Aggressive Dog Training – What Philosophers and Saints Teach us about Trust

Michael Baugh CDBC

We want to trust our dogs. It’s hard when they have a history of aggressive outbursts, though. Many of my clients tell me, “I don’t want to worry all the time.” I understand that. Our trust returns as our dog’s behavior changes.

I think our dogs want to trust us, too. We control so much of their lives, the people they encounter, the sights and sounds, and the spaces they have to navigate. How our dogs make choices depends on how we set up their environment.

Can our dog trust us?

St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, teaches us that we build trust with actions. “Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” St. Francis echoes the philosophers Aristotle and the Buddha, who also taught compassionate action to build and nurture trust.

When we are helping fearful and aggressive dogs, we are teaching them they are safe. This is sometimes hard. Many dogs have a history of being betrayed or hurt. The world and the humans in it have not been safe for them. If we follow the wisdom of ancient philosophers and saints, we begin with simple, patient acts, and transformation follows naturally. Trainers and dog guardians don’t change a dog’s behavior. Our compassion creates a space for them to change themselves.

Here are some dos and don’ts.

🚫 Don’t punish your dog for having feelings. Be safe and limit your dog’s ability to hurt someone or himself. But scolding or physically hurting your dog never helps.

🚫 Don’t bribe your dog into a scary situation using food. I see this most often when people use treats to lure their dogs closer to new people, or worse yet, the veterinarian.

🚫 Don’t rush. Avoid demanding behaviors you haven’t taught yet or that are too hard to perform in stressful situations. This can make your dog’s fear and aggressive displays worse.

✅ Use food to teach reliable, calm behavior. Dogs love patterns for navigating tough situations.

✅ Gently support your dog through challenges. It helps.

✅ Practice routines in low-stress situations and build the difficulty level gradually. (see “Don’t Rush” above).

“Not to hurt our humble brethren [the animals] is our first duty to them; but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it.” – St. Francis of Assisi

You are your dog’s safe place. Keep that in mind as you go. Yes, living with a dog who has big feelings is stressful. I walk that path with my clients every day. But here is what else is true. Our dogs, especially our dogs with emotional challenges, have so much to teach us. They make us better people, more patient, more compassionate. Smarter. They teach us how to walk the earth more lightly, more lovingly. With them. With each other.

Michael Baugh specializes in aggressive dog training. He is an avid student of dogs and the human condition.

 

What is Person Centered Dog Training?

Michael Baugh CDBC

Person-centered dog training begins with an idea from psychologist Carl Rogers, one of the founders of humanistic psychology. Rogers believed people have a natural capacity for growth and change, and that the right relationship can bring it out. He first called his approach client-centered therapy and later referred to it as person-centered therapy. Instead of the expert “fixing” the client, Rogers taught that clients themselves can guide their own progress when met with empathy, acceptance, and authenticity.

I’ve studied Carl Rogers for over thirty years. His contributions are more than a series of techniques. In fact, he referred to the person-centered approach as a “way of being.” And his influence extended far beyond the therapist-client relationship. Rogers taught his person-centered way of being to health care providers, parents, educators, and even world leaders. Today, person-centered techniques are the norm in all forms of therapy, and we see their impact in business leadership, ministry, and coaching.

What is most important about the person-centered way of being?

Relationship is everything. Whether it’s a therapist and a client, a teacher and a student, a father and a son, a doctor and a patient, or a dog behavior consultant and a dog guardian, their relationship is the intervention. That’s a bold statement. But if we remember the foundational idea that humans have an innate capacity for growth and change, it’s easy to see how the right learning relationship and environment can make that happen.

What makes a person-centered relationship work?

  • Empathy — deeply understanding another’s internal world and communicating that understanding. Empathy is an early twentieth-century translation of the German word Einfühlung, which literally means “in-feeling.” We could say we are feeling into our client’s experience.
  • Unconditional Positive Regard — accepting the other person without judgment or conditions, affirming their worth regardless of behavior. This can be hard.
  • Congruence (authenticity) — in our discussion, this is the dog behavior consultant being genuine and transparent, rather than hiding behind a professional or social façade. We trainers sometimes struggle with this. Let’s own our expertise. Let’s also show up with a healthy dose of humor and humility. Be you. It’s enough.

What are the challenges of person-centered dog training?

In psychotherapy, clients find their own way to solutions with the help of the person-centered relationship. Remember, the relationship is the thing.

