How to Train Aggressive Dogs

Can “aggressive” dogs be saved without cruelty?
FOLLOW ‪@WolfmotherK9‬ to see how modern, ethical trainers work with dogs with serious behavior issues like these: www.wolfmother...
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Trainers like Saharai are doing this every single day.
There is absolutely no excuse to use aversive force with these dogs.
Modern trainers understand how to address the underlying emotions that are causing a dog’s behavior, instead of just suppressing and shutting them down.

[@zakgeorge]

This video spotlights global experts skillfully addressing complex canine behaviors without resorting to harsh methods. In our industry, there’s a phenomenon we call ‘goalpost moving.’ Every time we demonstrate humane approaches to behavioral issues, some shift the narrative, insisting these methods are unrealistic or limited in scope. The objection often morphs into questioning whether I personally can achieve the same results. And when I have showcase myself working with dogs with bite histories I will hear objections like, “Not everyone has the time,” or “It’s not realistic in a shelter environment,” among other objections. This video underscores a vital point: humane, effective dog behavior modification isn’t an isolated practice; it’s widespread and achievable by many, not just me. The insistence on seeing me personally handle every case overlooks the broader truth: these methods work, regardless of who applies them. Demonstrating the success of others in this field counters the narrative that humane training is limited to a few. Humane training is practiced globally by diverse experts, each bringing their skills to various environments and scenarios. Whether it’s a family pet or a shelter dog, the principles of compassionate, science-based training remain consistent and effective. This video isn’t just about showcasing one approach; it’s about highlighting a universal truth in modern dog training.

[@durrr1007]

@LyranSoulnot every dog is good for every home. You’re right about everything you said except if you have not much time and lots of young kids, even with the best trainers in the field there is no quick fix and your aren’t a good home for it.

[@FalkorsTale]

If you don't have the time to do it right, don't get a dog. @LyranSoul

[@durrr1007]

@LyranSoul yeah I get that. It’s why in the rescue community we ask people if they’re having children, and what their plan is. It’s part of responsible pet ownership to adopt A dog that you have every indication will be good with children. We do temperament test fosters with children, so if you ask we can point you towards kid friendly dogs. It’s always the best choice to adopt a dog who is an adult and has been in a foster home with children if you plan to have children. But of course I want people to exhaust all options before rehoming a dog.

[@RobertMiller-dh6ci]

Was that a real aggressive dog or was is just a scared dog

[@durrr1007]

@@RobertMiller-dh6ci I work with aggressive dogs all day. What do you mean was it “real”? This dog is touch sensitive and reactive to multiple stimuli

[@Trinh1227]

Love that you’re showcasing other trainers who use empathy and kindness in their work! 🥰

[@taraakins8273]

Problem is we have so few that are able to do this and the few we have can’t afford to spend days and days on one dog.

[@icefirewolfodell9946]

There was an episode on Pitbulls and Parolees where this dog was aggressive in the shelter that they couldn't even walk it. But they were able to get the dog out of the kennel without cruelty and it happily went out All it takes is love, patience, and understanding

[@mellym3ow]

Ooh I love that show so much! They really do such amazing work.

[@francescamamlin450]

What a beautiful video. A lot of critiques of positive training is that it "takes too long", but this dog was rehabilitated even against a euthanasia deadline using only humane, positive training.

[@dawidjlb2589]

Do You know how quickly You can remove those behaviors in such insecure dog like she is?

[@Genesizs]

Not all dogs will respond the same way. this is just 1 example. not only that it has been proven possitive training only rarelly works on hyper agressive dogs, was this one agressive, sure she barked didn't see her lunge or bite thoo, theres way worse dogs that you def. won't go and sit in a cage with a give it treats before you fix them.

[@fae3561]

@@Genesizs You need to keep them under threshold... this is why she started by desensitizing the dog and just showing she's a not a threat, managing the environment so that the dog is behind a barrier. Counter conditioning, etc. If you shove them into situations they can't handle, for example if she just immediately stormed in and started manhandling the dog then yes the dog would've been out of control and biting her and probably would've only stopped if strangled to exhaustion because the dog would've been overwhelmed and terrified. You can't expect an animal that is terrified to act reasonably, that is not how the brain works. The amygdala floods the brain with adrenaline and cortisol and puts them in fight or flight, so of course they'll be impulsive. It interrupts the process of the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain used for focus, memory, impulse control, making focusing and learning and being calm that much more difficult. There is a reason why they keep the dog under threshold as they are just not going to learn as well and probably won't respond to anything besides pain. If you shove an arachnaphobe in a closet full of spiders and hold them down in there they'd probably start screaming and stomping the spiders and even hitting you as well, and it wouldn't be there fault. It is called "flooding" when you completely overwhelm an animal or person like this and it is a very ineffective behavior modification technique. With helping gain confidence you need to go slow, start with low level of stressors, build trust. Counter condition, otherwise you are not solving the CAUSE of the behavior. Punishment only hides the symptoms, it does not make them less insecure and if anything just contributes to the anxiety and adrenaline. She was lunging at the gate, she couldn't bite because she was behind a gate... This is where managing the environment comes in. You don't want the dog to get to this level in general because everytime the dog practices this behavior it reinforces for the dog that this is a behavior that works to get stressors to go away, and just adds that history to the dog and the memories of being stressed and overwhelmed. It reinforces those neural pathways again and again each time it happens. That's just how stress works, it is intended to be a survival mechanism of desperation, not something rational. Where has it been proven that it positive training only rarely works? This is extremely anecdotal. There are many many studies documenting how dangerous P+ is and how it often only contributes to anxiety and aggression, how it often increase aggression in dogs, makes them harder to work with, makes them less stable, etc. It's not only proven to be harmful to dogs but animals in general. Often it creates very shut down dogs that are still scared and stressed they're just in a state of learned helplessness. "Out of the blue" bites are also often caused by this because they don't learn to feel comfortable, they just learn to stop showing signs of discomfort until one day when they're just too overwhelmed and they finally snap. How do you think they train zoo animals, or wolves in sanctuaries? If anything heavy handed punishment is what often creates issues in the first place for those animals as they are even more sensitive to stress. Dogs are just "safer" to work with because we've bred them for years to tolerate us and also because we can easily just put them down if it's too much to deal with... It is different when you are working with an animal that needs to learn to be safe because it can literally rip a mans head off with its jaws. You cannot strangle the aggression out of a wolf, it only creates more distrust and aggresion. Usually positive training prioritizes setting the dog up for success in the first place so that they are well socialized and confident and not facing those feelings of insecurity, and minimizing them when possible. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs for example it's best to just keep them on leash, muzzled, and avoid interactions with other dogs unless in an appropriate training environment where they can be under threshold. Or you could start hurting them everytime they see another dog I guess... but really this just makes it so that the dog hides their discomfort and creates a more volatile and unpredictable dog.

