Why Is My Dog Aggressive

The first thing to realize is that your dog is normal, and aggression in dogs is also common. That’s not to say you should make allowances or concessions for an aggressive dog, quite the opposite, you will need to learn how to deal with your dogs aggression suitably, but it is useful to know that wild dogs use aggression to hunt, form a place in their pack and to survive.

In a domestic situation your dog doesn’t need to stress about these pack behaviors, but that may take a while for him to understand. So we need to help him and the first steps to doing that is to ascertain the form of aggression he displays. This is as easy as determining whether your dog is aggressive to strangers or aggressive to you or your family? This is important because the driver is very different based on your answer.

Stranger Aggression

If your dog seems on code red alert, looking around, perhaps pacing or even sitting dead still staring at someone, then you can probably conclude that your dog is not comfortable with the situation.
This is likely to be because your dog hasn’t had an opportunity to get to meet many other people, in other words socialising. This is a very important skill for any dog to learn, so unless you want to have a guard dog, you need to get him out and about as often as you can, especially while he is a puppy.

Begin by socialising with other dogs – puppy school is great for this and then continue with park visits and plays with his canine friends. Furthermore, start taking your dog everywhere you go – school pick ups, to the shops, when you walk to friends places etc. Show your dog how to behave on these occasions and over time he will become more and more used to seeing and dealing with different people.

Remember to follow your dog’s lead, so to speak – if he is really nervous going to doggy school and walking around the block, don’t rush him into a situation like taking him to an outdoor shopping mall. Let him get used to it slowly and pace his progress based on his results, slowly increasing the number of people he sees and plays with.

Also always be safe, keep your dog on his lead always when away from the safety of your home.

Family Aggression

If your dog is showing aggression towards you or another family member it is usually due to one of two reasons:

Resource Guarding – This is where your dog is protecting something from you. Quite often this occurs with food and toys, but it could be anything. So by you reaching for him or it, he may interpret this as a threat and therefore will get aggressive.

It happens because your dog feels that he is the alpha in the house, that is, he feels he ranks higher in authority than you (or the person/people) that he is showing aggression towards. So in order for you to quell his aggression you have to teach him that his place is not as the alpha. The best way to do this is through regular obedience training each day, these will teach him key skills, help him develop a routine and teach him to curb his aggression.

Dislikes the Treatment He Gets – This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are being unkind to your dog, it could simply be that he just doesn’t like being hugged, he feels uncomfortable around small children, or he has had a bad experience (such as with grooming).

If your dog is in this category and is still rather young then you will need to be patient and start to re-educate him or her. First identify what makes your dog uncomfortable, and then slowly start to address it. For instance, if it is a fear of having his nails clipped, start with small steps such as holding his paw each day for a week, allowing him see the clippers each day for a week, then next, move to touching his nails gently with them each day for another week, then try clipping one nail. Encourage and reward him along the way, and if you notice signs of aggression or stress, back off, let him calm down and try again another day.

Unfortunately some dogs who have had little handling as a puppy or a very bad grooming experience may have trouble dealing with their issues, particularly if they are older. In this case ask your vet for help and potentially use a professional to do his grooming in future.

Owner asks trainer to fix aggressive dog
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Dog Aggression Toward Humans

When dogs display aggressive behaviors towards humans, their actions must be taken very seriously. Problems of this nature require the guidance of a certified dog trainer who is experienced in aggression and typically, a clinical behavioralist. Clinical behavioralists are veterinarians with a specialty in animal behavior and their skills are invaluable when rehabilitating human aggressive pets.

Virtually all aggression stems from fear. Dogs that exhibit aggressive behaviors are often labeled as bad and are quickly euthanized. However, many of these dogs can become safe family pets if they are given appropriate training, environmental control and a chance. It is critical to state that dog to human aggression is not something a dog owner should attempt to correct without professional guidance. Safety and precaution are warranted.

The most common causes of dog to human aggression are:

• The dog is fearful because he hasn’t been properly socialized.

Fearful dogs often bite out of fear or display aggressive behaviors as an offensive strategy. This tactic works very well for a frightened dog. In most cases, humans avoid a dog if he is aggressively barking, growling or making threatening gestures. Thus the dog learns that this type of behavior prevents what he fears the most (humans) from approaching him.
• The dog has received formal guard dog or attack training.
• The dog has learned that he can get his way or control a situation by acting out in threatening ways.
• The dog has been physically or emotionally abused.
• Genetic defects, inbreeding and improper puppy care can create a psychologically unbalanced dog. Extreme fear, often resulting in aggression, is a common problem in puppy mill puppies purchased from pet stores.