In education, teachers create an environment with resources, but the learners guide their own experience. This was revolutionary in the mid-twentieth century, and the ideas live on today.

Dog training is rarely this self-directed. We’re used to giving clients a list of tasks, with a right and wrong way to do each one. Too often, we:

  • Dismiss clients’ training ideas.
  • Criticize their past attempts (even when some were successful).
  • Insist on rigid “trainer-approved” methods.

That kind of teaching wrecks the trainer–client relationship. It’s also the opposite of a person-centered approach.

How does a person-centered dog trainer make room for client self-direction?

We show up with empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard. We’re not perfect, but we are ourselves. From that place, we help clients gain the skills and knowledge they need to work with their dogs, and to solve problems on their own.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

  • Let clients set their own goals. It’s their dog, not yours.
  • Honor their skills and experience. Ask what has worked and what hasn’t. Build on the good, set aside the rest.
  • Share new dog training skills as options. Explain why you think they may help, then let clients choose which to learn.
  • Offer resources. Point clients to videos, articles, or handouts so they can learn independently.
  • Encourage creativity. Ask what the client has tried, reinforce smart solutions, and integrate them into the plan. (One client showed me how mat training diffused an object-guarding problem. It was brilliant.)
  • Celebrate wins. Clients will want to give you credit, but keep the focus on them. They did the work. You provided the relationship and environment for learning to happen.

Carl Rogers’ person-centered approach reminds us that people learn and grow best in relationships built on empathy, acceptance, and authenticity. When we apply this to dog training, we empower our clients to take ownership of their learning, to make choices, to become fully involved. If all this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been teaching dogs like this for years, some of us for decades.

“I feel enriched when I can truly prize or care for or love another person and when I can let that feeling flow out to that person.” (Rogers, A Way of Being, 1980). My dear prized trainer friends, this is why we get up each morning. We change dogs’ lives; we save them sometimes. And we are doing the same for our fellow humans. Let that sink in. Smile on it. This is who we are.

Michael Baugh teaches dog training and dog trainers in Houston Texas. He specializes in aggressive dog training.

The Holidays Aren’t Always Fun for Dogs

We love the holidays. There’s food, family, laughter, and traditions that make the season special. But here’s something we sometimes forget: while we’re enjoying the festivities, our dogs might be quietly thinking, “What on earth is going on around here?”

Routines Get Messy

Dogs love predictability. Breakfast at the usual time, walks on schedule, cozy evenings in their favorite spot—that’s their happy place. The holidays can throw all of that out the window. Suddenly, the doorbell’s ringing nonstop, people are staying up late, and your dog’s dinner might be hours later than usual. To them, it feels like their world is upside down.

Crowds, Noise, and… a Tree in the Living Room?

Imagine being a dog and seeing your humans bring a whole tree indoors, cover it with lights, and then act like that’s completely normal. Add in loud music, clinking glasses, and a house full of strangers. For some dogs, that’s thrilling. For others, it’s overwhelming or even scary.

And those guests? Some might not know the rules. Kids may want to hug or chase the dog. Adults may sneak them table scraps. Your dog is left trying to figure out what’s safe, what’s not, and where they can go to breathe.

The Food Temptations

We all know holiday tables are loaded with rich, delicious food. Dogs know it too. Problem is, much of it isn’t safe for them. Chocolate, grapes, alcohol, and even turkey bones can cause serious harm. Your dog doesn’t know that; they just smell heaven coming from the kitchen.

What You Can Do for Your Dog

The good news is, a few small steps can make the holidays easier for your pup:

  • Keep routines steady whenever possible. Meals and walks on time are a gift of comfort.

  • Give them a safe retreat. A quiet room for your dog with their bed and toys can be a lifesaver when things get hectic.

  • Watch the food. Tempting as it is, keep the holiday goodies out of reach.

  • Advocate for them. Not all dogs like hugs, costumes, or crowds. It’s okay to say, “Let’s give the dog a break.”

The Best Gift of All

At the heart of it, the holidays are about love and connection. For our dogs, love looks like consistency, safety, and understanding. They don’t care about gifts under the tree. Our dogs just want to know we’ve got their back, even when the house is buzzing with activity.

So this holiday season, while you’re spreading cheer, take a moment to notice how your dog is doing. Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give them is a little peace and quiet.