[@margaretfleming3554]

Thank goodness you’ve shown this video. Thank you Zac. What a turn around and a glorious animal lives another day to bring joy to someone’s life. People need to know that quick fixes don’t work whereas time and patience do!

[@SysterYster]

Lots of anger issues stems from fear. And you cannot cure fear with aggression, only worsen it. She did such a good job here.

[@motavelimusic2261]

"anger" you say

[@FoxbrushDraws]

​@motavelimusic2261 Yes, a lot of reactivity and aggressive behavior is caused by fear.

[@HaiJosephine]

​@motavelimusic2261 it's true

[@twiffly]

Zac - Good job showing someone else doing the work you never could.

[@ccap3211]

This dog doesn’t really seem aggressive. She’s just barking.

[@agnelund]

Many dogs appear aggressive when they're put in a stressful situation where they feel uncertain or uncomfortable and way past their tolerance threshold. When you look at some training videos of dog trainers who use more harsh methods, it almost seems that the dogs in that video have been stressed out and pushed over their threshold for the effect of making them appear more aggressive and "tough cases" to work on. Yes, these dogs are not the most confident dogs, are skittish, and have strong fear/defensive reactions. Their owners don't have the skills or patience to guide them through situations where the dog is more prone to react. But it doesn't mean they are aggressive dogs. They just don't know how to handle these situations. When given time, most of these dogs are eventually able to calm down at least to some level making them appear "cured of their aggression". When it's achieved by overwhelming the dog completely with stress and pressure, the dogs shut down and switch to survival mode instead of actually relaxing, calming down, and processing their emotions.

[@seenso]

Magnolia isn’t aggressive? She’s a scared dog… being scared can make dogs lash out but it doesn’t mean the dog is aggressive.

[@SBOK41]

I can't stop crying. Magnolia is so much like my boy was when we adopted him. Worth every minute of work we put in. Most touching video I've seen on KZbin. To see someone change a dog's entire perception of humans by speaking softly, engaging in play & being respectful of space ❤ These little things are SO powerful.

[@victoriac2129]

Omg, so happy for this dog. Love it that you're posting these kinds of videos for people, especially Dog Daddy fans to see that there is in fact another way when Augusto is telling them there isn't. Keep it up👍

[@c.a.parker5036]

Thanks for showcasing this great trainer, Zak!

[@zakgeorge]

Of course!

[@IvyWhiskeyDram]

This is exactly what needs to be shown more. I love that your sharing channels like this, helping them.reach a wider audience and I hope that you share us some more.

[@kenanderson2002]

That dog wasn't aggressive at all... it was scared. I never thought it was fair to apply the "aggressive" label to dogs that are just scared.

[@lolcats987654321]

Bruh its a malinois. Its smarter than most people you'll ever meet in your life. Youd be pissed too of you were stuck in that shitty box.

[@allisonlevy616]

Here is the thing this dog is not aggressive she is fearful and aggression and fear often get misunderstood. Fear can look like aggression. Aggression can be very dangerous and also many layers with many facets thank you for helping Magnolia.

[@nyfries]

The dog wasn’t aggressive at all. Just fearful. The lady in the video know. Zak has no idea lol

[@allisonlevy616]

@@nyfries You have a point aggression is a widely used term and it really shouldn't be used as a label. Aggression is really a symptom of anxiety. There are many facets to behavior though that is viewed as an aggressive response.

[@pr0spect4139]

I bought a puppy that was 18 weeks old. This was about 6 weeks ago. In that time, I've noticed a ton of behavior issues. Your videos were the first ones i came across when looking for help training my pup. He has confidence issues and anxiety. He's reactive to other dogs and people when he's on the leash. He's resource guarding sporadically with random stuff like pieces or paper he finds or stuff he wasn't protective of normally. Just today, I went to give him his kong in the crate. He saw me grab the kong out the freezer and ran in his crate, all excited like normal. I reached in to take off his house lead, and he bit me within a second with a growl. It was so random that i broke down in tears. I've spent every waking moment that I'm not at work trying to work with him and play with him and build our relationship and show him i only want the best for him. I've tried every single thing you've shown from hours of your videos. And while it works for basic stuff like sit, lay ect. It's not helping at all for the behavior. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but i don't see it. I broke down and bought a slip leash and prong collar. As much as i don't want to use them, i just don't see any other way. I think dogs need a clear picture of what is wrong and what is right in the human world. They need to be corrected when they do something wrong. You can see that correction in the dog world from the moment their born from their mother. When they step out of line, the mother corrects the pup with their teeth. It might seem cruel on the outside looking in, but even when dogs play, you see the correction when one steps or of line. It's a clear message to the other dog that what they've done is not ok. How is a prong collar, when used correctly, any different? I'm not talking about abusing the dog with it. When used correctly, it's exactly like a dog nipping the other. It's a clear punishment. I'm really hoping I'm wrong about it, and I'm just using force free training wrong. Because i truly only want what's best for my pup. Im just really worried about him, and I don't want to have to get rid of him. I love the little guy

