Viszla Comes to San Diego Dog Training Camp

Copper is a 2 1/2 year old Viszla who has come to K9 Coach Dog Training Camp in San Diego. He lives with his really cool outdoor runner-type owner in Fullerton, CA. Copper is one of those dogs who is the sweetest boy… when he knows you.

When he doesn’t, he has fear aggression, which to most just looks like full on aggression. And the thing is, he has it with both people and dogs. Not so cool.

What is way cool though, is his owner loves him very much and researched to find someone to do training for this type of behavior. So, Copper is here at K9 Coach Dog Training Camp in Encinitas, CA and the really great news is he is doing awesome.

Copper is a very stately Viszla and is here for the 4 week program. We’ve started with obedience and getting it perfect, along with a lot of exercise. Once we moved through that phase he’s being exposed to people coming to the house, dogs that live in the house, and then strangers on outings.

He also has been doing some training with other dogs he does not know on walks and runs as well as at the beach. Keeping Copper on task has helped him a great deal with his fear of both people and dogs.

Another key in Copper’s training is that he is not picking up fear, uneasiness, or trepidation from me and so he is not on alert that there should be anything to be wary of.

In many cases fear aggression is perpetuated by the owner in that something has happened in the past, and the fear of it happening again is so high for many reasons, that the projection goes right to the dog and he acts accordingly. I call it the “oh shit, here comes another dog” revolution. That feeling goes straight to your dog’s leash and then the whole cycle starts.

Instead I stay in charge of the dog, and of the fact that I am in charge. The dog feels it and starts acting accordingly.

Ever hear the idea that if you want something to happen act as though it already is? Well this is true to a certain degree with training your dog as well. Dogs do in fact pick up on emotion before they pick up on anything else. Being in charge is important. Not being fearful is important… for you and your dog.

You’ll see in the video how well Copper is doing with both people and dogs. He is a way cool dog and the fact he is doing so well is what its all about for me.