So the old dog in the blog title is me, not my 9-year-old pups. I’ve admitted this before and I’m here to admit it again: I am not a perfect pet parent. And as dog savvy as I am, I’m also not a dog whisperer. But I know where to find one when I need one.

Gonzo and Ninja on the sofa.

Nine years ago, just a few months after we adopted Gonzo, he began exhibiting less than stellar behavior. In fact, he was lunging at people when they came in the house- including kids. And my kids were young at the time, so it was scary. My friend, Sam, told me about an animal behaviorist (she called her a dog whisperer) who had helped her with her newly adopted Golden Retriever. So I called Teka, of k9 Toddlers in LA, who came to our home to investigate.

Teka saw Gonzo’s body language and our body language and she taught us how to show him who is boss (lovingly of course), which is what he needed. He needed to feel secure and know his place in the pack. She also gave us a slew of helpful tips to help him, and help keep visitors safe. (Hint: He goes into the crate when the doorbell rings. When the energy in the house has settled, we introduce the newcomer to Gonzo, assuming the visitor actually wants to meet our nutty dog. Gonzo must sit and then he’s rewarded with a treat.) He’s still an insecure dog but we love him and we’ve got a system that works.

Seven years ago, Ninja joined our family and he and Gonzo have been buddies since day one. Every once in a while they’ll get into a scuffle, but up until recently, it hasn’t been an issue. A few months ago, however, they starting fighting regularly.  The fights usually start when food is involved, or sometimes they’re over who gets to sit near me on the sofa, and it’s exhausting. To me it appeared that Gonzo was being aggressive. My son, Zander thought Ninja was starting it somehow. But Ninja has this really goofy innocent look on his face and I didn’t think so.

Then came the big fight. While Zander and I were pulling them apart, both of their collars came off and my son got bitten in the fray. Just a small bite, but that was the last straw. It was time to call Teka again. 

Gonzo and Ninja on guest bed.

The minute she walked in the door, she could see what was going on. Both dogs would sit in front of her but Ninja was using his body to take up more space and push Gonzo out of the way. I had never noticed it before. It’s subtle dog language. Basically, when Ninja does this, Teka explained, he’s poking Gonzo. Gonzo will move aside for a while, and then when he can’t take it anymore he lunges at Ninja. He’s just been pushed over the edge. It’s actually fascinating once you break down the dynamic. And vice versa, when Gonzo is on the sofa taking up space and not allowing Ninja up, he’s poking. But for the most part, Zander was right! Ninja is not as innocent as he appears.

Gonzo taking care of Ninja.

Teka taught us how to use our bodies to move the dogs away from food areas, or away from under the chair while we eat, or off the sofa. Dog behavior is not like training where you ask them to do a command and they do it and get rewarded. Instead, it’s understanding what they are doing and then learning how to respond in their language.

Now we are proactive and we decide who can sit where when. Every once in a while one of them will try and exert power but for the most part, we’re wiser to their ways and can mitigate any situation before it escalates. They really do love each other- they snuggle all day long (as evidenced by their photos). They’re just dogs and doing their dog thing and it’s our responsibility as humans to learn their language to keep them and ourselves safe and happy.

I’m so grateful for Teka. She’s been a blessing to our family multiple times now. If you are in the LA area and need an animal behaviorist, contact her at: teka@k9toddlers.com If you are out of the area, search for a dog behaviorist in your community.