[@AlterMego1]

I feel for you, it sounds like you're really stressed about this. I've also had the experience of being at my wit's end about a dog - it's okay to need help! Taking care of a dog's every need is a lot to ask from one person. First you need some support, and help to suss out what's normal puppy behavior and what's not. Try asking the breeder about his lineage and history. Then take him to a vet to make sure nothing medical is going on. Next, find someone with dog training experience to help you work on the behaviors - a reputable trainer if necessary, but just a long-time dog owner can go a long way if you're making simple mistakes. This might be too little too late, but that's my advice. Hope things work out for the two of you.

[@Plimpert]

Patience, empathy, and discipline can solve all

[@mellym3ow]

Yes! Discipline and not force. The two are not the same thing. You can have the former without the latter.

[@taraakins8273]

True. If only every pet owner could do this because the professionals sure don’t have the time. This takes days and days. No way we could earn a livable paycheck focusing all our time those 2 weeks on maybe 2 dogs.

[@irvelis9664]

I get so sad that this dog is portrayed as aggressive in this video... Please, don't teach the world that dogs like this are aggressive. The dog was just scared.

[@yeseniagarcia5521]

Exactly !! That dog was just scary and just needed love and patience. This video made me cry a lot. I feel so sorry for those who are euthanized and people misdiagnosed them and end their lives.

[@angarielthalion7867]

There’s a KZbinr based out of California I stumbled across recently who kinda does this same thing. He’ll go into kennels and just sit with the dogs. His series is literally called “sitting with dogs”. He always says a dog is very different inside the kennel than out. What I want to know.. is how do you train a dog who is aggressive in a normal environment with normal/average owners. Not dogs who are in a kennel being stressed out and lonely. What do you do when the environment isn’t a factor?

[@angelbear_og]

That's awesome. Magnolia was just scared and needed someone to teach her how to trust. 🥰 #imnotcryingyourecrying

[@kaywii9750]

I find it a bit frustrating that some people emphasized that aggressive dogs needs strict and cruel discipline to be saved from euthanasia and these same people left complaints that you should show them videos of so-called "red zone" dogs being trained without aversives. Now you are actually showing them an example of someone actually using kind methods with a so-called "red zone" dog, and instead, people now complain that you're not the one rehabilitating the aggressive dog. I am pretty sure that if you would actually start working with aggressive dogs and show them videos of your progress, people would find something else to complain about. They will never be satisfied because admitting that aversives are wrong would be clashing with their world view, they will always find a way to justify it no matter what.

[@zakgeorge]

Yes. It is a classic case of deconstruction with these folks.

[@mellym3ow]

The hit the nail on the head

[@IvyWhiskeyDram]

Exactly 💯 and the thing is it doesn't need to be ZakGeorge, this might not be his strength in dog training/rehab which is perfectly fine, everyone has their own style and the dogs they are best at working with. But being man enough to say "I don't have experience or the skill for these kinds of dogs but here is someone who does.." some people are best with puppies, young dogs, others are best with red zone case dogs and others are good at helping shy dogs. Not everyone has to be good for everything. And there are plenty of dogs that do need help. They just don't need to be strangled and choked into submission (however long it may last). It's the same with horses, the kinder ways might take longer but they are more beneficial to the relationship long term and its what we want with our dog/horse. check out: Free Spirit Equestrian or Heckett equine.

[@AnimaTriste]

Dogs are not agressive just out of fear... And you need control with fearful dogs when you are introducing them to environment. Fearful dog will react in new environment again and then it better have a scenario how to react on correction. And you could stop manipulating, Zak. No one has deconstructed yourself more, than you. The problem with you is, that you present balanced trainers as one sided who only use aversives. Even DD is not such trainer, even if you lie about him and put edited videos here taken out of context. This dog will not be verifiably reliable trained in urban environment without negative reinforcement. Then there are dogs who do not react to food and toys. They too deserve help and not euthanasia. I recently rehabilitated malinois, the girl followed your advice, then went to another positive only trainer. Dog developed severe agression towards people and animals, and tail biting that resulted in injuries to himself. Vet said it is OCD, and that the tail will have to be amputated. This dog still has tail , doesn't bite itself anymore and is now a normal family dog, even after a year. Stop bullshitting people and dogs. We know already, that you were severely abused as a child. That is evident from your lack of accountability and emotional disturbances that you demonstrate here.

[@racheluk1759]

This is a great example of bringing a submissive, frightened dog into a place of trust and wellbeing. Would love to see a video of an Alfa dominant fear aggressive dog too.

[@albubelbukolme8426]

This video has such an important message, thank you for sharing!

[@phammanchu]

There are different things that can cause aggression and this seems like a pretty easy case. I’m no professional but it just seems like the Mal has slight barrier aggression. Can you do a video of you using positive only with a dominant aggressive adult rescue dog? My friends new rescue dog is almost 2 and your trading resources to defeat resource guarding almost earned her a trip to the ER

[@FoxbrushDraws]

Every dog is different, but I've found that if something like that happens, it usually means that the training was accelerated too quickly and pushed past the dog's threshold too fast.

[@Antz71]

Is your friend strong enough to not be afraid of her dog. If she has a strong dog that is testing her and senses her fear. Which is the problem with a lot of aggressive dog owners it’s not the dogs fear it the owners fear the dogs feel and they think they need to be protective. Dogs can only feel the fear from the owner and can’t interpret the situation. The dog doesn’t know it’s the owners fear of the dog doing something. Sorry to say a prong collar isn’t about hurting the dog it’s about the owner having confidence in controlling that dog. They need it because they aren’t strong enough without a tool like that to begin with.

