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Aggressive Obedience - Have you experienced this?

Nik

Well-Known Member
As some of you know I am a big believer in NILF and practice it religiously with my pups. I have noticed though at meal time or when there is a particularly desirable treat Kahlua will perform whatever I ask her to in a very fast and aggressive manner.

For example, if I ask for a "touch" she slams her nose into my hand as hard as she can. If I ask for a "high five" she violently hits my hand with her paw. Sometimes I just do puppy push ups instead because she can't do those too aggressively or violently.

She often grumbles at me while doing the tricks or makes a funny whine/moan noise. She is clearly impatient and just wants to get the obedience part over with so she can get her meal, treat, etc.

So I have started making her redo the tricks when she does them too violently or aggressively and I add the comment "gentle" and won't let up until she performs it gentle enough. She seems to be understanding this but complains plenty the whole time.

Just curious if any of you have ever experienced what I like to call "aggressive obedience".

On a side note when I am wanting to cuddle and she isn't in the mood I notice she uses her kisses as passive defense mechanism. She gives extra violent licks as a way of saying "leave me alone now". And by violent I mean she practically slams her head into you while doing the lick (ouch). She knows "ouch" though and is learning to hold back a little on her "leave me alone" kisses. So now those kisses hurt less but are still easily distinguishable from her "i love you" kisses.
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
Yep, that sounds familiar.
Not with Denna, so much, but some of our other dogs.
I totally get the 'doing commands with impatience' aspect!! We also have a "gentle" qualifier, and Denna knows EXACTLY what I mean by that. :)

The "I love you - leave me alone" kisses I have not experienced, though. Denna will just get up and move to another room when she's not in the mood.
That Kahlua is one expressive girl!
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Yep, that sounds familiar.
Not with Denna, so much, but some of our other dogs.
I totally get the 'doing commands with impatience' aspect!! We also have a "gentle" qualifier, and Denna knows EXACTLY what I mean by that. :)

The "I love you - leave me alone" kisses I have not experienced, though. Denna will just get up and move to another room when she's not in the mood.
That Kahlua is one expressive girl!

I swear "gentle" is one of the most important things to teach a dog. I don't know why the trainers never bring it up but it works great for play time with the dogs, obedience time, cuddling. etc.

And yes Kahlua is extremely expressive. I always thought Diesel was since he is pretty vocal and makes all sorts of interesting sounds but I think Kahlua actually has him beat.

But I don't really mind. I like knowing what my dogs are thinking and wanting it makes it a lot easier to work and train with them and makes for a happier home. :)
 

Vantage

Well-Known Member
I know that behaviour! :p Sometimes they're think they are little puppies and forget how strong they really are haha.


I'm wondering if it will help you to Not Reward the behaviour until the dog is in a Calm/ Submissive state. When he is sitting Calming without fidgeting and clawing at you (ie. for a "give me a paw"/"high-five") Then reward the behaviour. (Granted you are passed basic obedience commands?)
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
I know that behaviour! :p Sometimes they're think they are little puppies and forget how strong they really are haha.


I'm wondering if it will help you to Not Reward the behaviour until the dog is in a Calm/ Submissive state. When he is sitting Calming without fidgeting and clawing at you (ie. for a "give me a paw"/"high-five") Then reward the behaviour. (Granted you are passed basic obedience commands?)

Yes that is exactly what we have started doing (sort of). When she does the command too quickly or aggressively I tell her "uh uh. gentle." and then I repeat the command with the word "gentle" after it. She knows gentle now and she might grumble a bit at me but she slows down and does gentle and then gives me the grumpiest sulkiest most impatient face after that you could possibly imagine and sometimes follows up with a big huff. It takes everything in me not to laugh.