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Articles Dog Training How to Deal With an Aggressive Dog
Articles Dog Training How to Deal With an Aggressive Dog | How to Deal With an Aggressive Dog |
| Written by Graeme Landis | ||||||||
| Friday, 06 March 2009 | ||||||||
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All kinds of dogs can and will show aggression given the right set of circumstances. Aggressive behavior for a dog is a natural response and it is critical to understand what circumstances and experiences will provoke aggression in your dog. Understand that what a person may see as an unprovoked aggressive act in a dog may, in fact, be perfectly logical to a canine mind. The major determinants for aggression in dogs are discussed below. Territorial Aggression Dogs will use territorial aggression when defending their territory. This is any territory that the dog is familiar with or has marked with her scent. While you may encourage your dog to protect your property, the dog may claim the whole neighborhood as his territory to protect. Guarding Aggression Many dogs tend to guard both possessions, and members of their pack. This may include people, other family pets, and even favorite toys and sometimes food items. This "Guarding Aggression" is directed at unfamiliar people or animals that are approaching the dogs people, possessions or food. Occasionally, the dog will even guard food or toys from familiar dogs or people. Transferred Aggression Transferreed Aggression often happens when a dog becomes overly excited or upset and instead of becoming aggressive with the item causing the excitement, it transfers its aggression/frustration onto another dog or person. For example a child may harass a dog with a stick through a fence, and since the dog cannot defend itself through the fence it may turn its aggression on another dog in the yard or on another person. Pecking Order Aggression Dogs are pack animals, and they need to establish the hierarchy with the family or household members (humans and animals alike). Once the dog has established his rank in the family he, does not like to be challenged. Often well-meaning owners will inadvertently teach their dogs that they are in fact the highest ranking pack member; that can lead to difficulties in controlling the dog. It is also common for there to be aggression issues between dogs in the same household as they battle it out for the alpha dog position. Aggression Due to Fear Dogs do respond like humans with a fight or flight instinct when presented with a fearful situation. Dogs that respond with aggression may growl, snarl or even bite if they are frightened. Remember, different reactions in dogs are due to genetic disposition, training methods and past experiences. The dog may see a fearful event in a calm environment if he has been abused in the past. Dogs that would normally use the flight option but are trapped or cornered will resort to aggression in an attempt to protect themselves. Many dogs will become aggressive when they think that they are threatened, that their position in the pack or family is threatened, or that their territory or possessions are endangered. As human beings we often do not understand all the triggers for a dog to respond with aggression. Aggression in dogs, regardless of the reason, needs to be controlled to avoid a potentially dangerous situation for both humans and other animals. Positive rewards training usually works very well for these dogs, and punishment rarely helps and in fact will often increase the aggressive behavior. About the Author: Daniel Stevens provides specific strategies for helping your aggressive dog in his fabulous and in-depth Secrets of Dog Training course. You can stop bad doggy behavior. You just need some professional help to understand the doggy mind and how to elicit the behavior you want so both you and your dog can be happier. Views: 465
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