Our business was built on successfully managing aggressive tendencies. Our core values, and beliefs warrant that all dogs deserve a right to life and our experience with aggression has taught us that most dogs can be rehabilitated. The few that are unsuccessful can live out their lives in sanctuaries created specifically for dogs with emotional or behavioral problems.

If you have a human-aggressive pet, please contact us immediately for a no-charge, no-guilt consultation before euthanizing your pet. There are many other options available including safe rehoming and retraining. We will also provide you with a clinical behavioralist in your area to ensure that your pet receives the finest, veterinary and behavioral modification care.

The goal of all dog training is to find peaceable solutions to everyday problems so that pets and their owners live harmoniously.

Aggressive Dog Behavior Uncommon Behavior

Territorial aggression, redirected aggression and predatory aggression are three types of aggressive dog behavior which is not quite common but still some dogs show such type of aggression. Territorial aggression is one of the types of aggressive dog behaviors and most of the dogs show this type of behavior. It is common in dogs nature that they protect their den, their master and his house which is quite natural by the dogs instincts. Sometimes over protective nature of the dogs become too aggressive that they may bite the visitors of the house. Most of the time, under this aggression, they attack strangers, dogs and nearby animals. The reason why they attack strangers is that the dogs have very strong memory and they memorize the faces of known person and therefore if they see any unknown person or stranger, they attack him. The owner of the dog can easily identify the signs of this aggressive dog behavior and can control him by making him lower the barking towards strangers.

Redirected aggression is very uncommon type of aggressive dog behavior. The owner of the dog must have seen this type of aggression and might have confused with another one. Consider that someone is walking on the other side of the road and arouses the dog, as some people have the habit of doing this, making him so much over excited and turns his aggression on for the moment. This does not mean that he is the enemy of the dog but he just loose the control and shows aggression. This aggressive dog behavior cannot be control by the owner or any other means, this problem in the dog remains for some little time and the aggression will soon get down.

Predatory aggression is another type of aggressive dog behavior. This aggression is natural instinct and all dogs are born with this aggression. A dog shows this type of aggression by chasing, cats, bird, or other animals most often. These three types of aggressive dog behavior cannot be easily overcome however it can be minimized but it totally depends upon the nature of the dog.

Learn how to teach your dog to stop barking in this free dog training video. Expert: Jim Leske Bio: My name is Jim Leske, Animal Behaviorist & Trainer. Filmmaker: Louis Nathan
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Why Dog Trainers Need Dog Obedience Equipment

If you have a pet dog, you’re going to have to take care of it appropriately. This would entail providing it with nutritious food, bathing it regularly and having frequent walks. These are basic necessities in order to have a healthy pet. However, there’s more to it than just providing the basics; your dog also needs to be trained and taught how to behave properly for it to become a well rounded individual. There are quite a few types of dog obedience equipment that help mold your pet into a well behaved canine, but if you’re just starting out, you will only need a few items.

Standard dog obedience equipment would include jumps, dumbbells and scent articles, each have a specific purpose that helps train your dog. But for the newbie, it would be best to just stick to the basics, which are a leash, collar and dog treats. With these items, you will be able to teach your dog the basic commands such as sit, down, stay and come.

If these commands are learned by your dog, it will allow you to manipulate the behavior of your pet even in public places. But training a dog is not as easy as it seems, but it can be done with dedication and the right attitude. Here are effective tips that have helped many owners train their dog effectively.

Never use force on your pet, it only reverses whatever progress you’ve made. If you feel you’re at the end of the line, you can have a break from training and resume when you’ve calmed your nerves.

Positive reinforcement is a much better training scheme. It has proven to be a very effective training method and is a favorite among many dog trainers. It allows trainers to put their point across without inflicting harm on the animal.

Use the rewards wisely. Toys and treats are some of the most effective kinds of dog obedience equipment that you will ever use. The reward should only be given after the dog has performed a desirable action.

Combine these tips with basic training knowledge and dog obedience equipment and you will have all the necessary tools to train your dog into your ideal pet.

