Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an aggressive dog’s teeth knows that it’s not a pleasant experience. And while it may be tempting to write off an aggressive dog as simply “mean,” the truth is that aggression is often the result of fear or insecurity.
The good news is that with the help of a professional dog trainer, it is possible to help an aggressive dog learn to trust and feel comfortable around people. The first step is to identify the triggers for the dog’s aggression.
Once the triggers have been identified, the trainer can work with the dog’s owner to help desensitize the dog to those triggers. With time and patience, an aggressive dog can learn not to exhibit aggressive behavior and become a loving, trusted member of the family.
Signs of Aggressive Behavior
While it’s impossible to 100% prevent dog bites from happening, there are some early signs of canine aggression that dog owners can look out for in order to nip the problem in the bud.
By being aware of these signs and taking action early on, you can help your dog stay happy and healthy — and prevent them from becoming a danger to yourself or others.
Growling or Snapping When Eating or Playing With Toys
One of the first signs that your dog may be displaying aggression is if they start growling or snapping when they’re eating or playing with toys.
This behavior is often a sign that your dog feels threatened in some way and is trying to protect themselves — usually from another person or animal. If your dog starts doing this, it’s important to take action quickly to prevent further aggression.
Barking Excessively or Without Prompt
Another early sign of aggression is if your dog starts barking excessively — particularly if they’re not barking in response to anything specific (like someone coming to the door). This type of behavior is often a sign of anxiety or fear and can quickly escalate into more aggressive behaviors like growling and biting if not addressed early on.
If your dog starts barking excessively, try to identify what might be causing their anxiety and take steps to mitigate it (e.g., adding more socialization opportunities for fearful dogs).
Showing Teeth or Lunging When Greeting People
One final sign that your dog may be displaying early signs of aggression is if they start showing their teeth or lunging at people when they’re being greeted — especially if the greeting involves physical contact like petting or hugging.
This behavior is usually a sign that your dog feels uncomfortable with being touched and is feeling threatened by the physical contact. However, suppose you notice this behavior starting to occur. In that case, it’s essential to take steps to desensitize your dog to being touched (e.g., gradually increasing the amount of time you spend petting them each day) and make sure that all physical contact is done in a calm and gentle manner.
Aggressive behavior in male dogs as well as female dogs is more common than many people realize — but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do about it. By being aware of the early signs of aggression and taking action quickly, you can help your furry friend stay happy and healthy — and prevent them from becoming a danger to yourself or others.
Common Reasons Dogs Show Aggressive Behavior
Possessiveness
Possessiveness is often the root of a dog’s aggressive behavior. A dog may become possessive of their food, toys, or even their owner. This can lead to growling, snapping, or even biting if the dog feels that their territory is being threatened.
In most cases, this behavior is learned rather than instinctual. Dogs that are not properly socialized or have experienced traumatic events are more likely to develop possessive tendencies. However, any dog can become possessive if they are not taught proper manners and limits.
Not Socialized Properly
Dogs are social animals by nature and require regular interaction with humans, dogs, and other animals in order to stay happy and healthy. A lack of socialization can lead to a number of behavioral problems, including aggression.
Dogs that are not adequately socialized may see other dogs as a threat and may become aggressive in order to protect themselves. In addition, a lack of socialization can make it difficult for a dog to learn how to interact appropriately with humans. Dogs not used to being around people may be afraid of them and act out to keep them away.
Proper socialization is essential for preventing aggression in dogs. Dogs that are socialized early on in life will be less likely to show aggressive behavior as they grow older.
Fearfulness
Many dog owners are surprised to learn that fearfulness is often a reason a dog may show aggressive behavior. It’s important to remember that dogs are not humans; they express themselves differently than we do.
When a dog is feeling fearful, he may show signs of aggression to try to make the thing he’s afraid of go away. This is often seen as the dog barking and lunging at someone or something he perceives as a threat.
It’s important to understand that this behavior is not necessarily “bad” – it’s simply the dog’s way of trying to protect himself from what he perceives as a dangerous situation. If your dog is showing signs of fear-based aggression, it’s essential to consult with a professional trainer or behaviorist who can help you manage the problem and keep your dog safe.
Protectiveness
Dogs are often protective of their owners, especially if they perceive them to be in danger. Unfortunately, this protectiveness can manifest as aggression, one of the most common reasons for aggression in dogs. In some cases, the dog may have been poorly socialized or have had a bad experience with strangers.
As a result, they may see everyone as a potential threat. In other cases, the dog may simply be responding to a cue from their owner. If the owner is tense or afraid, the dog may pick up on this and become aggressive as well. While it is natural for dogs to want to protect their owners, it is important to make sure that this doesn’t lead to aggression.
