Chapter 124: Refusal to Submit to Discipline

Zhang Congwen’s attitude was naturally not born out of a desire to vent his anger at the dog’s owners simply because he had been bitten. Rather, he understood that when a dog is in a frenzied state, having its owners approach it would not calm the animal down; instead, it would only incite even greater aggression. The consequence of such an intervention would likely be Zhang Congwen getting bitten again. The reasoning behind this is quite simple and reflects a common saying: a dog relies on its master’s power to bully others.

Despite the blood continuously flowing from his wound, Zhang Congwen did not loosen his grip on the golden retriever for a moment. Only when the dog had completely calmed down did he carefully rise, taking precautions against the dog suddenly lunging at him again. Fortunately, the dog remained settled, and no such incident occurred.

After briefly tending to his wound, Zhang Congwen resumed the training. The procedure remained the same: he first had to muzzle the retriever to prevent further biting. This time, however, it was not Geng Qiufei but Zhang Congwen himself who applied the muzzle. Geng Qiufei was clearly terrified of his own dog, and this fearful demeanor would only fuel the golden retriever’s arrogance. It was safer for Zhang to handle it himself.

As Zhang Congwen held the dog’s collar with one hand and attempted to fit the muzzle with the other, the retriever, refusing to submit, suddenly jerked its head and sent the muzzle flying. Having already fought the dog, Zhang was familiar with its offensive patterns. The moment the retriever reacted, he executed a shoulder throw, pinning it to the ground and quickly subduing it once more. He picked up the muzzle and gently rubbed it against the dog’s head, allowing it to become accustomed to the sensation. A minute later, Zhang placed the muzzle on the ground, aligned the opening with the dog’s snout, and pressed down firmly on its head, forcing the muzzle onto its face. Only then was he able to secure it properly.

It was clear that this golden retriever was highly intelligent and understood how to read the room. Once its most dangerous weapon was sealed, it became docile.

"It is very clever," Zhang Congwen explained. "It isn’t being obedient now because it has submitted to me or fears me; it’s because it knows the current situation is unfavorable. Before being muzzled, it knew perfectly well that it could get what it wanted by growling and biting. Since this tactic had always been invincible against you in the past, that is how it ended up this way."

Zhang added, "Do not let it on the sofa anymore. In a dog’s eyes, the sofa is a symbol of status; allowing it up there easily leads it to believe it is the master of the house."

After these instructions, Zhang handed the leash back to Geng Qiufei, asking him to walk the dog around the living room. To Geng’s embarrassment, however, the retriever remained entirely uncooperative; no matter how hard he pulled, the dog would not budge. Seeing this, Zhang instructed Geng to try a different method: hold the leash in his right hand while using his left to gently press down on the dog’s rump, signaling it to sit. The golden retriever remained indifferent.

Jiang Ping, standing nearby, asked, "We’ve never trained it in this way before. Could it be that it doesn't understand what we mean?"

Zhang Congwen sighed. "Given its level of intelligence, it is impossible for it not to understand. It’s acting this way not out of ignorance, but because it refuses to obey its owner's commands. Simply put, it still doesn't respect your authority. When dealing with a dog like this, you cannot be polite—you must demonstrate a firm attitude."

Geng Qiufei grasped the meaning behind Zhang’s words. He pressed down firmly, and the golden retriever sat instantly. Geng and Jiang Ping were pleasantly surprised.

"Does this mean the dog is trained?" Jiang Ping asked. "If we persist with this attitude, will it change?"

Zhang Congwen sighed again. "Not yet. Reducing your indulgence is the right start, and you should also take it out more often to socialize with other dogs. However, it is still too early for that. It’s only being obedient now because, as I said, it knows how to read the situation. It requires further training."

Zhang then provided the couple with Zhu Qingyan’s contact information, instructing them to reach out to her. Once they had made arrangements with Zhu, they could bring the dog to the Canine Language Training Center, where he would oversee its rehabilitation. Given the dog’s condition, correcting its behavioral issues would not be a matter of a day or two.

Having finished his instructions, Zhang Congwen left the Geng residence. Instead of returning to the training center, he headed to another client’s home.

The dog at this home was named "Electric Fan." According to the owners, it had been a stray they found when it was only three or four months old. Because its tail had wagged like an electric fan when they first met, they gave it that name. When Electric Fan first arrived, it was well-behaved and obedient, with one exception: it would not allow its owners to brush its fur.

At first, if the female owner tried to brush it, the dog would respond with low growls. If pushed too far, it would give a symbolic nip. Back then, the bites were painless and didn't even leave marks. But over time, the dog’s bite became increasingly forceful, and the behavior was no longer limited to brushing. It would bite when the leash was put on, when the muzzle was applied, when being groomed, or even for no reason at all when it was in a bad mood.

Eventually, the owners had to buy anti-bite gloves and confine the dog to a narrow space just to put on its leash. Sensing its owners' fear, the dog’s aggression escalated until almost every bite was intended to draw blood. Even so, the owners remained tolerant.

Some time later, the female owner began living with her boyfriend. Unexpectedly, on the very first night they lived together, the boyfriend was attacked by the dog for no apparent reason. After that first incident, there was a second, a third, and countless more. As time passed, both of their arms were covered in bite marks and scars. Finally, the boyfriend could no longer endure the situation and sought out the Canine Language Training Center.

As soon as Zhang Congwen arrived at the house, the dog rushed toward him. This was not a welcome, however; the dog immediately issued low, threatening growls. Before Zhang could even observe the dog closely, it transitioned from growling to a full-on attack, lunging at him.

Zhang Congwen, however, was not a submissive owner. He kicked out toward the dog. The kick was meant only to intimidate, and he didn't actually make contact. Frightened by the move, the dog backed off. Zhang ignored it and walked straight into the living room. Whether frightened by Zhang or for some other reason, the dog grew quiet, laid down in a corner, and began to feign sleep.