Once a dog has displayed aggression a greater understanding of pack is needed to bring the situation back from the brink. I have seen dog owners turn some seemingly hopeless situations around with the right approach, some positive energy and determination to succeed. Once a dog has become aggressive, within the context of this dominant role, the focus must move onto the dog owner before beginning the journey together with the dog. Everything must come through the owner, pack leader, in order to re-shuffle the leadership deck.

The dominant pack role can be compared to a deck of cards, with the higher cards, the Kings, Queens and Aces linking to the behavior you want to remove from the deck. The aggressive behavior, or Aces , are within the deck however not likely to come up very often. Over time, the longer your dog remains in the lead role the more lower cards are removed and the more likely the higher cards will appear. More of a foothold is gained and behavior issues increase, more dominant energy is released through this role. The higher cards, or Queens and Kings, are coming up more often as even more of the lower cards are being removed. Breed and Temperment do matter and can add a few more higher cards to the deck in play.

When a dog becomes aggressive the odds were increasing against the owner all along. To understand pack is the ability to see all the cards within the dealer's hands. Knowing how to re-shuffle the deck while removing the Aces is more than just slight of hand. It requires insight into Pack and the ability to always keep the odds in the dog owner's favor.

Author Dale McCluskey