Some Ideas To Prevent Dog Aggression
Your Dog’s Natural Instincts
Taking the time to understand why dog aggression occurs will help you stop the problem. Aggression is a natural instinct for your dog. Undomesticated dogs often had to be aggressive in order to survive. This trait has been minimized through selective breeding and domestication but the instinct is still there.
Undomesticated dogs were also social animals and lived together in packs that maintained a definite hierarchy. To determine their social ranking, within the pack, dogs would assert themselves as they came of age. Domesticated dogs still have this instinct. Your puppy wants to know his ranking in your family and in the neighborhood.
Your dog has a natural instinct to protect his territory and his pack or family. Your dog may become aggressive if he sees neighborhood dogs as a threat to his territory or position. Aggressive behavior will also happen when your dog feels he must protect your family. Your puppy can learn when aggressive behavior is not appropriate if you will take time to introduce him to different situations.
Importance of Socialization
Socialization provides opportunities for your dog to learn to get along with other dogs and it also helps prepare him for various situations he may encounter. A puppy’s mother is the best teacher as far as socialization and proper dog behavior is concerned. When a puppy is taken away from his mother at an early age he may not have been taught to socially interact with other dogs. If this is the case not knowing how to relate to other dogs may lead to aggression if you do not train him properly.
There are two areas of socialization to consider with your dog. Your dog must get along with other animals, as well as people, and he needs to understand the requirements within your family. You should provide opportunities for your dog to interact in these areas. Your dog wants to be a responsible member of your family. Train your dog properly and he will understand what it means to be a responsible member of your family.
A fantastic resource to help you in training your dog can be found at: Dog Obedience Training
The Effect of Tension on Your Dog
The way you and your family handles tension has an impact on your dog. Your dog will react to tension within your home. He will be tense if family members are tense. Aggressive behavior may be the only way your dog is able to express the tension he feels so your family must learn to deal with tension in an appropriate manner. You cannot underestimate the effect your example has on your dog. It is important that you work at being calm with your dog as well as with each other.
Your Puppy’s Needs and Wants
It is important that a puppy’s needs and wants are met. He must feel love and security and he must receive adequate attention. Your puppy will become bored when he does not get enough attention and boredom can lead to aggressive behavior. If your dog only receives attention when he exhibits aggressive behavior then the aggressive behavior is being rewarded. To a bored dog no attention is worse than negative attention. You can help stop dog aggression by giving your dog adequate attention and by training him in a positive way.
Dogs should be exercised regularly. A puppy is full of youthful energy and needs space and opportunities to run and play. The need for exercise does not only apply to puppies. Small apartment size dogs and older dogs require exercise as well.
A good way to provide exercise and interaction with you is through neighborhood walks. These also offer experiences for socialization under your control. Your puppy requires well regulated examples to emulate. A puppy allowed to run around freely with other neighborhood dogs will obviously learn the wrong behavior. The best playmates for your puppy are mature, well-behaved dogs.
Bad habits will develop if you leave a dog on his own without guidance. You help your dog curb his aggressive nature with positive training. Through proper training your dog’s attention will be focused on you instead of other dogs and people. If you are consistent in training your dog he will follow your commands no matter the situation.
Teaching your dog tricks will provide social interaction and will also help prevent boredom.
An awesome guide for teaching your dogs tricks can be found at: Teaching Your Dog Tricks
Can Older Dog’s Habits Be Changed?
Puppies are a clean slate and open to learning. What about an older dog? Correcting an older dog’s bad habits requires consistent effort. Any aggressive behavior by an older dog must be handled immediately. If you wait to reprimand your dog he will not understand your response, he will only know that he feels bad. Continue to repeat corrective actions until your dog understands what his response should be in a particular situation.
Take Dog Aggression Seriously
Dog aggression should be taken seriously. Dogs who have been taught to live peacefully in our society will not have to be taken to the pound. Don’t let aggression become a problem. Take the time to train your puppy or dog.
I highly recommend this awesome course to help you successfully train your dog, whatever his age: How To Train Your Dog