[@MsJimmysgirl]

All it takes is a lot of love, patience and dedication to earn back a dogs trust to humans again. Negative reinforcement doesn't work.

[@deniseboucher2874]

This trainer was patient and loving and set boundaries and rewarded behavior. Look at the difference in this dog .

[@NyreeAlana]

Thanks for sharing this, it's such an important message and not just for dog training. ❤

[@Here_This]

And that's the whole secret . We also need to stop the killing in shelters , these dogs need more support and volunteers .

[@edgarseis]

Or also well paid staff. It makes me sad that unpaid volunteers are the people driving change when they could also be paid positions. Working for free is not the way forward :(

[@Here_This]

@@edgarseis Paid people often don't care . But volunteers who love animals are trying everything to save them . The goal needs to be to get these dogs out of the (kill ) shelters . Most don't have lot of money and don't even provide medical care for sick or injured dogs . Look at the work of Rocky Kanaka .

[@phammanchu]

Shelters/rescues need to put all workers/volunteers through a dog training program. Half the people I meet at rescues don’t know shit about dog behavior. Having unknowledgeable people that just “love” dogs is not enough, they need to help the dog be ready for their forever homes or else the risk of the dog going back to the shelter and most likely being put down. It’s not about compensation, it’s about just having practical knowledge of the problem you are actually trying to solve

[@damienkurast]

If you want less killings in shelters, start supporting dog trainers who can train them. If you dont, you really dont care about dogs, just your own ideology and feelings. People like Zak, fight everyday to make sure dogs gets put down rather than getting a correction. God forbid a dog gets told off, like they would tell each other off in nature.

[@Here_This]

@@damienkurast 🤦‍♀ I think there is nothing to cure stupidity !

[@ozzie444]

Everyone wants to see YOU train an aggressive dog Zak, YOU. Magnolia was saying she was afraid, and "stay away from me." This dog was reacting out of fear, which required building confidence in the dog to trust humans. In this case, positive only methods worked, which is fine. There are other types of dogs that are Alpha (yes this is a thing), confident, dominant aggressive and do not have fear. These are the dogs that can turn out to be the best working dogs for protection, military and police forces,and have a very high goal and achievement drive. These types of dogs need to know they must always obey their owner/handler at all times and whenever they don't, they will be corrected. Done properly by a capable trainer, correcting these dogs does no lasting physical or psychological harm. There is room for various methods of training which is dependant on what the circumstances demand.

[@Genesizs]

Still waiting for Zak to putt up a video with a hyper agressive big dog, he is all talk, even made a video in response of people saying this , we never see you train a hyper agressive dog Zak, all he could say was basicly it's out fault that the dog is like that brining no insight whatsoever , plz Zak make a video of you saving a hyper agressive dog that is up for euthanasia don't bother, you won't, you can't, keep training puppy's that only a toddler might have to be afraid of but stfu about others saving actual dogs lives doing REAL training.

[@TheFurHotel]

From all the guests at The Fur Hotel, thank you Zak for your training videos!! At The Fur Hotel, We’ve implemented many of your training principles. We will continue to refer our clients to your videos. 💕

[@loyal_dogs]

It doesn't help your cause if you don't prove it. As sweet as this video is, there is nothing to see. Anyone could use time, sweetness and food to get a dog trust its future family but it didn't solve the problem that this dog has issues with STRANGERS (besides, this dog is not an aggressive case but just a timid and soft dog with a fear based issue). After spending time and knowledge, any dog would calm down but strangers on the street or workers don't have that time nor the knowledge and one can not expect the world to spin around yourself and your animal. These dogs don't have peoblems with people experienced in dogs but with random unexperienced people. If every single person in the world would be experienced with dogs and spent time to bribe your "problem" dog into accepting them it would work but that is not real life. And just managing every single step of a dog is stealing its freedom and taking away the being a dog part. And that just to fullfill your own needs and satisfy your radical left ideology. Show it yourself by training an aggressive dog and it could shut down all critics (no, not a single one of those on your channel are even close to being a red zone dog is what I think they are called in English) if done properly. But as long as you just hate on everyone thinking slightly or completely different and not being able to value other people's success but yet talking big without proving even an inch you just come across arrogant and narcissistic.

[@barbarar2216]

imagine being locked up on a square with dozens of others whining and barking and being in fear and anger 24/7, that would make anyone insane

[@TheLyricalWrdsmth]

Such a gorgeous, sweet dog. Glad they saved her.

[@ilovemyfurrykids6607]

Patience, empathy, and love!!! So true. I wish every dog owner felt this way! There is no quick. Everything takes time ❤

[@KF-mg4ix]

This is it. Against whatever or whoever the dog is showing aggression, you have to show them that they can trust it/them and trust takes time.

[@MarilynBlaire]

Love how the implication here is that trainers who advocate for the use of tools would never utilize these types of tactics. It’s not black and white 🙄

[@Bigglesman96]

Not trying to be "that guy" but this dog is fearful defensive, not aggressive. Of course the only appropriate approach to helping rehabilitate this dog is positive only. We want to see a truly dominant aggressive dog being trained through positive only training.

[@OliveAndJackie]

Yep, pure fear, not agression.

[@BrokenHeartedVS]

Reminds me of something my therapist once told me. "Anger is often fear or sadness in disguise."

