Passive Dogs Training - How to Train a Passive Dog

Dogs, like humans, all have individual character traits. Circumstances and genetics all play a role in the development, causing some to show assertive tendencies, and others more submissive.

Generally more demanding of attention are assertive dogs, seeking alpha (leader) status. Their behavior can include forcibly removing rawhide bones or toys from others and trying to enter doors first. Passive dogs - either with, without or despite training - tend to eat last, enter last and wait to be noticed.

Training often takes the form of stopping dogs from undertaking unwanted behavior, so it may appear that passive dogs don’t really require much training. Assertive dogs are leashed and corrected when they pull ahead during a walk or training exercise. Assertive dogs are taught not to rush out the door after every passing cat. Even fetch and release is often more a matter of redirecting behavior than encouraging it.

By contrast, passive dogs show less tendency to perform unwanted behaviors such as digging and chasing cats, and spontaneously wait to exit after others. Passive dogs also tend to separate themselves a short distance from other dogs in the house.

But some passive behavior is undesirable and can even put the dog at risk. Unfortunately, it can be unsafe to allow any stranger to approach unchallenged. It can be detrimental to the diet, or even dangerous, to accept treats from anyone who offers them. Sadly, there are sick people who will poison a dog, or steal it this way.

It is important to teach the passive dog that boundaries need to be respected both by the dog and unknown humans. Discourage treat taking from people you meet only once. Paranoia would be misplaced, but you're training the dog not judging every stranger.

Work with the dog’s nature and not against it to improve your chance of success. Play and rewards are appreciated even by passive dogs. 'Passive' and 'fearful' do not equate to the same thing.

Occasionally give one on one attention to the less assertive dog if you have multiple dogs. That way the only more dominant member of the pack nearby is you. Allow and encourage it to enter the house first occasionally. Intermittently feed it while the others are not around. Make sure the passive dog isn’t chased away from food if multiple dogs are fed together.

Find one or more objects the dog enjoys - a favored ball, rope or a beef-treated rawhide bone, for example. Perform the same 'sit' then 'up' training maneuver as you would with any other, but don't keep it waiting as long as you would a more assertive dog. It can also be helpful to use a more encouraging, friendly voice.

While to some extent unchangeable, passive behavior - either physiological/genetic or 'chosen' (to the extent dogs have free will) – can be changed slightly with patient and persistent training with . However expectations about modifying the behavior of passive dogs shouldn't be too high.

Repetition, commitment and persistence is the key. Training takes time and effort on both your and dogs part. Don’t give up at the first sign of failure. Instead, repeat, again and again, until the desired behavior is achieved.

         

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