Aggressive Dogs - How To Train Them

How to Tackle Dog Aggression

You've probably heard stories in the news about aggressive dogs biting children or attacking their owners. While these stories are sad (and disconcerting) they should not color your opinion of dogs as a whole. It is important to realize that most dogs are not aggressive by nature - their aggression is often a result of certain environmental factors and the way in which their owners handle them.

If your dog begins to display signs of aggression, do not assume that the only option is to put him down before he hurts someone. In this article you will learn how to identify the source of your dog's aggression and what to do about it.

Causes of Dog Aggression

Though it is true that some breeds of dog are more prone to aggression than others, most dogs do not display aggressive behavior unless they are incited to do so. One of the most common causes for dog aggression is fear. When your dog feels threatened by the presence of another dog or a stranger, he may become aggressive out of self-preservation. Many dogs feel protective of their owners and their perceived territory and display aggression toward people and animals that they feel are a threat.

Sometimes, aggression is a learned behavior that dogs display in response to certain training methods or behaviors you display toward them. If you or a family member teases the dog by taking away his food bowl while he is eating, he is likely to become protective of it. If you train your dog using punishment-based training methods, your dog may not understand why he is being punished and will simply learn to regard you as a threat.

Dealing with Aggression

The first step in dealing with your dog's aggression is to identify the triggers - the situations which cause your dog to become aggressive. When your dog begins to display aggressive behavior like barking or growling, take a moment to determine what instigated the behavior. Did a stranger walk by the house? Did another dog approach your dog while you were taking him for a walk? Once you've identified the trigger for your dog's aggression you can take steps to avoid the situations which involve that trigger.

After you've identified the trigger, you can condition your dog to respond in a different way. If your dog feels threatened by strangers entering the house, encourage your guests to "introduce" themselves to your dog when they first arrive, maybe even give him a treat to show that they are not a threat. If your dog feels threatened by other animals entering the yard, you can simply draw the curtains so he cannot see them.

Dealing with your dog's aggression can be a challenging process but do not be discouraged. It is important to realize that aggression is something that can be addressed - you do not have to assume that your dog's behavior is beyond the point of repair. Remember, in many cases aggression is a conditioned response so it is possible to condition your dog to have a different response if you are patient and consistent in your training.