WATCH NEXT: How to Stop Dog Aggression for Everyday People! The Ultimate Guide: https://youtu.be/iUpUCbdLNhk
Seeking videos that showcase aggressive behaviors in dog training is like looking for the worst examples of how to handle aggression.
Insisting on seeing aggressive outbursts from dogs in videos to “prove” they are “aggressive dogs” only perpetuates misconceptions and undermines the vast body of evidence-backed methods employed by professional trainers.
Why don’t you see me working with aggressive dogs? Well… you do!
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Zak never disappoints us, he’s an incredible Content Creator and always creates masterpieces. His content is amazing.
this is a great response to the dogdaddys silly gimmick.
Could you train a cat too? Please share those tips, I wanna train more tricks to my cats but I get confused
Sure, you can train a cat! Cats aren’t stupid. Learning theory applies to all species–including cats. Thus, the way you train a cat is very similar to you you train a dog. There are a couple of differences–you probably need different food reinforcers and you likely don’t want to give a cat food by hand. Cats teeth are a bit different from dogs and even cats who take treats gently can bite you (without meaning to).
I have never seen a naturally aggressive dog. Aggressive dogs are educated to be aggressive and – honestly – it needs a lot of cruelty to create an aggressive dog. Aggressive dogs are just like aggressive humans – a sad producat and a failure of their close environment in particular and society in general.
I’ve seen a lot of fearful dogs that turned to aggression out of sheer terror. Giving those dogs a stable, loving, respectful and trusting environment unsually changes them reasonably quicky. Problem is that the Trust Technique – for instance – is boring to watch and it doesn’t create click rates.
There are, unfortunately, truly “aggressive” dogs out there. The good news is that these dogs are really pretty few and far between. Most dogs display aggression due to a variety of reasons–fear (the big one), medical condition or pain, breed, lack of socialization (another really big one and very much related to fear), and predation (although many behaviorists don’t consider predatory behavior as “aggression”). A traumatic event can also trigger aggression (again, related to fear). And leash frustration can also result in an aggressive response.
@Jan Hankins All that you mentioned hast reasons. My wife’s Cockapoo ist a rescue from a failed pupy farm and was to be euthanized due to uncontrollable aggression. Never socialized, PTSD, malnourished, broken bones due to neglect and abuse… and lots more. He bit people and dogs. he was to be euthanized. We took him up as beyond the last resort and we turned him around. He still suffers from PTSD and we possibly have to live with that. It took us two years, so not anything you can put ito a video, but this dog is now the most cuddly and friendly dog you can imagine – as long as you avoid his PTSD triggers.
He is not naturally aggressive, he turne aggressive due to abuse and neglect.
He WAS aggressive, now he is a cuddlebug.
@Karsten Topp Thank you for taking in this little dog. You’ve done a wonderful thing for him.
There are aggessive dogs, my friend Anna breeds Central Asian Shepherds, and Brad Anderson breeds popular fighting breeds; but you won’t see people advocating for aversives:
Published in 2006 for International Journal for Primitve and Aboriginal Dog Society, volume number 10.
This is what Zaur Bagiev wrote about Caucasian Ovcharka.
“One professional quality of the character of the wolf fighting dog is its absolute loyalty to man. Here, the
human is the friend and assistant and the wolf is the foe. Therefore a correctly raised wolf-fighting dog is a
perfectly socialized dog. There is one iron rule: a wolf fighting dog should never live isolated. This dog must be
raised among people from puppy age, learning correct reactions to situations by the emotions of the master. It is
absolutely not allowed to nurture a dog’s aggressiveness by training it for specialized guarding service.
Mistrustfulness, necessary aggressiveness and protective qualities will develop naturally. The problem is how not
to distort dog’s psyche and not to raise a crazy monster. If this happened, the dog should be shot. This is a very
strong animal and we usually do not understand fully its real capabilities.
