Does your dog snarl, growl, nip, or even bite you when being combed or touched? If so, this video, although long, is a demonstration on how to desensitize and counter condition your dog to an object he habitually aggresses towards.

Bear could not be combed by his owners. The mere sight of a brush had him growling and nipping in defense. Vet and grooming visits became a nightmare for all involved. Wearing a muzzle became the safest and only route to take.

Counterconditioning is an arduous task and an extremely slow process. Patience is key as any rush during the process can prove to be counterproductive. The biggest lesson out of the entire process is in knowing that when a dog is successfully defiant in one facet, he will continue to push boundaries in all others, just to see how successful he can be in designing his own set of rules.

Aggression works. Until it doesn’t. And it’s up to you to stop it before it generalizes to anything that causes your dog concern.