Aggression in Dogs Workshop
Michael Shikashio, CDBC, is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals from around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal
Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and was the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Member of the Year in 2020.
Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News, The List TV, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World. He also hosts the popular podcast show “The Bitey End of the Dog” where he chats with the foremost experts on dog aggression. He has been a featured keynote speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars in more than 200 cities and 14 different countries around the world, and offers a variety of educational opportunities on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course and the annual Aggression in Dogs Conference.
Topics Of Discussion
Precursors to Aggression – Dog Body Language
What are the signals that come before the growling, snarling, snapping, lunging, and biting? We will explore the subtle precursors, as well as advanced concepts in dog body language.
This session is excellent for both dog guardians, as well as dog pros!
Arousal and Aggression – What does “arousal” have to do with aggressive behaviors in dogs? In some cases, arousal can be the catalyst for an intense, aggressive response, and can be directed at something a dog may not even be focused on. We may also see cases where a dog in a highly aroused state “spills over” into aggressive behavior.
Mike will first define this often-controversial topic and discuss why it is crucial to consider arousal as a factor in aggression cases. Prevention, management, and behavior change strategies will be highlighted!
Dog to Human Aggression Cases: Behavior Change in Action –
Mike will be showcasing real case studies, with video, demonstrating successful resolutions from start to finish with dogs who have a history of aggression. From safety to management to prognosis to behavior change — this presentation covers it all and highlights each step of the way through actual aggression cases!
*It is recommended the “Understanding Dog Aggression” session listed above (60 minutes) come before this session.
Sleeping with the Enemy – Dog Aggression Directed at Someone You Love –
Did you just bring a new dog home and now your furry, cuddly addition is showing aggression towards your partner? Or maybe your dog has lived with you for some time and is suddenly being aggressive towards someone in your family? Perhaps your dog displays aggression when you and your partner show affection to, or even approach one another?
If the answer is yes, this presentation is for you!
Michael will discuss the reasons for this frustrating and stressful type of aggression. He will also highlight management strategies for these difficult situations where the dog and people are living together 24/7! And most importantly, Michael will outline effective behavior change techniques to encourage harmonious outcomes in these cases.
Intra-Household Dog to Dog Aggression –
Dogs that live under the same roof and fight with one another can be one of the most difficult types of aggression cases to work with, let alone live with! Behavior change plans for working with intra-household dog to dog aggression, with real case examples, will be showcased in this session.
“No! That’s MY Owner!” Helping Dogs That Fight Over Their Owner –How can we help dogs that compete over resources when the resource is the owner? This presentation will focus on restoring harmony between dogs who have a history of conflicts over their owner’s attention. Michael will review the setups for safety when working these cases, discuss the behavior change strategies that are most effective, and feature videos of these techniques in action.
He will highlight how stationing behaviors can be incredibly helpful in these scenarios, as well as discuss when to incorporate operant vs. classical conditioning, and vice versa.
Avoiding the Bitey End of the Dog – Defensive Handling and Leash Skills –
This session will be all about leash skills, strategies, and equipment to incorporate to ensure safety for yourself, other people, and other animals when working with dogs who have a history of aggression.
*Breakout session with hands-on practice using stuffed dogs (or working in pairs)
Staying Safe in Aggression Cases –
Dog bites can present serious ramifications, especially when under the supervision of a dog training professional. Before working an aggression case, it is crucial to ensure safety for all involved by setting the environment incorporating best practices. Proficiency in the requisite defensive handling techniques is also critical to mitigating disastrous outcomes.
Michael will be discussing the consequences that can occur when dogs bite; the safety considerations to have in place before working an aggression case; and a variety of defensive handling skills that can be employed in emergency scenarios.
When SECs Happen. Proactive Handling for Sudden Environmental Contrasts –
The dreaded “SEC!” We’ve all been there — a provocative stimulus suddenly appears in the environment, and the dog we are handling explodes with barking, growling, and lunging!
In this presentation, Michael will highlight proactive handling techniques as well as ancillary measures to set the stage for success when in contexts where SECs are likely to happen.
Proactivity is always better than reactivity in these cases, and Michael will be showcasing a variety of handling skills that can help dogs and their handlers in areas that can be fraught with challenges!