The ABC's of dog training

[nottaotter]

Can someone explain to me the ABC's of dog training?

Also if you are using treats to desensitise to something are you changing the dogs emotional state or can you end up rewarding the current (eg fear/over excited) emotional state?

They play to rehearse their natural behaviours one of which is fighting, but it is rehearsal rather than aggression. As long as the body language is relaxed, and they are equitable, I.e. they take turns, then I would leave them to it and see what happens. If it looks like it's becoming too heated, then you can always separate for a time out. Just watch for signs that any of them are becoming overstimulated, or that one is getting tired of the interaction.

Maybe call them to you periodically and make them sit for a reward each?

Also with the door situation practice it without any of the other dogs around. Sit reward, wait reward, release and reward.

Over time build up the duration - then add in the distractions of the other dogs.

Teach the behaviour first and then proof it!

Oh yes, my two (10 year old GSDxGR and 4 month old lab) play fight all the time. The puppy hangs from the big dog's jowls, then the big dog takes the puppy down by the ankle, then puppy shoves her entire head inside big dog's jaws, then I tell them to settle down and big dog looks guilty...then they start again! But over time, we're seeing more and more settled behaviour, which we wouldn't see if we didn't let them have their moments of madness.