 - 60:00)

• Dog socialization & communication issues: Discussion on why some dogs struggle with communication, particularly purebreds that lack appeasement signals.

• The impact of domestication: Exploration of how domestication has altered dogs’ social behavior and instincts.

• Hierarchy & dog relationships: Whether dogs function in strict packs or more family-like structures, referencing wolf behavior.

• Managing reactivity & arousal: Using training techniques to reinforce calmness and prevent negative escalation.

• Recognizing early signs of tension: The importance of reading body language to intervene before conflicts arise.

(60:00 - 90:00)

• Post-trauma recovery for dogs: How to help dogs recover from fights or attacks by ensuring positive social experiences.

• Importance of trusted social groups: Why dogs need a small, reliable group of friends instead of extensive dog park exposure.

• Fulfilling genetic instincts: Dogs need appropriate outlets for natural drives like chasing, tugging, or biting to prevent frustration.

• Play as a training tool: Using games like tug and fetch to channel arousal into productive behaviors.

• Emotions vs. obedience: Differentiating between addressing emotional states vs. simply enforcing obedience.

• Final reflections & next topic selection: Wrapping up and deciding on future discussion themes.