Dogs aren’t people, no matter how much we feel they are. Freedom to a dog is to have a pack, status within the pack and a leader they can have confidence in.
Yet Fido starts protecting his food, mouthing your hands, arms or legs, won’t let you step over him when he is in the doorway, takes food from your plate while you are still eating or many other things that you don’t approve of. You accept this behavior because he’s just being a dog. What can you do about it?
What your dog needs is aggressive dog training. You’ve let your dog follow his natural inclinations and take over the pack or family. You weren’t the leader and for his sanity he had to take control of the situation.
Dogs are social animals with the strong need to fit in and work together to get things done. In a social order their must be a leader or alpha, then beta all the way down to the omega. Rank and status are very important for some dogs, while others want to follow. However the meekest dog will take the leadership position if there isn’t a leader.
Get your dog a crate. Train him how to use it. Entice him in with some food and lure him into the crate. Make sure he is hungry. Don’t shut the door of the crate. Do this for several days before you shut the door. Keep it shut for a few seconds making it longer each time until he will go into the crate. This depends on how stubborn the dog is also.
Make sure he gets fed in the crate every single time.
This is where you will put him when he wants to take a nap and when you want to eat. Make sure he feels that the crate is his home.
Start training him to come, sit, down, stay and heel. It will take a lot of work, but you can convince your dog that you are the leader of the pack. But you must be consistent.
If you have a German Shepherd, get some German Shepherd training tips. If you have a Poodle, check out forums and articles about Poodles. Whatever type of dog you have, be sure to read up on the breed, as some are easier to train than others.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. If you feel you can’t handle the situation yourself or are afraid of the dog, seek out a professional to help you take back your life.