[@raniyuna2930]

First of all we don't knows what people do if camera is switch off. We just see something on camera. And second thing is...that it wasn't you training that dog... So what you want to say by showing just one case of agressive dog which was more agressive due to fear than anything else? Agression is issue from many reasons and not all dogs are same. So few of them can became normal after positive training. But if it will work so miraculously, euthanasia for dogs will not exist and dog shelters will be empty because all dogs will be listening and doing great. And it's utopia. And I say it with whole respect.🤷🏻‍♀️

[@romeofabian8102]

This was very stressful for dog being with that scary lady for so many consecutive days. But glad the dog eventually got out of it.

[@GiGi-dd5cr]

So does this guy only talk about how others train and he never actually does train dogs? Or talks about the theory of training? I’ve seen maybe a dozen random videos and haven’t seen him train a dog to even just sit.

[@__-xq9gp]

SADLY THIS DOES NOT WORK WITH ALL AGGRESSIVE DOGS !! ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL - ONLY A FOOL WOULD PRESCRIBE THE SAME DOSAGE OF MEDICINE OR THE EXACT SAME TREATMENT FOR ALL PATIENTS WITH VARIATIONS OF THE SAME DISEASE.

[@keppipojat]

Of course it doesnt, that is why you need a bigger dosage of positive reinforcement. Only a lazy dog owner would argue otherwise and therefore should not have a dog in the first place. Imagine what got these dogs into this mental state in the first place. I would argue that Dog "Daddy" methods are a good guess.

[@Pantherasinleopard]

this isn't aggression its recourse guarding

[@thomas9334]

Or I am stupid or I missed your method how to train Aggressive dogs.

[@DCARA06]

Wonderful!!! This is perfect. This is what needs to be highlighted. The answer is here it just needs to be shown. Great job highlighting it!!

[@Freya1412]

So a lot of these dogs are on a deadline. We know positive reinforcement techniques take a long time to yield results. How does this factor into the deadline? Do you not attempt balanced training techniques even though we know it's faster and just play Russian roulette with the dog who is on a deadline? I think positive reinforcement should be used as standard practice but in extreme cases balanced training should be applied if time is short and the dog's life is hanging by a thread. I had a rescue malamute and he was very aggressive when I got him. I desperately looked for a trainer and all the positive reinforcement trainers refused to help me. I eventually attempted training him myself using positive reinforcement techniques only. After a year I saw limited improvement and that would have been fine if I wasn't running out of time with him. I made the choice to switch to balanced training and he improved within 2 months. Drastic improvement. He was an amazing dog. Passed of old age in 2021. I do not regret my decision considering the circumstances. I think positive only trainers are a bit too ridiculous and don't consider the dog more than their ego.

[@zakgeorge]

It’s a very problematic myth that positive reinforcement takes a long time. That’s Because suppression never addresses actual causes anyway. Therefore it is a false dichotomy.

[@chrisbmx145]

Can I ask why you don't get involved and do shelter training for aggressive dogs on a regular basis(weekly)? Would be very rewarding to see (knowing dogs are being helped) rather than the recent soap opera style videos against other trainers that you have been posting.

[@jamiemcgahey6956]

Still not seeing you do anything like this

[@typezero705]

That’s not the point. The point is that force isn’t needed. Concerned on how you missed that point but hope the clarification helps you. 👍

[@beastmode3266]

​@@typezero705that is the point if your gonna talk about a topic and you as a so called dog trainer needs to step up and start walking the walk and stop yapping about it. He saying he can do all these things and always wusses out on showing

[@mumtomason17]

PRACTICE THAT YOU PREACH MY FRIEND.

[@loveyall5080]

Zak has two dogs, one of which is still refining her skills, and is doing a series on a Cane Corso puppy. He also doesn't own a shelter. Also, the point of the video is that you should address the root of the problem rather than just try to change the behavior. And that is exactly what Zak does every time he encounters a problem. Also, Moira the GSD had a lot of problems similar to this dog and he did a series with her.

[@FoxbrushDraws]

Nothing is ever good enough for you all. No dog is big enough or aggressive enough. Zak is never doing enough in your eyes. Can you just stop for a second and think about what exactly you're arguing for here? You're arguing for inhumane treatment of dogs. Saying that some dogs NEED to be hurt in order to listen. That's ridiculous.

[@Loki-Rosies-mom]

I love this ❤ sadly not all fearful or aggressive dogs are able to be rehabilitated with this approach 😢

[@SysterYster]

I think most are. But many certainly won't work that fast. Some would take years, not days. But that's the main difference. My dog took over a year before we could walk past other dogs without barking and growling, and he still needs treats and positive reinforcement for it to work 1,5 years in.

[@zakgeorge]

Every dog is a case by case situation. However, using pain to address aggression never resolves underlying issues and this is what we must get away from that idea if we are to see progress in our field.

[@thankmelater1254]

@@zakgeorge You keep repeating that mantra because you don't have to see the dogs on the killing table..."the science" that vets use. It is science. You parade with that word which is meaningless as you apply it.

[@Hotdads1]

@@SysterYsterhave you tried a different method or are you only using Force Free?

[@Mike-vn3lt]

Oh man, why oh why isnt Zak saving these extreme cases that are doomed for euthanasia? It couldn't be because he hasnt the first clue as to how to do that with hot dogs. 😂😂😂

[@mellym3ow]

She is an absolute angel, the way this dog transformed is just heart warming 😭♥️ I really really feel for dogs like Magnolia, I cannot imagine people trying to meet her fearful aggression with more aggression and force... It literally shatters me to think about. Thank you for raising awareness and fighting the good fight. It's the same for all animals and humans alike - no problem can be truly resolved without understanding it's root cause.

[@luisfontanez1770]

Every case is deferent if the dog has fear it will bite. No fear it will wag its tail. A true aggressive dog might be in need of someone like dog daddy. 🤷‍♂️

[@DomiNate_1]

Sooo this is not actually a video on "How to Train Aggressive Dogs"

[@Aimeh777]

Thanks for being the voice of the poor dogs.