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Training Your Dog Obedience

If you have a puppy or a dog, you have to worry about your dog listening to your commands, and even more importantly, you have to worry about how they interact with people and other dogs. Dogs are not born knowing the right and wrong way to act, and it is important that training your dog is one of the first things you think about when you bring a new one into your home. You will be responsible for what your dog does, so it is for your own benefit as well.

You can go to classes designed to help you in training your dog, or you can buy DVDs to help you do it yourself. The most important aspect in training your dog is to teach your dog that you are in charge. Believe it or not, they want you to be in charge. Dogs are pack animals, and they need a leader to know what to do and how to act. If your dog or dogs seem to be out of control, the problem is usually that you are not being a strong leader for them, and they don’t know what to do.

Training your dog doesn’t even have to be that hard, and again, it’s a matter of letting them know who is boss.

This is more than just how you talk to them. It is also about your body language and your tone of voice. You may issue a command you learned with training your dog, but if they don’t believe you mean it, they won’t pay any attention. Dogs need your leadership in much the same way that your children need you to be strong and in charge. Everyone feels more secure when they know someone is taking care of business.

If you are having trouble training your dog, there is no reason why you should keep trying. Go to a different class, or try to find someone to work one on one with your pet. If you have chosen to use a DVD for training your dog, you may be missing something as you go about teaching them what you want them to do and how to act.

If this hasn’t worked, you most definitely should try an obedience class. If nothing is working even after that, you should have your veterinarian look at your dog to see if there is any medical issue that may be causing the problem.

Visit our website to learn how to Obedience Train Your Dog Effectively to stop your dogs behavior problems. Now giving away 20 FREE ebooks on assorted topics.

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Dog Aggression Problems – Learn Why Your Dog is Aggressive

Dogs are instinctively aggressive animals. Having evolved from living as a pack animal and needing to survive in the wild through their hunting skills, dogs needed their aggressive natures in order to survive. In today’s society, however, we must be sure to correct our pet’s aggressive natures if they become a problem.To learn how to control your dog’s aggression problem, it is a good idea first to understand the reasons behind dog aggression problems. Below is a list of the most common reasons for dog aggression problems.

Dominance Aggression:  When dogs meet they need to establish who is the dominant dog, and conversely, who is the submissive dog. This is part of their natures that was developed through being pack animals, and is important for harmony in the pack that each dog understands its place in the pack’s hierarchy. Usually the dogs agree on who is the boss dog, and go on with their business without any fighting problems.

Dominance displays will normally only lead to a dog fight if one of the dogs refuses to become submissive to the other dog.

Fear Aggression:  This type of aggression is very different than dominance aggression. In this case the dog is so overcome with anxiety that it actually lashes out at whatever is causing its fear. For instance, a dog that may have been abused by a former master, will likely show fear aggression if it is scared of a particular person-especially if that person is doing something to agitate the poor dog. This is easily recognizable-the dog will display a cringing, very disturbed body language that includes tucking the tail up between the legs, baring all its teeth while snarling, whining and moaning. It may also snap its teeth and lunge at anything nearby, so you want to avoid trying to comfort a dog in this state.

Territorial Aggression:  Many dogs display this type of aggressive behavior.

It too is quite natural and stems from the dog’s instinct to protect his den and his pack-your house and your family, nowadays. If your dog is overly protective and too aggressive, he may even bite visitors (especially strangers) and attack other dogs or animals nearby. Once again, this is a  problem you will have to control if you see signs of territorial aggression  with your dog. He must learn to know to not escalate the barking into violence.

Redirected Aggression: You may have seen this type of aggression before, and confused it with another type of aggression. For example, if someone is walking down the alley on the other side of your fence, and is somehow agitating your dogs-as some people will-the dogs may become so over-excited that they turn on each other for a moment. Sort of like a shark frenzy. They aren’t really enemies of each other, but just lost control of their aggression and took it out on whoever was nearest.

Predatory Aggression:  Once again, this is a natural instinct that all dogs have to some degree-they are born with it. Many dogs do not display this aggression, but it is not uncommon to see on a daily basis. A dog will display this type of aggression by chasing a cat up a tree, or by chasing birds, dogs or  other animals. Often they are only chasing for the thrill of the chase and not to fight. However sometimes they are serious, so this too is a problem that needs to be corrected.

