Do You Have An Aggressive Labrador Retriever?

A Labrador Retriever is not excessively prone to aggression and insecurity just like other certain breeds. This breed is known to have gentle disposition and is friendly even to strangers. If unfortunately your Labrador Retriever is showing signs of aggression, there may be reasons and factors that triggered this dilemma. Before doing anything to address this, it is necessary to know why your supposed to be friendly dog has become aggressive. Once you know the causes of your dog's aggression, it will be easier for you to prevent or at least minimize if you cannot totally stop it.

Aggression according to canine behaviorist is an intent to intimidate or to harm a person or another animal. It is usually displayed in behaviors such as barking, growling, snarling, snapping and biting. To a dog, there is always a reason for showing aggressive behavior. Some dogs display aggression to defend themselves, that is they will only harm another dog if they perceive danger and that they have no other option, while some develop aggressive behavior because of medical reasons.

Reasons for aggression:

- He is guarding or protecting valuable resources such as the home or the yard, his foods, toys and other valued objects. He may also show aggressive behavior to those, either animal or people, he perceive as threat or danger to his family or pack.

- When he is afraid and believes that he must defend himself from danger of being harmed. For example, the vet needs to examine or roll him over, he might panic and bark because he believes that he must protect himself from what he perceived danger.

- A traumatic experience or medical or physical ailments.

Once you and your vet have already ruled out the causes of your dog's aggressive behavior, seek professional advice for behavioral modification. Go to an animal behavior specialist for professional guidance. As the owner, you are liable for your dog's behavior and it is important to keep other people and animals safe. If a dog shows aggression to a certain family member, let that person become the main provider of everything. Other family members must ignore the dog and give no food, play or affection. If a dog does not like to be handled, gradually accustom him to your gentle touch. Remember to reward your dog for every sign of submissive behavior such as licking or lowering the head when being reached for.

Punishing your aggressive dog won't help and will often worsen the problem so never use punishment to correct your aggressive dog.

Richard Cussons has written articles of various breeds including Labrador Retriever. Discover tips on Labrador dog training at labradorsavvy.com.