“LEADERS PROTECT, FOLLOWERS GET PROTECTED.” ~Sean O’Shea
By Maggi Forootan – Lead and Love K9
www.leadandlovek9.com
This quote from my friend and mentor Sean O’Shea from The Good Dog Training and Rehabilitation inspired me to talk a little bit about something I encounter often when my clients are struggling with their dogs: Over protectiveness or guarding.
By nature, dogs can be territorial and protective of their resources. Their home turf, space, food, toys, and even affection and attention can become high value items. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to be more protective and guardy like German Shepard Dogs, Dobermans, and Rottweilers. It’s important to point out though that professionally trained protection dog’s wait for their owners to give them the go-ahead before any kind of protective behavior is initiated. They also willingly stand down when their owners ask them to. The number one reason that dogs become over protective to the point of unwanted aggression is that there is a relationship problem between the dog and its humans. There is profound uncertainty in the dogs mind with regards to who’s running the show, and so the dog feels like he has to do something about it. This lack of believable leadership causes the dog to become nervous, stressed, and on edge about everything. Soon, the dog begins to feel like everything and everyone is a potential threat.
Most of the time when I encounter dogs that have become over protective they are living with well intending owners that share tons of love, praise, food, and affection with their dogs, but fall short when it comes to also providing rules, structure, and boundaries for them. Sometimes people tell me that their dog is spoiled and gets away with murder as if they think it’s funny, or cute. If they only realized that spoiled dogs with issues are living with some level of psychological distress they might feel differently. Another interesting thing I hear from people is that they think it’s a sign of deep love and devotion when their dog guards them, or growls and lunges when people try to get close to them. The truth is that this behavior has nothing to do with love, and everything to do with their dog seeing them as a resource rather than a respected leader that can be trusted.
If your dog is displaying over protective or guarding behaviors that are starting to escalate into acts of aggression, it’s time to take a look at the relationship dynamics you have going on with your dog, and up your leadership game. By doing so you will see your dog relax and let go of feeling like it’s his job to defend against whatever he feels might be a potential threat.
It’s our job as loving leaders to protect them, not their job to protect us.