Medical Reasons Causing Aggression:  A very common example of this is when a female dog that is nursing or pregnant gets extra protective and bitchy. Other times your dog may be feeling bad from an injury or illness, and this could cause him to act aggressively. Some dogs are just not wired right, and have no one central reason for their aggression. It seems that just like some people, that’s just the way  they are.

Now that you understand how to recognize and diagnose the reasons for your dog’s aggression problems, you can figure out the best methods for correcting his behavior problems, and making him a better behaved pet who is now unlikely to cause any problems through his aggression.

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Dog Aggression Toward Humans

When dogs display aggressive behaviors towards humans, their actions must be taken very seriously. Problems of this nature require the guidance of a certified dog trainer who is experienced in aggression and typically, a clinical behavioralist. Clinical behavioralists are veterinarians with a specialty in animal behavior and their skills are invaluable when rehabilitating human aggressive pets.

Virtually all aggression stems from fear. Dogs that exhibit aggressive behaviors are often labeled as bad and are quickly euthanized. However, many of these dogs can become safe family pets if they are given appropriate training, environmental control and a chance. It is critical to state that dog to human aggression is not something a dog owner should attempt to correct without professional guidance. Safety and precaution are warranted.

The most common causes of dog to human aggression are:

• The dog is fearful because he hasn’t been properly socialized.

Fearful dogs often bite out of fear or display aggressive behaviors as an offensive strategy. This tactic works very well for a frightened dog. In most cases, humans avoid a dog if he is aggressively barking, growling or making threatening gestures. Thus the dog learns that this type of behavior prevents what he fears the most (humans) from approaching him.
• The dog has received formal guard dog or attack training.
• The dog has learned that he can get his way or control a situation by acting out in threatening ways.
• The dog has been physically or emotionally abused.
• Genetic defects, inbreeding and improper puppy care can create a psychologically unbalanced dog. Extreme fear, often resulting in aggression, is a common problem in puppy mill puppies purchased from pet stores.

Our business was built on successfully managing aggressive tendencies. Our core values, and beliefs warrant that all dogs deserve a right to life and our experience with aggression has taught us that most dogs can be rehabilitated. The few that are unsuccessful can live out their lives in sanctuaries created specifically for dogs with emotional or behavioral problems.

If you have a human-aggressive pet, please contact us immediately for a no-charge, no-guilt consultation before euthanizing your pet. There are many other options available including safe rehoming and retraining. We will also provide you with a clinical behavioralist in your area to ensure that your pet receives the finest, veterinary and behavioral modification care.

The goal of all dog training is to find peaceable solutions to everyday problems so that pets and their owners live harmoniously.

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Adolescent Dog Behavior

Today I spent my first appointment walking with a client’s dog and dog walker. The dog is a 7 mo. old, male Australian Shepherd. The dog walker has been having trouble with him jumping up & nipping at her for the first 1/2 hr of the walk, the second half he is better.

We began walking him and within the first few minutes it became very obvious why he was doing this behavior. She is a very good dog walker who has good instincts and asks a lot of great questions, so had she seen the behavior from my point of view, she would have realized the situation immediately.

First off, she was walking him on her right side. Though we haven’t worked much with his walking, when we have it has always been on the left side, so he was obviously a little confused about where he should be. But the main thing I noticed was that although she was walking briskly to tire him out, she wasn’t giving him any feedback.

There was very little interaction happening between them. The dog was going to her left side, jumping up at her, and it was as if he had a big bubble over his head saying “look at me, look at me, look at me!!”

The answer, of course, is he needs more mental stimulation. This is an extremely intelligent breed that needs as much, if not more, mental exercise than physical. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m all for physical exercise. However, if that’s all you do you end up with a stupid marathon runner. A well-exercised dog with great stamina and endurance, yet he still doesn’t know anything. So if the physical exercise now takes 1 hour to tire him out, in 6 months you will need 1.5 hrs to tire him out and it will keep increasing from there. If you think about it, what makes you want to take a nap more? An hour on the treadmill or an hour of calculus or physics? Personally, an hour on the treadmill gets me energized, but use my brain like that for an hour & I want to take a nap.

All this stuff about people thinking they can just run the dog or put a heavy back pack on them (without knowing if the dog is physically fit enough to handle it), and thinking that will cure all their problems is ridiculous.

