Jan 25 2010
Stopping Dog Aggression
Every dog has the potential of being an aggressive dog. Many believe that all dogs of a certain breed are naturally aggressive but the truth is, the ones believed to be aggressive are the ones that people often train to be mean.
Let’s take the pit bull breed for example. Pitt Bulls are not overly mean and aggressive by nature. Often they are very sweet in nature and mild tempered. The reason people believe they are is because people like to train pit bulls to be aggressive.
While you can not classify all dogs from one breed as being aggressive, every dog will have its own personality. If you do find yourself with an aggressive dog you need to be careful especially if they are around children.
So what can you do about having an aggressive dog?
Well it actually depends on how aggressive they are and what they get aggressive about. One form of aggression is when your dog crouches down with their belly close to the ground like they are ready to spring in for the attack while growling and barking.
If your dog does this it is best to completely ignore him. The worst thing you can do is look them in the eye because by doing that you are issuing a challenge and it will turn into a game of who is in control.
Never lash out or spank your dog if he is doing this or it will turn into a game where he tries to dog you and lunge at you for his turn. Once it becomes a game you will have a very difficult time of breaking your dog’s aggressive habit.
If your problem is your dog gets aggressive with his food then you might want to consider staying around him when he is eating.
Never touch an aggressive dog while he is eating his food.
Start out by just being in the same room as your dog and slowly work your way a little bit closer each meal. Always use your best judgment when doing this and pay very close attention to the signs your dog is giving you. If he is getting nervous then do not get any closer.
When you have a very aggressive dog the best thing you can do is to use caution when around your dog and talk to a dog trainer on the best way to handle your individual situation.
It is very common to run into problems while dog training. This is normal and with a bit of patience both you and your dog will get past the hurtle and be very happy because of it.
The next time you find yourself wondering “Is my dog aggressive?” look for the tell tale signs and train it out of him.