[@joliesummers8237]

She was just sooo scared. It seems to me you only need patience. It just takes time. Go slow on their terms. ❤😊

[@zelina6595]

So you take a high drive, high energy dog out of a kennel and give it a job /something to do and magically all "agression" disapears. That dog was never aggressive, just extremely stressed out and severely under stimulated.

[@aliciabrillante]

Thank you so much for posting this. So many positive trainers do not make videos showing how they work with the dogs. It’s necessary to see it.

[@TheHouse81]

Why don't you attend the protests you instigate? More professionalism & less immaturity/insecurity would go a long way to make you look serious & credible.

[@janetdawson7945]

Zach, I have a three month old puppy who bites me and draws blood. I have to wear sleeves to protect my arms because I have thin skin and I have holes in my fingers literally to the bone where he has bitten and his tooth has gone all the way through. I have a shock collar on him now before you scream, and I would the only time I shock him on the lowest setting is if he gets near the street the rest of the time I use the the beep function and then I may buzz him if he gets really bad, but I rarely ever use a shock function. The reason more than anything is because I have cats and he attacks them. I’m not bashing enough to protect them. He gets plenty of exercise. He bites me on my knees and my legs he puts my whole ankle in his mouth. I have no idea what to do with him, but it’s to the point that I’m starting to be afraid of him and I have got him trained to sit, down, stand, leave it except for cats I play with him constantly. He gets all of my attention. My cats are behind gates, (the inside ones)so he can’t get to them. I can’t get him to stop biting he has toys he he has ropes to tug with, we play fetch continuously to wear him out. He will not stop biting Any suggestions would be good. I probably need to find him a new home. Do you want him and be willing to drive him all the way to New Orleans. I love the dog. Percy is beautiful. I just can’t handle the pain. I hoped that he could be my companion, especially when I have surgeries and I can’t walk for a while, but if I can’t teach him to heal when I’m working, I can’t teach him to deal with an electric wheelchair either

[@jamiemcgahey6956]

And when the dog doesn’t have time ….

[@wonderbugone]

EXACTLY. Ignorant people act as if positive reinforcement is some weak, nebulous non-method where people throw treats at animals. It is in fact a science-based training method that takes the emotional cause of animals' behaviour into account and therefore produces the best, most complete results and relationship between animal and trainer through trust and only good associations. We owe nothing less than that to the animals we choose to keep with us. Thank you Zak

[@BullsBayK9]

every reactive dog is different and the reasons are complex. This also means the modification methos are also complex and one size does not fit all. Zach, when are you going to finally admit behavioral modification is outside of your capabilities? Either show us you working with aggressive dogs or be honest with your fan base. I'm tired of people coming to my channel and talking about how you would handle an aggressive dog. You're a tv personality that parrots what other people have already explored and invented and you call it revolutionary. You're essentially the Kim Kardashian of dog training.

[@zakgeorge]

No reputable credentialed organization on earth supports using pain as a communication mechanism. It’s true that every dog is different and requires a tailored approach as we demonstrate regularly in my content. However that doesn’t mean using a choke chain a prong collar or a shock collar communicate

[@Aj-qc8xr]

​@zakgeorge when are you gonna train a dog that has evidence of severe aggression, if you wanna prove a point,you should apply those skill you have to these types of dogs but you really haven't.

[@BullsBayK9]

@@zakgeorge No reputable credentialed organization on earth has a single study that proves positive only or force free methods actually work for modifying the behavior of aggressive and reactive dogs. Every study is either a survey that does not prove causation or is a case study that states that their findings are inconclusive. You believing that the purpose of shock collars and prong collars is to cause pain shows how misinformed you truly are. They can absolutely be abused in the wrong hands, but so can anything, including a regular leash as well as a strong KZbin presence with misinformation.

[@emmawills4112]

Thank you so much for these videos. I can’t express how much they’ve helped me and my boy!!

[@kbytex]

Zack man, you are an amazing trainer i love your videos! I would love to see you go to a shelter and get the most aggressive dog and rehab it! That would make amazing content and also would put down the doubt of what you are capable of! Love man! You are amazing

[@riojimatsuoka]

So... where is the aggressive dog? Dog wasn't aggressive to begin with.

[@rbd6661]

Zak is a fraud.

[@taraakins8273]

This world needs results NOW. compassion and patients aren’t things that can be rushed. That’s why ppl used physical dominance over the first option to begin with. Many professionals just don’t have the time to spend days upon days on one dog. People should be required to take classes before being responsible for another living thing. Myself included.

[@suzanned5859]

Thank you!

[@MikeStrip]

I agree completely you can get a dog that’s aggressive to completely be the best dog without any negative reinforcement. Speaking from experience! 🎉

[@JazminSants]

I adopted my dog last year he was about 3-4 months he was a very calm dog, we used to go out for walks, beach,stores, and he had any issues, we moved to a diff place I started taking him to take walks and the neighbors that I have started so run and scared him by making sound and doing faces to him, he used to run inside the house and I started to notice that was having some anger issues, I take him to the park and everywhere I go and he doesn’t bark,bite, or being aggressive, but when we are at home close to the neighbors he reacts diff he starts to bark and all

[@IvyWhiskeyDram]

I could not do what wolfmother does, i would be put of my comfort zone. But I am so glad that there are people who can step into this much needed role. But I would love to see more people like her shared, to show a positive way of helping dogs, when people believe that only negativity can "fix" a problem. And ZakGeorge clearly showing he has no problem with giving positive exposure to those who warrant it, and wolfmother clearly does. 💖

[@AspLode]

A great example of how to do it right, and I wish more people could see this. And it's really simple: You take the trainer's ego out of the equation, and magically the need to be aggressive to an animal goes away. If your human ego is in the way and you make it your priority, you have no capacity for empathy, and that's true whether you're training dogs or relating with people. Look at the backlash that has come from DD's socketpuppet "fans" - they're all aggressive, antagonistic, egotistical, and only know how to engage attacks using ego-based ad hominem and weak unprovable and unscientific conjecture. Besides, we all know the whole "magic dog trainer" thing is a big grift in the first place, terrorizing normal dogs only to pretend to 'cure' them.