Mental exercise, of which training is the most important part, is what tires a dog out the fastest. And at the end of it all the dog will know what you want/need him to know. At the very end of it all you have built a great relationship with your dog. And the relationship is what it’s all about isn’t it?

So, you know it occurred to me that I didn’t mention what we did to help resolve this pup’s boredom during walks. We are going to teach him to touch things with his nose & paw. That way when they see a construction cone, lawn jockey, or other interesting thing on the walk she can ask him to touch it with either or both, his nose or paw. When he wants to sniff a bush we ask him to sit, shake, spin, lie down, something/anything. Then he gets to run over & sniff the area. We tossed a few treats into a grassy area and told him to find it, so he gets to use his nose. On our walk we found a big palm frond he wanted to play with. So we picked it up, asked for a sit and played a quick game of tug o’ war. Asked for a “drop”, then another quick down, spin, shake, and tug again. He had a blast and it really broke up the monotony for both the dog & walker. The walk was much more enjoyable and he was thoroughly exhausted at the end of it!

Laura Bourhenne
AAU
copyright 2009

Dog Training For Aggressive Dog Behavior

Even though dogs have been highly domesticated, most of them are just naturally aggressive. Hence, dog training would help them manage that behavior, especially when that aggression is directed towards people. Choosing to train your dog, whether professional or at home, you can save them from being treated in a brutal manner in animal shelters and facilities.

A common failure among most dog or pet owners is to treat aggression with another form of aggression. So, do you think vicious beating of a dog after attacking another person would teach them the lesson? Certainly not. In the end, you are only inflicting pain on both animal and the person who was attacked. More importantly, beating them only inspires hatred and does not teach the dog how to correct their behavior.

Proper dog training will enable you to address this problem more efficiently.

The key word there is “proper” such that you can nurture in them the value of creating a healthy relationship between human and animal. The first step you can take at dog training is to keep your pet on a leash or build a fence in your home. This will prevent your dog from attacking an unknowing bystander.

Another important factor is knowing how to judge aggressive behavior. You can begin by understanding the specific breed of your dog since some are just naturally aggressive. Those that are considered aggressive includes Rotweilers, pit bulls, and German Shepherds. If you have the said dog breeds for a pet, make sure to pay close attention to signs of aggression like howling, excessive barking, growling, showing their teeth, or lunging at someone or something. One reason why dogs turn aggressive is that they are naturally territorial, so always post warning signs such that people will try not to get too close.

One aspect of dog training that will enable dogs to overcome aggression is by entering them into a socialization program.

The more exposed they become to other dogs and humans, the more properly they behave around them. But even during this time, make sure they are leashed to provide enough restraint because there is no way to predict an animal’s behavior.

If you are personally training your dog at home, make sure to remain diligent with your efforts. Your dog training might include re-enacting different scenarios, such as greeting an individual at the door, or meeting them on a pathwalk. This will condition their mind into how they are supposed to react and limit the possibility of responding in an aggressive manner. Dog training aids or tools are ideal to help you out during these sessions as well.

Follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com Sit Means Sit, the “No Excuses Dog Training Company”, is about being able to help people with their dogs on just about any problem. Rather than provide people with excuses, like they cannot train them because of whatever reason, or however old they are, we not only provide a solution but also demonstrate that it can be done quickly and very easily in most cases, and without getting confrontational with the dog or yelling a screaming. In this video, you will see Darin Shepherd and Chris Laseter from ourSit Means Sit dog training offices in Atlanta Georgia, handle a 6 1/2 year old pitbull that has years of experience in pushing both people and dogs around, and the owners are at their wits endbut love the dog dearly. Not having the ability to control your dog is the main reason why most of the dog problems and media stories happen. Although some dog owners may even have the right intentions of seeking out help, a lot of dog trainers may not have the ability to not only train a dog like this effectively, but also are rarely able to transfer that knowledge to the owner. Sit Means Sit dog training provides both. The training in this video was provided with the assistance of the “Sit Means Sit Collar”. To learn how to use the Sit Means Sit dog collar effectively, please seek out a Sit Means Sit dog trainer in your area. For more information on Sit Means Sit Dog Training in Atlanta Georgia see: www.sitmeanssit.com The Largest and most …

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