A wolf fighting dog, when it discovers an unfamiliar person on its territory, it does not bark in excess
though it is angry, but it warns by growling: “do not move!” If the trespasser attempts to flee, the dog tries to stop
him by the minimal necessary actions, remembering the taboo against biting a human. The whole procedure
continues until the master shows up. Even when alone on the street, a wolf-fighting dog follows its instinct and
never turns aggressive until it is forced to do so. It will not fight even a dog, if the opponent is equally strong and
tough, but will only assert its status rituals. If the other dog shows signs of lacking the desire to fight, a
psychologically healthy wolf-fighting dog would not fight but would leave the place, where they met. It could not
be another way. Imagine, what would happen, if free roaming wolf fighting dogs were to one another. This breed
would become extinct. Therefore, a healthy wolf-fighting dog would never harm a puppy; in its mind every
smallish dog is like a puppy, and a male does not show aggression towards a female that bit him or even caused
small injuries.
I will repeat that, just as with the property guarding Caucasian Mountain Dog, specific training of the wolffighting dog is meaningless. It is an independent animal and does not tolerate mechanical orders. The dog will
simply ignore them. The best guarantee of complete control of your dog is unconditional love to you. Just
personal contact with the dog produces amazing results, if you start from an early puppy age. The dog will simply
feel your wishes and immediately execute them without voice commands. The transfer of an adult dog to a new
owner requires the development of special relationships.”
Pit bulls can be naturally aggressive, only ones I’ve ever seen he that way though.
I can’t put into words how much I love you right now. You always take the high road while educating. For the folks who do not understand, its like having PTSD. You know the person has it, know what the triggers are… do you really want to trip any of those triggers just the confirm PTSD? The outcome is unpredictable and cruel. Who with any humanity would want to see or do something like that?😢
Your response is short sighted. Many dogs can only heal if they are brought near what startles them. In scientific terms it is called desensitization and counterconditioning. Now of course there is a right way to do this that ends in the dog being more confident and more happy in his environment and a cruel way that ends more trauma. Overgeneralizing the situation does not help you need a skilled professional.
I understand where you’re coming from with the concept of desensitization and counterconditioning. These are indeed crucial techniques in dog training, but their implementation requires careful understanding and execution.
Your comment seems to imply that confronting triggers head-on is the only path to healing. In reality, the process is much more nuanced. True desensitization involves gradual exposure, always keeping the dog under the threshold where they might react adversely. Pushing too far too fast can create more problems than solutions.
Counterconditioning, too, must be undertaken with the dog’s emotional state in mind. It’s not just about exposing the dog to what startles them, but systematically reshaping their emotional response in a controlled and gentle way.
A skilled professional knows how to read a dog’s body language, respecting their individual needs, and applying these techniques without causing undue stress. There is no one-size-fits-all approach in training, and the path to a more confident and happy dog often requires patience, empathy, and expert guidance.
Your perspective is a common one, but it overlooks the complexity of canine behavior and the individualized approach necessary for truly effective training.
@Charles Kuziak it does take time and patience not counter aggression and dominance. By the way… I do wear glasses sort of explains the short sightedness 🤓
@Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution you said always keeping your dog under threshold. I have worked with thousands of dogs and what your saying is impossible and ineffective. That’s why you get a bad reputation. Using words like “nuanced” does not make your approach more scientific. Counter conditioning and desensitization are very effective tools and the threshold line moves moment to moment. Sometimes stabilizing and redirecting while in reactivity mode can create healthier responses in the dog in the future. Fear of getting close to what scares you will just keep you afraid. Getting close and realizing no harm can cure you of your fear. Every dog goes through this process differently. To say that no reaction is your goal makes you much less effective.
The dogs love you ❤👍🏽
영상잘보고가버다❤
George and Moira were no joke to train though
But they were reactive dogs not aggressive dogs and the fact that you could see that they were bad and at the end they were better shows you that he is a bad dog trainer. Because he just said that is what bad dog trainers do.
I rescued a GSD who had been taught to attack anyone that someone pointed at while saying “kill”. It wasn’t aggression. It was a game that he loved. But people could get seriously hurt and it was common for youngsters we met to point and say “kill” to him.