[@Anna-rv3fv]

Maybe you should show your effectiveness in this field instead of smearing dog daddy 24/7. 👍🏼 there are dogs that need help and you spend most of your time causing trouble

[@jamiemcgahey6956]

She does you don’t it’s that simple……

[@ilovebillie_e]

This is an amazing video and many people need to see this!!! This method is much more effective that Dog daddy's method. His way is teaching them with abuse and never makes a relationship with the dog. This way creates an unique relationship with the dog where as DD's method is pure abuse and it just suppresses ALL of the anger and aggression. You can't teach aggression with aggression. Thank YOU SO MUCH for all you do Zak!!!! More people need to see this video it answers all the questions!!! You're amazing!!!!!!

[@PsycholicalGAINS]

great work from this trainer. and yes this is the way to go 90% of the time... but all that aggression was fear based.. this will not work with some aggressive dogs.

[@zakgeorge]

At which time we take a different approach. The point here is that we don’t need to use intentional pain as a way to modify behavior. That is really what this discussion is about in the context of current events. Far too much of the public believes that using pain with devices that are engineered to be painful like prong collars or shock collars or choke chains are at the level of professional conduct and they are not.

[@SysterYster]

Fear based aggression is the hardest kind to fix. Sooo... if it'll work 90% of the time, that's awesome since other types of aggression is easier. At least, that's what Ceasar said. And while he's not as good as I thought he was once, I think this is still true.

[@PsycholicalGAINS]

i agree pain is the last resort. but i knew someone that tried multiple trainers that all gave up on his dog and said it could not be fixed and that his dog was just not trainable and was probably genetics.. and he was very against using a shock collar.. i have never used one on any of my dogs either.. but the last trainer he tried recommended it and. and he used it to train for about a month and stopped using it. its like a completely new dog he can socialize it and let it meet knew people now.. his dog was resource guarding and had bit multiple people including him. always had to put him in the crate when family or friends came to his house.. the dog was not living a happy life. also bit one of the trainers who said he should put his dog down. so while i agree we should not use pain to train dogs. if it comes down to that or the dog getting put down its a pretty easy decision to make. i commend your stance. but just think your wrong that those tools dont have a time and place. @@zakgeorge

[@cxerphax1]

I have an agressive German Shepherd I tried to rehome and he bit a member of the foster family in the face. No shelter will touch him and have told me they will kill him same day if I drop him off. He is nice with us though.

[@adaptablerubenvideos3097]

You should probably try to think of a strategy to help the dog be less fearful of other people, muzzles can be used to prevent serious bites although it will take a good mindset, a bunch of trial and error and a few days or weeks to get it to a tolerable level

[@MCOC_AKUMA]

This is what we've been asking YOU to do. Why can't you show this?

[@christineleonard1110]

Yes they can

[@NosetoTailNourishment]

This is not true aggression, whatsoever. Very poor example. Clear reactivity, with body language indicating fearful and submissive responses - stance is pulled back, tail is low, whale eyes, ears back, etc. Please do a video with true aggression. - reactive-aggression aka rage.

[@WolfMotherK9-b1u]

This dog charged and attempted to bite at staff attempting to handle her or open the kennel door. They had to close the guillotine door to even feed her, hence why the leash is still attached after several weeks of her being at the shelter. They couldn't touch her.

[@Brunodino101]

Lmao that dog wasn’t that aggressive

[@BlueSkyDogs]

And here in lies the problem..... All your arguments are one sided. You show this video which has a very limited explanation of what the dogs behaviour actually is, there could have been myriad reasons why she was barking through that fence, none of which were mentioned and many could have been the fence itself. I love seeing people saving dogs lives. However do you ever show the other side of the story where people have tried and tried this approach to no avail and then had to fall back on some other techniques to help the dog? Don't think you do. As your approach is not balanced. However I have seen world class balanced dog trainers do exactly that. They will work their ass of with positive work first then when it doesn't work they switch it up, they will show you the BALANCE. No 1 technique is ever going to work for all dogs or animals because they are all different and have different needs. However the world class dog trainers that work with really specific cases don't only do the things that you do but they do it all, hence BALANCED!! PLEASE ZAK SHOW US ALL HOW HARD YOU PERSONALLY WORK TO KEEP DOGS ALIVE.!

[@karstentopp]

I can not agree more. Living in a shelter is akin to isolation incarceration for humans. A cruel an unusual punishment. Dogs arew social creatures, we have bred them to in teract with us. Without human interactions domestic dogs just die inside. I am on my third rescue Border Collie and this dog is the bestest dog you could wish for. I have not had a better dog and I wonder why he was let go.

[@amandawoodward4099]

Balanced trainers do the same thing. Its called establishing trust. The dog in this video wasnt "agressive" its fear, lack of confidence, lack of desensitization. Once you have established trust, you can train the dog and bring it out of it comfort zone. Balanced training isnt all prongs and ecollar. Its using what ever method fits the needs of the dog. If the dog shows that it doesnt need a prong/ e collar, then you can use all the treats and positive reinforcement.

[@cutile1472]

and yet again we can see an absolute hypocrisy and inconsistency from you george. Accodring to your own words (kzbin.infoVXM1l7Ae_VA) she is a very bad trainer and a red flag because the dog is lashing out and snapping at her. Which one is it? Is it just natural process of helping the dog or is it a red flag?

