Training Aggressive Dogs

Dog aggression is something most dog owner’s face and should learn to deal with. Most of the times, dog owner’s tend to ignore dog aggression, thinking that it is a part of their dog’s normal behavior. They recognize it as a serious problem a lot later, after a few accidents and episodes of aggressive dog behavior. The point to be noted here is, that dogs are instinctively aggressive; it’s very natural for them to be aggressive. The problem arises when they get a lot aggressive than they should, causing problems to the dog owner, the neighborhood, especially children, complaining of dog bites and to people visiting their homes. This is where you will need to give a serious thought to your dog’s behavior and look for solutions to rectify it. The good news is, dog aggression training is the ideal solution to this. Let us first understand the cause, signs and types of aggression, before moving on to training aggressive dogs.

Causes and Signs of Dog Aggression

The signs of dog aggression would include excessive dog barking, snapping, growling, raised fur and biting. The causes of dog aggression can be divided into two main reasons - dominance and fear. They might feel threatened by new changes in their environment or may feel that their territories are being compromised on. Some aggression can also be triggered by maternal instincts or protection of their food, while some may be triggered by medical conditions. It is necessary to keep a watch out for dog aggression signs and to identify them as early as possible. The earlier aggression is detected, the easier it is to train the dog out of it.

Types of Dog Aggression

There are around ten types of aggression in dogs which include dominate aggression, territorial aggression, maternal aggression, possessive aggression, punishment aggression, pain aggression, fear aggression, predatory aggression, aggression towards dogs of the same sex and redirective aggression. The appropriate type of aggression can be established by identifying the signs of aggression. Contrary to the popular belief, dog aggression is not limited to the dog breed. Every dog breed can have aggression problems.

How to Train an Aggressive Dog

Dog aggression training can be given by a certified dog trainer but if you wish to do it yourself, here’s how you can go about it.

• The key to dog training lies in establishing the fact, that you are the master and not the dog. He should be following your commands and not vice a verse.
• Implement the reinforcement and punishment technique. Shower it with treats for good behavior and punish mildly, not severely, in case of bad behavior. Dogs mostly like to please their masters and refrain from anything that they know will annoy their owner. Never punish the dog severely, as it will only add to the behavioral problem instead of rectifying it.
• To treat dominant aggression, you need to reinforce the fact to the dog, that the people who have come home or the neighbors mean no harm and are friends. Ignoring the dog's barking and growling, at the people, will eventually make the dog accept the people.
• Dog obedience training, when the dog is a pup will enable prevention of aggressive behavior.
• Another effective technique of dog aggression training is a technique known as habituation. This method involves getting the dog used to a certain stimulus, so that it stops responding to it.
• Early socialization of the dog is necessary to avoid and prevent aggressive behavior. Early socialization of the dog will also help it adjust to strangers, especially children.
• An effective method of dog aggression training is desensitization or counter-conditioning. In this method, the dog is desensitized to certain conditions by handling its feet or hindquarters.
• If the dog is getting aggressive when visitors arrive at home, it should be simply ignored and it must be established that the visitor is a friend.
• For dogs that get aggressive when handled, should be touched frequently to reinforce the need to be handled.
• Collar and dog leash training can also be helpful in dog aggression training.

Now that you know how to train an aggressive dog, make sure you implement the appropriate techniques to make your aggressive dog a friendly, lovable and adorable one!