Fear Agression

Recently I spoke with a woman who has a fear agressive dog which brought me back to the days when I realized I had a dog like that. It is a challenge and it is hard work mostly because you have to get out everyday and do social training and you never know who is going to run up to you to pet your dog. You have to learn to read not only people signals but, not be afraid to yell at a child to "stop" when you are out in the park or whatever and they run at you.
That said, I really love my dog and his problems made me a better person. It gave me courage to speak up, and not be afraid. I learned to be the leader who not only is incharge but, watches out for their charges.
I remember being scared and not knowing much about how to help him. I dug in, went to the library and got books, read as much as I could and took him to different classes to expose him to new places and challenges. It was a ton of work and I do still have to keep up with it. I try to bring him on errands as much as I can and try to get him out of the car so he can face things a little more head on. I walked around an elementary school yard every week for a school year to get him ok with kids. It is something that makes me proud to have him be pretty much ok with people,places and situations now. From time to time I still use his gentle leader for more confidence but, I don't like to rely on "tools" much at all.
I am also proud to say he has competed in his first couple conformation dog shows which I had feared a year ago that he would never be ready for. They are looked at and touched in ways which make most dogs uncomfortable but, because of our training he was great.
It makes me sad to think that some people will give up on their fearful "shy" dogs because they can't seem to work passed the big obstacles. It helps that I am stubborn and that there is nothing I love more than dogs. Sorry family but, you know this, I can't help who I was born as. I know my shyness started him out on the wrong path which is why I was so dedicated to making things work and now everytime I see my breed friends and my breeder herself, they all tell me how proud they are and how far we have come and what a wonderful job I have done. I am more proud of those compliments than of any others I have earned in my life because I know I worked this out with my dog and we have a great relationship because of the work we have done. Now that is something I wouldn't mind a blue ribbon for. Maybe when I become a trainer I can give those out to the achieving teams. Here we come CGC that is a title I will get one day. It will be another big milestone, especially the walking by a dog (he loves them too much if that is possible)