Does your dog act unruly around other people or dogs? Is he overly protective? Does he lash out aggressively or become overly excited in social situations? One of the biggest problems that dogs face in our urbanized society is a lack of proper socialization.
Unfortunately, most dogs are raised in near-isolation. They only get to socialize with dogs and humans in their household, and maybe with a few dogs in their immediate social circle. As a result, most dogs never really learn how to communicate or cope with the outside world in a natural and effective manner.
This creates dogs that are stressed and fearful in social settings: who often demonstrate it by acting aggressively. Regular pack socialization gives dogs the opportunity to exist in their most natural state: in the company of other dogs.
This is incredibly therapeutic for dogs: lowering their overall stress level, as well as boosting confidence, and instilling a baseline of canine etiquette that is ultimately best learned from (who else?) other dogs. In addition, it has been proven effective (in conjunction with obedience training) for reducing, and sometimes eliminating, certain types of aggression.
Muttley Manners Pack Socialization is a class designed to help your dog learn to communicate in a non-threatening, supervised environment. We facilitate the class, and we let the dogs teach it. You may have heard Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer, tout "the power of the pack."
By allowing dogs with difficulties to interact with the right kinds of dogs, they learn not merely to control their aggressive behavior, but to correct it, and actually enjoy socializing. Your dog has the opportunity to learn to, well, be a dog, have a lot of fun, and get a great deal of exercise in the process. The results are amazing to watch.
How is a pack socialization class different than just going to the dog park? First, all dogs are screened for dangerous behavior before attending. Plus, class instructors are skillfully trained in the art of canine behavior and body language, which enables them to recognize, and extinguish, a problem before it grows out of control.
Muttley Manners pack socialization class is based on the Pack To Basics technique developed by Chad Mackin, who modified the large field socialization approach that was first brought to America by Dick Russell. I've had the honor of studying with both of them, and look forward to sharing our expertise.
For questions, contact Muttley Manners, or check our calendar for upcoming classes.