[@motavelimusic2261]

Nahh breh you got the human in her kennel being accepting, encouraging and reinforcing of her not only jumping up but lunging and nipping at the face. You are inadvertently training that dog to believe that it's okay to not only jump up on people but also okay to nip and snap at their faces. This is grossly irresponsible and is why good dogs are getting good breeds maligned with the idea that they are dangerous dog breeds. This is not a good example

[@WolfMotherK9-b1u]

The dog never nipped at faces, she would charge and snap. My concern wasn't "rude" behaviors like jumping at all, obedience isn't the focus, it is changing the way she felt about strangers, i.e., the fear driving her aggression. Jumping up on people while exhibiting affiliative responses is actually what we want to see more of at this stage. It means she feels safe and wants to engage. She gave a lot of appeasement signals during the first part of our relationship building and that included a lot of face licking and jumping/"hugging" responses. Those aren't inherently "bad" at this stage of behavior modification.

[@CharlieTheCaneCorso]

Zack George needs to have his hardrive checked he looks the sort that could be a danger to small children and animals

[@tomasthonell5445]

Yes! this is how you do it!

[@kenanderson2002]

I have a question. I am 40 years old, and recently I let my 74 year old uncle come to live with me. Initially I was hesitant because I really don't like his Boston Terrier... but the dog is literally the only thing my uncle still has so I agreed. They've been here for a year now. I work from home, so I'm home all the time. My uncle is becoming senile so he's here all the time too. His horrible little dog's name is "little asshole" (I am serious.. it's the only thing the dog answers to) and EVERY SINGLE TIME he sees me or hears me, he growls and barks and shows his teeth. He snipped at me twice and a third time he bit me as I was walking by. When he bit me, I hit him so hard I thought I killed him.. but I swear, it was a reflex to him biting me and not letting go. He was swinging like you see a lion do when it catches a zebra. It's the only time I ever hit him. He's loud, he barks all the time and neighbors continually complain. I don't blame them. So, I have basically confined myself IN MY OWN HOME to my bedroom and office. But I refuse to allow the dog to try to dominate. When I do come out, he growls, barks, and the hair on his spine sticks straight up. I've threatened to call the police and have the dog euthanized, I've threatened to kick them out, I've threatened to send him to the pound. I even told my uncle if something happens to him, I'd call the pound to come get him before I call my uncle an ambulance. At night, Little Asshole is the most aggressive. He also has these moments of extreme aggression, when it looks like his eyes are glazed over and he just stands & softly barks about every 5 seconds. That lasts for about 2-3 minutes. If my uncle says anything, the dog snaps at him. His arms are full of bite marks. What can I do to stop Little Asshole from being a giant asshole? I assume he's trying to tell me he's in charge but I will not allow it... after all, it's MY house and home! I swear, I can't take much more of this.

[@ItsMeShrimpy]

Didn’t show any how to training

[@FalkorsTale]

(heavy sarcasm font) OMG It Took DAYS! Who wants to put that kind of time into a Dog! People, stop thinking there's an easy, magic fix for everything. If you take the time to do it right in the first place, you'll never have these issues. There's no such thing as a bad dog, just stupid, impatient, ignorant humans.

[@karenallen5208]

I have two chihuahuas; one of them is 12 years old and weighs 6 lbs. The other I got as a puppy; she's now 2-1/2 years old and weighs 17 lbs. When she witnesses a neighbor outside or especially another dog, she turns aggressive and attacks my 6 lb. older dog. I have no clue how to stop this behavior. I've had her since she was a 6 week pup and have treated her with love and pampering. Any suggestions? She's got me at my wit's end with this behavior.

[@bourboncat9229]

This dog would be a full in a working dog program

[@roberttacorbett5795]

What is the best way to stop leash pulling with an aggressive dog?

[@deultima]

Simply amazing.

[@CharlieTheCaneCorso]

This dog was aggressive in sacks opinion but not in reality

[@romeofabian8102]

While DD makes dogs uncomfortable for a few minutes, Saharai stressed the dog out for days. How is this a better approach?

[@zakgeorge]

False equivalency. One method actually addressed the underlying causes of fear. The other triggered stress responses that caused a dog to shut down without actually addressing the underlying cause. Very common question and misconception. Thanks for asking.

[@romeofabian8102]

@@zakgeorge it’s most definitely is not a false equivalency. Feeding a scared dog isn’t addressing the underlying cause. Only the dog and the previous owner know the cause. The fact is the dog is scared of humans, so forcing it near you with a leash or behind bars is going to cause the same amount of stress. I thought you were all about not getting a dog over threshold? Isn’t that why we’ve never seen you with an aggressive dog? 🤡

[@romeofabian8102]

*feeding a scared dog isn’t addressing the underlying cause any more than pulling a scared dog towards you with a leash.

[@alishal6031]

You’re creating a positive association between the human and a dog. The dog has had negative experiences with humans which is why they are lashing out and the way to combat that is to teach the dog that they don’t need to be scared of humans. What the DD does is create something called “learned helplessness” where the dog learns that no matter what they do, they can’t win so they shut down and give up. While outwardly, they are obedient, it isn’t addressing the underlying emotional cause for the behavior of lashing out. Remember, behavior is the result of emotions. When people yell, it’s because they feel angry, or excited based on the situation but it stems from a feeling. Or when people cry, it’s because they feel sad so it’s the same thing here. Behavior is an expression of emotion.

[@romeofabian8102]

@@zakgeorge oh and she most definitely triggered stress responses in the dog. She also caused the dog to shut down because the dog learned that no matter how much she tried to get the human away from her kennel, the human did not go away. So…wrong again Zak.

[@qazzxcv11]

We will try to get ZACK back on his path before he comes completely unhinged and becomes a victim of what he is melding out to others