Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell turns to the subject of managing and training what she labels “Power Dogs.” This grouping includes dozens of breeds who were originally bred to hunt game or to protect people and their property, many of whom were also employed as fighting dogs. These are physically strong dogs relative to their size, usually with a mix of ancient Mastiff and Bulldog ancestry, and some have more recently been bred to Terriers as well. These dogs tend to be protective, tenacious, and often exhibit aggression toward other dogs, but at the same time are playful, energetic and smart.
So what are the secrets to successful Power Dog ownership? First you need to know your individual dog’s traits and drives and then adopt a proactive management program to avoid situations where problems may arise. Second is to adopt training techniques which allow your dog to be rewarded consistently for behavior you want to reinforce and remove rewards from behaviors you want to discourage. These two strategies will help you empower your dog to make the right decisions and make him a well trained companion dog!
