Clicker Training for Aggressive Dogs

Dogs that are perceived to be aggressive are often euthanized. But with the positive reinforcement of clicker training, a dog can be taught how to better handle stressful situations. The trick, according to clicker training promoter Karen Pryor, is to reward the dog whenever you discover him acting in a non-aggressive way. The dog concentrates more on working for a reward rather than attacking whatever is bothering him.

  1. Method

    • Whenever you click, give the dog a treat within one minute. The dog soon learns that a click means a reward is coming. "Clicking with Your Dog" recommends making the dog sit or shake hands when out on a walk (rewarding with clicks and treats) in order to distract the dog from whatever is causing him to get upset. At home, dogs can be taught to go into a room and play with a toy whenever someone comes to the door. This door is then shut behind the dog. Every few minutes, the dog is rewarded for quiet behavior. Noisy behavior is ignored.

    Expert Advice

    • Break the wanted behavior down into steps and teach the dog to do one step at a time. This could take days or weeks. For example, say you want the dog to always go to her bed whenever the doorbell rings. First reward the dog for walking over to the bed. Then, reward for stepping inside of the bed. Hold off on clicking and treating until the dog has her paws in the bed. Then, do not click and treat until the dog sits down in the bed. Get a professional clicker trainer to help if necessary.

    Time Frame

    • Each dog learns clicker training at his own rate. However, dogs usually catch on that "click means treat" in just a few minutes, according to "Clicking with Your Dog." Keep clicker training sessions about 10 minutes long to keep the dog from getting bored. Multiple sessions can be done in one day.

    Warnings

    • As the owner of the dog, you are legally responsible for all problems an aggressive dog can bring. Depending on where you live, any dog thought to be dangerous to the general public can be legally destroyed. Never let a dog suspected of being aggressive wander; always keep the pet in a fenced yard or tied. When out on a walk, place a muzzle on the dog. Always warn a veterinarian that the dog has had aggression issues in the past. Never hit or beat your dog. This will only make the dog's aggression worse.

    Fun Fact

    • Dogs are always capable of learning new tricks. Even pit bulls taken from dog fighting rings have been trained to stop aggression to other dogs. One of convicted NFL star Michael Vick's pit bulls, Leo, is now a therapy dog cancer visiting patients in hospitals, according to MSNBC.