There are many problems dog owners encounter with their pets, but one
of the scariest, and often hardest behavioral problems to curb is
aggression. Often the aggression is directed only at other dogs, while
with extreme cases the aggression can be directed at people, maybe even
the owners themselves.
Aggressive dog training
All to often the
root of these problems are overlooked, and therefore the proper solution
to the problem is never reached. Fear, dominance, territorial issues,
medical problems, an abusive past and even the breed of dog may be the
reason behind the overly aggressive behavior your dog is displaying.
Let's take a look into some of the root causes of aggressive behavior.
In order to solve the problem, it's important to understand where it may
be coming from.
It is a fact, some breeds can be more aggressive
than others. Breeds like Pit Bulls, Dobermans, and Rottweilers all have
the reputation of being aggressive. Just because you own one of these
breeds doesn't mean you need to get rid of your dog and trade him in for
a poodle. Nine times out of ten you will find a loyal and loving pet
with any of these breeds that are known for aggression. If you have a
dog that is commonly associated with aggressive behavior, read and study
everything you can about the breed, in order to gain some insight on
the best approach to solve the issue.
Territorial issues are very
often the cause of aggressive behavior in dogs. It's in a dog's nature
to claim and establish their own territory, and when this territory is
threatened it can often result in the dog lashing out at other dogs (or
people) who step into their domain. A dominant dog is always trying to
prove that he is the man, that he is the leader of the pack. This can
often lead to aggressive behavior from your dog.
One thing the
dog owner must remember, is that if the dog thinks he is alpha of the
pack, he will feel obligated as the leader of the pack to defend the
domain. If the dog sees you, the owner, as leader of the pack, then he
will know it's okay when you accept foreigners into the domain.
So
how do you turn the table, and make your dog see you as the alpha? Most
importantly, you must project the energy that you are the calm,
assertive, in control leader to earn the respect from your dog to see
you as alpha. When you take your dog on a walk, do not let him walk in
front of you, alpha leads. When you walk through your front door, make
sure you go first, then you give permission to your dog to come through
when you say it's okay. Do not let your dog sleep with you, as this can
confuse the pecking order in his mind. The alpha dog sleeps alone and
always has the best choice of bedding. Little by little with patience
and repetition the practice of these tricks will eventually let your dog
know who's boss, and hopefully give you more control over your
aggressive dog's behavior.
Aggressive dog training