My father always trained our dogs believing in the theory that you had to show them who was boss. This was in the 70s and 80s. He was never abusive to them, but we had choke chains, and they would have been smacked on the nose etc for doing wrong.
We had dogs that were very strong characters, probably not very tolerant, snappy with other people, not great with other dogs. In fact at one stage we had 2 spayed bitches together who fought viciously with each other. However, they were obedient and they obeyed his every command.
Now when I look back though, I know why they were snappy and intolerant and to a certain degree, I may even see why they fought the way they did.
They didn't do things for my dad out of respect, as such. They were doing it out of fear - imo.
Unfortunately he is still like this. He expects Honey to do what he says and mostly she does. She does approach him herself, but she is licking, wagging, pawing him - all signs of stress. When she is near me and he approaches, she growls at him. She isn't protecting me, she is fearful of him.
He cannot understand the way I train her, but he knows I get results and they have seen the improvement in her.
He still insists she thinks she isn't a dog
He adores Honey in his own way, but he thinks dogs should be dominated. I can see how that kind of treatment affects her and know how she would react to that kind of treatment, and it wouldn't be positive.
