Do You Know What You Should About Training For Aggressive Dogs?
Missy Matheson
When people think about getting a puppy, they think of a cute, sweet little furball that loves to play and lavish everyone they meet with big, wet kisses. The last thing they think about is training for aggressive dogs because it never crosses their mind that their sweet little puppy could grow up to be large, scary, aggressive dog.
Most people are under the mistaken impression that only dogs who are abused and neglected become aggressive. Unfortunately, this is not true. While abuse and neglect are generally responsible for cases of severe aggression, there are many dogs raised in loving environments that grow up to be aggressive. So why is it that some puppies grow up to be aggressive even though they are raised with love and kindness?
The reason is so simple and obvious that is often overlooked. Dogs have been domesticated for so long that we tend to forget that they are animals with natural instincts that are very strong. These instincts are perfectly natural, and many of them, like their sense of loyalty to their owners, are part of what makes them so desirable as pets. In some dogs, however, certain instincts are heightened, and when left unchecked can develop into aggression. Owners often fail to realize this, and dismiss early warning signs of aggression as nothing more than typical dog behavior.
It is crucial that owners are aware of and able to identify early warning signs of aggression so that they will be able to better understand how to treat aggressive dog behavior. Training for aggressive dogs can only succeed when owners understand and address the underlying causes of aggression.
When dogs behave aggressively, they are usually exhibiting natural, dog instincts like fear, dominance or protecting what they view as their territory. While it is perfectly normal for a dog to feel territorial, dominant or fearful, it is your job to train your dog that aggressive reactions in response to these feelings are unacceptable. Once you are able to recognize what is causing the aggressiveness, you can then learn how to help an aggressive dog.
Fear is probably the easiest of these instincts to recognize and understand, because it is also a very strong human instinct. Like humans, fear often produces a "fight or flight" feeling in dogs, and neither action is appropriate when the fear they are feeling is a reaction to the mailman. When dealing with this instinct, the key to training for aggressive dogs is to help them overcome their fear. If your dog snarls, bares its fangs, or attacks when afraid, then you need to help your dog learn how to cope with their fear.
Dogs are pack animals and every pack must have a leader, or alpha dog. Some dogs are naturally alpha dogs, and they attempt to establish themselves as such by dominating everyone and everything around them. While this instinct is perfectly acceptable in the wild, it can quickly become a dangerous problem in a domestic setting, particularly in homes with small children. It is imperative that dogs understand their place in the "pack" and recognize that their owner is the alpha dog. Training for aggressive dogs can help curb your dog's dominant behavior and teach you how to assert yourself as top dog.
While it can sometimes be annoying to have your dog bark at every living creature that comes within 10 feet of your door, it is perfectly normal dog behavior. It is a simple fact that dogs are territorial and feel instinctively bound to protect their homes and their families. But if your dog's "protectiveness" is scaring your guests and neighbors, then you need to deal with it as soon as possible by learning how to treat aggressive dog behavior.
There is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners. Dogs are just like children in that they need love, patience and understanding. They also need proper discipline, and owners that can recognize warning signs of aggression and provide them with training for aggressive dogs when needed. So take the time to learn how to help an aggressive dog so that you can help your dog overcome any aggression problems and become a sweet, friendly dog.
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