When most people bring a dog into their home, they expect to enjoy many years of happy companionship. However, some dogs display aggressive behavior, which can make it difficult to integrate them into your life. Living with an aggressive dog can create stress and tension for the entire household. While it may be instinctual to believe that aggression is a natural part of your dog’s personality, in many cases, their behavior is caused by insufficient socialization, fear, stress, or negative experiences. The good news is that there are experienced dog trainers who can assist in addressing aggression in your pet and collaborate with you to resolve some of these behavioral issues. Continue reading to discover more about dog aggression training and its benefits for your furry friend.
Why Do Dogs Become Aggressive?
If a dog is uncomfortable, it typically displays intimidating or threatening behavior in order to caution others to stay away. When your dog barks loudly at your neighbors’ kids, you may wrongly assume that it dislikes children. More likely, the dog hasn’t been exposed to such situations and is feeling anxious due to the children’s loud and unpredictable actions.
What Does Aggressive Behavior Look Like?
Aggressive behavior typically stems from fear, possessiveness, or territorial instincts in dogs. By observing their body language, you can identify indications of aggression. Examples of aggressive conduct encompass:
- Standing stiffly and rigidly
- Growling
- Baring their teeth
- Snarling
- Lunging at someone without making physical contact
- Intentionally pushing against a person with their muzzle
- Snapping
- Nipping
- Biting without pressure or hard enough to bruise or puncture the skin
Types of Aggression
Let’s start by understanding the reasons behind your pet’s reaction to situations as the first step to reducing aggression. Below are some common explanations for your dog’s behavior.
| Type | Symptoms | Cause | Common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fear | Reacts when backed into a corner, reacts when people do something unpredictable, does not like it when people move fast or are loud, likes to sneak behind people to bite | Poor socialization, lack of socialization | Very common |
| Prey | Fixates on animals (usually small), becomes very still when fixating, may drool when fixating | Instincts, lack of mental stimulation | Common |
| Territorial | Possessive of areas where they spend a lot of time | Instincts, long periods of time in one area, lack of mental stimulation | Common |
| Dog | Acts aggressively toward dogs that seem to pose zero threat | Poor socialization, lack of socialization | Very common |
| Children | Acts aggressively toward smaller individuals | Poor socialization, lack of socialization | Common |
| Human | Acts aggressively toward strangers | Poor socialization, lack of socialization | Common |
| Possessive | Reacts unpredictably toward certain people or dogs that approach a specific owner | Improper sense of entitlement, lack of leadership, lack of mental stimulation | Common |
| Food or Toy | Dog becomes very still and stiff when someone or another dog approaches with certain objects | Instincts, history with food, lack of leadership | Less common |
| Maternal | Mother dog will become aggressive toward anyone or anything approaching her babies | Instincts | Very common |
| Pain | Dog may bite when faced with pain, dog may act aggressive as a result of bad thyroid or bladder infection | Medical issue | Very common |
| Punishment | Acts aggressively when expecting punishment | Improper punishment from human | Less common |
What Causes Dog Aggression?
In the majority of cases, dogs do not possess inherent aggression. Rather, behavior issues often arise due to:
- Lack of socialization
- Lack of basic obedience training
- Negative or frightening experiences
Puppies need to be trained in order to prevent behavior problems.
- Properly socialized and exposed to a variety of people, animals, and situations
- Taught basic commands through home training or group classes so dog owners can successfully communicate with them
Obedience training can still benefit dogs that did not develop these essential skills when they were young, so it is important to maintain them as your puppy grows.
What to Do If Your Dog Behaves Aggressively
If your dog shows aggression, it is crucial to consult a professional dog trainer as it can be a significant problem. Avoid punishing or reprimanding your dog for behavioral issues as it may lead to fear towards you rather than building confidence and trust, which can worsen the situation.
How to Train an Aggressive Dog
To start training an aggressive dog, the initial step is to determine the specific individuals or groups towards whom he displays aggression. Does your dog exhibit signs of aggression towards a specific family member or friend, unfamiliar people, or other animals? It is crucial to identify the factors in his surroundings that provoke his anger.
After identifying the causes and targets of your dog’s aggression, the next step is to collaborate with a professional dog trainer individually. If you’re unsure about whom to hire, seek recommendations from your veterinarian. Additionally, the ASPCA states that certain aggressive dogs display such behavior due to medical conditions or complications. Prior to commencing any training, consult your vet to ensure your dog’s well-being. A visit to the vet may help uncover any hidden health problems that could be influencing your pet’s behavior.
Never Ignore Aggression
There are a few reasons why this can be a helpful tip. Firstly, aggression is an unwanted quality that can result in harm to others, including your dog. If you come across an unfamiliar dog showing signs of aggression, it is advisable to avoid interacting with it. Additionally, if you observe your own dog displaying aggressive behavior, it is important to determine the underlying cause in order to address and minimize their aggression.
It is important not to ignore aggression for another reason, which is crucial for your safety. Your dog, as the pack leader, has a natural defensive mechanism to protect you from anything it views as a threat. If you observe any signs of aggression in your usually docile dog, it may be beneficial to promptly investigate your surroundings. Dogs have a superior sense of smell and hearing compared to humans, enabling them to identify danger more rapidly. Therefore, your dog’s aggression signs might actually serve as a warning indicating that you should avoid any existing danger, whether it is an intruder in your home or a wild animal nearby.
It is not recommended to punish your dog for displaying aggression, as dogs do not comprehend punishment and are likely to exhibit more aggressive behavior as a result. The most effective approach to discourage aggressive behavior in dogs is to incentivize and reward good behavior. Occasionally, your dog may require gentle reminders of your authority, but overall, they will respond better to retraining based on positive reinforcement.
Similar to children, dogs require proper conditioning to prevent them from misbehaving. When dogs consistently display aggressive behavior, it often indicates an underlying problem that must be identified and addressed within their environment. Once you determine the trigger causing their aggression, you can collaborate with a veterinarian or trainer to learn effective methods for minimizing aggressive tendencies. With a combination of affection and patience, significant progress can be made towards helping the dog become more gentle and obedient.
