I got my first one when I was 13 and had no preconceptions or knowledge about the breed at all.
Simply didn’t know better and I suppose that sort of translated to “confidence” around them.
Far as I knew, a dog was a dog was a dog...LOL
The second Dobe, I went to the library, checked out a book and trained my first “man stopper”.
Didn’t know I “couldn’t do that myself” so I did, anyway.
Got into dog psychology in the 80’s during the Dobe rescue stint because some of their issues were mental trauma stuff and needed to go beyond the usual obedience training.
I have a real “way with animals” [thank God!] else I’d probably be dead ten times over already...:)
When Odin started his first thyro craziness, I know he was frustrated that I didn’t back down or react in fear like he thought I should.
I actually said to him “HA! I’ve trained man killers! I’ve kept multiple intact males together! You gonna have to do better than *that*!”
I know he didn’t understand the words but he understood the “ain’t impressed” attitude.
I don’t consider myself a “tough” trainer.
More like determined, immutable and I never back down.
When I want something from a dog, I *will* get it.
I know how to head fake them with my version of dog body language which is probably the best I can say for myself, really.
When two of them are bickering to the point where it starts to look scary, I just wade in and stand there between them.
It freaks them out and they cease and desist.
It’s how wild canids defuse pack altercations.
*Rarely* does one pack member bite or even touch another.
It’s all a very stylized, often noisy pas de guerre.
You just gotta know how and when to cut in on the dance.
;D
The very definition of a ‘tough dog’ trainer.
Tough dogs are not for the faint of heart. I was warned about Akitas and told in no uncertain terms that these dogs would require constant vigilance and if I was not prepared to do the work to go and get a Golden.
My wife and I went into it eyes open and we had wonderful dogs.
True, our male had to be monitored or crated when children were in the house but not because he was vicious, he was competitive.
If you couldn’t stand on your own, well he would bump you and you would fall down. Nothing beyond that but still scary to many.
On the other hand at 8 months (and 80+ lbs) with no training he saved my wife an unpleasant time with a customer. She was doing custom sewing out of the house and when a customer came over she would put him in his crate with only the bottom of the door latched.
This customer got loud and pushy until Takeo appeared and looked at him. No growl or bark just the ‘look’. My wife said the guy beat it out of the house so fast he didn’t even close the door.
All the trouble we had with him previous to that point was paid in full. He was a handful.
At three months I was ready to have BBQ with him as the entree but my wife resisted. We contacted a guy named Bill Murphy (a trainer of tough dogs). He specialized in schutzen and Malenois, Shepards, dobies and the like.
He was expensive but in his first minute with Takeo he cured the incessant mouthing, I couldn’t believe it.
Bill also insisted that we learn everything as he went along so I was present at every lesson. He liked our dog. Takeo was instantly obedient to normal tone commands after some time with Bill. A great dog and a great trainer.
Our female dog was the opposite. She loved everything and everybody (Yes, an Akita).
The funny thing was though in her 13 1/2 years on earth she was only challenged once. It was an insane dog goaded by his master.
At the beach or the dog park as soon as we came in a bunch of dogs would run up and she just ignored them. They would sniff and circle and then look for a minute and then run off. She never turned a hair. She was the queen and she knew it.
She was so smart she learned what you wanted her to do practically instantly. One or two reps was all it took and she got it. Then she would rarely if ever do it again. Come and heel were the only commands she would respond to reliably. She didn’t care about food, she could not be bribed or forced.
Both gone now. Wonderful experience.