Vic Barlow, a dog trainer with 32 years of experience, warns that what many owners call 'play' between dogs is actually fighting. He received a call from a distressed owner whose three-year-old boxer had suddenly become aggressive, attacking another dog in the park. The owner also had a young West Highland terrier, and when asked how they got along, she said they 'play' by running around the garden and jumping on each other.
Barlow explains that pack animals don't 'play'—they practice fighting. He points to puppy litters as an example: they search for leverage to flip each other over and apply pressure with their teeth to gain an advantage. Owners misinterpret this as play, but it's fighting behavior that can escalate.
Teaching Discipline: Keep Your Dog Focused on You
For owners with multiple dogs, Barlow stresses the importance of teaching appropriate behavior. Jumping on another dog, 'play' biting, and wrestling should never be tolerated. He trains his own dogs to be relaxed and calm and never interfere with another dog.
Barlow emphasizes that simply letting a dog run loose is not training. He recounts a story of a woman in a field near his home who had a golden retriever-collie cross named Jack. She would pretend to throw a ball in one direction, then hide it in another. Jack stayed focused on her, even walking through a group of cows without taking his eye off his owner.
Be the Best Game in Town
Not all dogs are the same, but with encouragement, owners can find something their dog enjoys. Barlow mentions a Chihuahua he owned that loved running and outran heavier dogs without tiring. The key is for the dog to see the owner as the 'Best Game In Town'—then the dog will follow.
Barlow has trained more than 4,500 dogs over 32 years. He says, "After all this time communicating directly with dogs I can honestly say I have never met a dog I could not help. Owners, however are a little more difficult and need to learn how dogs really communicate." He encourages owners to understand dogs' minds and communication to open a new world.
For those interested, Barlow offers a Saturday morning class. Contact him at 075905 60012 or follow him on Facebook for daily updates.
