When Is a Dog Truly Dangerous?
A Professional Trainer’s Perspective on Serious Aggression (Sam The Dog Trainer’s Perspective on Serious Canine Aggression and Abnormal Aggression) My Background Dealing With Dangerous Dog Cases After over 25 years working with dogs — from puppies to dogs with serious bite histories — I’ve learned that the question owners fear most isn’t “Will my dog […]
Resource Guarding in Dogs: Normal vs Fear-Based (Why It Matters)
There are two completely different phenomena that all get called “resource guarding in dogs.” The first is a behavioral disturbance that needs to be fixed. The second is addressed with proper training and management. Real-life examples I have worked with Case Type 1: A friendly young Labrador suddenly becomes frightened of the owner’s adult son […]
Hidden Pain, Hidden Trauma, and Hidden Dangers: The Real Drivers of Canine Aggression – Why “Sudden” Bites Are Almost Never Sudden
Why Rescue Dogs Bite Suddenly – Hidden Pain & Trauma Explained LEGAL DISCLAIMER – READ THIS FIRSTThis article is for general educational purposes only. It is not veterinary advice, not behavioral treatment advice, and not a substitute for professional medical or behavioral evaluation. Sam Basso is a professional dog trainer, not a veterinarian and not a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB). Aggressive […]
Dog Training: 100% Housetrained Video
Hi, I’m Sam the Dog Trainer. I’ve been training dogs for nearly 30 years, and I’m here to help you with your dog. It is so frustrating because your dog keeps peeing and pooping in your home… your poor dog still doesn’t understand that pottying in the home is unacceptable. Yes, I know you’ve tried […]
Dogs And Planting The Seeds Of Destruction
I was watching another one of those dog training videos that pop up in my social media feed. In this case, it was of a well-known dog trainer being rough with a puppy. This guy is known for using a lot of force on dogs. It is easy to use a lot of force when […]
Training French Bulldogs
I have trained a lot of French Bulldogs. I think the first one I trained would have been about 25 years ago. I was hired to give them a housetraining lesson. About 10 to 15 minutes in, I stopped the lesson. Something was wrong. The dog kept pacing and panting looking very upset. I started […]
Assessing Your Dog’s Level Of Training
When training a dog, it is a good idea to categorize the level of training the dog has completed. I use the similar terminology that hunting dog trainers use. I see people ask novice dogs to do advanced skills and get upset because they think the dog is “disobeying”. If you know the level, then […]
Is Your Dog Really Getting Trained?
Contemporary dog training landscapes reveal a predominance of programs emphasizing restrictive management techniques, such as prolonged confinement to a mat or cot, suppression of leash reactivity through shutdown protocols, or superficial activities like platform balancing and basic luring. In the Behavioral And Sensory Stimulation Optimization (BASSO) Method, which prioritizes ethologically informed enrichment to fulfill a […]
Project Dog: Fearful Chihuahua
Here is one of my students and her Chihuahua. Adopted from a rescue, with an unknown history, this dog started out with very little to work with: fearful of humans but playful with the family dogs; mild interest in treats; mild interest in playing fetch with the owner; afraid of being touched by a human, […]
Dogs And Americans With Disabilities
I’ve seen a lot of dog things over the years. Some stick in my memory and represent significant discoveries. First, I participated in group classes with my first dog after I graduated from the University. The best trained dog in class was a male Schipperke. The owner? A young woman with Cerebral Palsy. Guess what? […]