WATCH NEXT: How to Stop Dog Aggression for Everyday People! The Ultimate Guide: https://youtu.be/iUpUCbdLNhk
Seeking videos that showcase aggressive behaviors in dog training is like looking for the worst examples of how to handle aggression.
Insisting on seeing aggressive outbursts from dogs in videos to “prove” they are “aggressive dogs” only perpetuates misconceptions and undermines the vast body of evidence-backed methods employed by professional trainers.
Why don’t you see me working with aggressive dogs? Well… you do!
@Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution What about using hidden cameras? Like placing cameras in a persons home for a week or two so we can see what its like normally without purposely trying to provoke the dog. Could even use go pros to show how they do on walks. Does that make sense? Maybe it would be helpful for the owners and the viewers because then we see the unintentional triggers where people just mess up or don’t know. It can be a good tool where we can see the agression, and it can be explained, then we can see training addressing it without provoking the dog into a crazy mindset. Maybe we can even see updates with progress. That would be kinda nice to see and I’m sure it would be encouraging for people who are in that situation
Keeping an aggressive dog from lashing out by avoiding triggers is dangerous. Attempting to control the environment isn’t the same as controlling the dog. Being able to handle the dog ESPECIALLY when it’s being triggered is what it means to be having control. Sure, Zak can keep a reactive dog away from triggers and everything will be fine, but that doesn’t help the dog become nonreactive. You can’t keep a dog away from every trigger indefinitely. And once the dog gets adopted out, you can bet the new owners will come across a trigger eventually. What happens then? Someone will get hurt, the dog will get dumped or put down.
Your concern about managing aggressive behavior in dogs is valid, but it seems there may be a misunderstanding of my training methods. I don’t merely aim to avoid triggers; I work to understand and address the underlying emotional causes of a dog’s reactive behavior. It’s not about keeping a dog away from triggers indefinitely; it’s about guiding the dog to healthier responses.
Training a dog to be nonreactive isn’t achieved through control by force or intimidation, but rather by building trust, empathy, and understanding. This process prepares the dog for real-world situations, equipping them with the skills to respond appropriately when they encounter triggers. It’s a holistic approach that puts the dog’s well-being at the forefront, and one that has been successfully applied to numerous dogs with varying degrees of behavioral issues.
@Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution I can agree with that approach. Would you consider taking on a dog that has a serious biting history, towards humans or other dogs? A dog rescued from a fighting ring for example, a “red zone” dog so to speak. Usually those dogs are either forgotten about or trained with aversive methods.
I don’t believe you understand what positive methods are all about. It is simply untrue that it is “dangerous” to keep the dog under threshold WHILE THE DOG IS IN TRAINING. You only want the stimulus around when you are in a planned training session. It is dangerous to allow the dog to become aggressive while he’s in training. First, that dog could harm someone or himself. Second, that allows the dog to “practice” the behavior and when that stimulus goes away the dog get reinforced. You try to change the dog’s emotional reaction to the stimulus so that he will no longer display an aggressive response to that stimulus. In addition, you point totally dismisses many dogs. We adopted a Great Dane that was a puppy mill survivor. She was genetically fearful and her start in life taught her to be even more fearful of people. She had two options–euthanasia, or live in an environment where many of her triggers could be controlled. She was so fearful that our rule was no one other than a veterinary or behavioral professional could touch her. Her fear could lead to a bite. At home, when there was nothing “strange” going on, she was a total joy to have around. So you think dogs like that should all be dead instead of living in homes where people are willing and able to control that dog’s environment?
@Pumpkinhead85 I so hate that term “red zone” dog. I’ve never heard a positive trainer use that term, only trainers who use aversive methods. It’s almost a badge of honor (“I work with ‘red zone’ dogs”) and provides them an excuse to use aversive methods. When you take in a dog that has had a bad start in life and then you continue to hurt them, it just makes matters much worse. We adopted an Irish Wolfhound who had been used as a “bait” dog in a dog fighting ring (this was an Irish Wolfhound–she wasn’t some small, little, Chihuahua, she was huge). She was not a “red zone” dog. She was a dog who learned that other dogs were going to try to kill her. She was a dog who learned that people wouldn’t help her. There was nothing “red zone” about her. When she came to us, she learned that there were some people who would help her and would have her back. She learned that not all other dogs wanted to kill her. It took some time, yes. But she was NOT a “red zone” dog. That’s such a terrible term.
