He used to be, I thought, what Cesar Millan would describe as a "redzone" dog. Naïve I was once, to think that was true.
I was just naïve, and his aggression towards other dogs was manageable, yet in no way a state one could truly want. For the time that was the case (2 years) we didn't get very far, Begleithundeprüfung and then a few competitions, it wasn't much fun. Because of the rules we had to follow there was a lot of pressure, which was not good for our relationship. During one competition then, my saved dog refused and we got disqualified due to disobedience. I loved winning and working with Xento, and I was broken up about the realization that we weren't to much of a team as I thought.
We stopped training for competition - with that I removed the pressure of the rules and I took away the necessity of the correctness. Now correctness in his "heal" position became a game and an achievement. I wanted him to have fun, and that fun I wanted him to have with me. I no longer wanted him to do stuff because he had to, but because he wanted to do them with me. I wanted to see me in every way as the worthy partner to walk and run with.
To describe what I changed and how I would be a bit much for this post, but the result I can share summerized.
Xento is now a settled and rounded dog. We still don't partake in competition, but we train regularly (IPO a little, Obedience/dogdance, we go dogtrekking, dummy training etc.). His dogaggression has subsided.
I hope to share my first video soon.
be well
g0dpup