“when training fails, fall back on management” – Zac George
You’re not paying attention
this reminds of trainers who scare the crap out of their horses when introducing them to potentially triggering things to show the difference once the horse is used to something. You can acclimate your animal to potential triggers in ways that are kind and give your animal choice instead of stressing them out. Thank you for all you do
Bro are you talking about desensitization? Second of all, I promise you’re no horse expert and would doubt the premise that you’ve ever worked with one. Horses are scared of things and there is only one cure, to desensitize them. If they get scared and run away from it, you follow them until they are able to understand that thing is not going to hurt them. And if they get away, they learn the opposite of what you want. You people see an animal’s reaction to something and think it’s being abused and it’s just not. EVERYTHING triggers a horse, including humans. Without natural horsemanship you would literally NEVER be able to touch a horse, because it would run away from you until it died.
My son has horses at a stables and he can get his horse to do things that more experienced riders can’t because he lets the horse have a good look at the new scary thing.
Thank you!! Train the dog within threshold
Threshold reactivity has many levels, sometimes you can enter into reactivity stabilize and move through and learn more than you would if you stopped and stayed calm. Face your fears in a healthy way.
This is so good, Zak! Even if people look down on it I think it’s important to highlight the emotional state of the dog. People need to understand that this is the base of their behavior. I’ve learnt so much from you!
I think the frustration comes from people who aren’t as educated and do not always know how to prevent a dog from lashing out. So when the snapping happens – what are you suppose to do? I totally agree with your message though, it is undesirable to provoke a dog, it is a red flag. But from everyday people who are not a dog trainer, most of the time, triggering a dog was an accident.
i wish that crazy “dog daddy” abuser would take these words to heart
Gotta get those views tho …
I get what he is saying. I really do, but I think it would have been helpful to viewers to understand that the dogs can become well trained and go on to be good family dogs to hear about the dogs history with out putting them in situations where they will be aggressive just for a video. So, I am happy you made a video about aggression!
That is such an important point. I’ve heard of people working with horses and other animals (carnivores) that had been abused and were so afraid of humans that they tried to attack them even if their new handler was just trying to give them food. Trainers for these animals wouldn’t even interact with them at first. They would sit in a chair within view of the animal’s pen without even making eye contact, just reading a book or listening to Mozart on the radio for a short period of time each day. As the animal became able to tolerate that, the chair would be moved closer or the sitting session would be longer. And then the trainer might start tossing a treat into the pen without getting too close. The animals had to learn to trust and feel safe before any kind of training could happen
I think Zac is talking about avoidance. That would be in line with his teaching. Avoidance i not a good strategy. It won’t solve the aggression issue.
Let’s clarify what’s being addressed here: I’m not promoting mere avoidance of aggressive behavior but rather working to understand the underlying emotional causes and addressing them appropriately.
Avoidance, when misused, indeed won’t solve the aggression issue. However, knowing when to avoid certain triggers, especially during the initial stages of training, can be a key part of a comprehensive and responsible approach. This temporary avoidance gives both the trainer and the dog the opportunity to build skills, trust, and understanding without being overwhelmed.
My methodology involves a combination of positive reinforcement, desensitization, counter-conditioning, and other evidence-backed techniques. It’s not about sweeping problems under the rug but methodically and compassionately working with the dog to develop healthier responses.
Every dog and situation is unique, and what might look like avoidance in one context could be a strategic part of a broader training plan. Without understanding the full picture, it’s challenging to label a particular approach as ineffective.
In conclusion, the issue of aggression in dogs requires a nuanced, empathetic, and scientifically informed approach. It’s about respect for the dog’s emotional state, careful analysis, and the application of methods that enhance well-being and trust. While avoidance alone won’t solve the problem, it can be one tool in a toolkit that prioritizes the dog’s overall welfare and long-term success.
This is why I always hate most nat geo type dog trainer shows.