Dogs who are well-socialized and have a good relationship with their owners are less likely to show aggressive behavior.
Territorial
Dogs are social animals that thrive on companionship. However, they also have a strong instinct to protect their territory from intruders. This territorial behavior can sometimes manifest as aggression, particularly if a dog feels threatened or anxious.
For example, a dog may bark aggressively at passersby or lunge at other dogs when out on a walk. While territorial behavior is natural, ensuring it doesn’t spiral out of control is important.
Dogs that are well-socialized from an early age are less likely to show an aggressive territorial behavior. Providing your dog with plenty of positive experiences with other people and animals will help to prevent any potential problems down the road.
Pain From Injury or Illness
It’s important to remember that our dogs can’t tell us when they’re in pain. They can only show us through their behavior. And sometimes, that behavior can be interpreted as aggression. If your dog is usually gentle but is suddenly growling or snapping, pain could be the cause.
Dogs in pain may also become more clingy or withdrawn. If you notice any changes in your dog’s behavior, it’s important to have him checked out by a vet. Only a professional can determine whether pain is the cause of your dog’s aggression and, if so, develop a treatment plan. With the proper care, your dog will be back to his old self in no time.
Aggressive Dog Training Tips
Once you know the warning signs of dog aggression, you can take steps to prevent it. Below are some recommendations on reducing your fur buddy’s aggressive behavior.
Hire a Professional Dog Trainer
Professional dog training can help mitigate your dog’s aggressive behaviors and make your furry friend a joy to be around once again.
There are several reasons why a dog may display aggressive behavior. It could be due to genetics, a traumatic experience, or even how their previous owner raised them. In any case, it is important to have realistic expectations when it comes to training an aggressive dog. While it may take some time and patience, professional dog trainers have the experience and expertise needed to help significantly reduce the aggression in your dog and make them safer to be around.
One of the first things a professional trainer will do is conduct a thorough assessment of your dog’s behavior in order to create a personalized training plan. This assessment will help them identify what triggers your dog’s aggression so that they can avoid those situations during training sessions. From there, the trainer will work on building up your dog’s confidence and teaching them alternate behaviors that are more appropriate in different situations.
Through positive reinforcement techniques such as treats and praise, your trainer will help your aggressive dog learn that they can trust people again and that there is no need to act out in aggression. With time and consistency, these new behaviors will eventually become second nature to your dog, and the improved behavior should stick around long after training has ended.
Dealing with an aggressive dog can be frustrating and even scary at times. But with professional training, you can help your furry friend overcome their aggression issues and enjoy their company once again. If you think professional training may be right for your pet, reach out to a local trainer today!
Use Positive (Not Negative) Behavior Modification
One popular approach is positive behavioral modification. This method focuses on rewarding desired behaviors instead of punishing bad ones. And while it may sound too good to be true, there is actually a lot of science to back it up. Here’s what you need to know about using positive behavioral modification to help reduce your dog’s aggressive tendencies.
How Does Positive Behavioral Modification Work?
The basic principle behind positive behavioral modification is that animals (in this case, dogs) are more likely to repeat behaviors that are associated with a positive experience (reward) than those that are associated with a negative one (punishment).
For example, if your dog growls at someone and you yell at them, they may stop growling at that moment because they don’t want to be yelled at again. But the next time they’re in a similar situation, they may still feel the urge to growl because they don’t know what else to do.
On the other hand, if you reward your dog with a treat every time they display desired behavior (e.g., not Growling), they will begin to associate the desired behavior with something positive (getting a treat). As a result, they will be more likely to repeat it in the future.
It’s important to note that punishment (such as yelling or hitting) can still be effective in some cases; however, it should only be used as a last resort after other methods, such as positive reinforcement, have failed. This is because punishment can often backfire by causing animals (again, dogs in this case) to become anxious or scared, which can actually lead to an increase in aggressive behavior.
When Should You Use Positive Behavioral Modification?
Positive behavioral modification can be used in a variety of situations to help reduce your dog’s aggression. For example, if your dog barks excessively whenever someone comes to the doorbell, you could give them a treat every time they stop barking when you say “quiet.” Over time, your dog will learn that barking leads to treats and will eventually stop barking altogether when someone rings the doorbell.
Similarly, if your dog growls whenever you try to take their food away, you could give them a piece of meat every time they let you take their food bowl without growling. Again, over time they will learn that letting you take their food away leads to getting something even better (meat!) and will eventually stop growling altogether when you try to take their food away.
Training Tools to Help With Training Aggressive Dogs
When it comes to training your dog, there are a variety of tools that you can use to help make the process easier and more effective. Below are some of the most popular tools to help aggressive dogs learn new, desired behaviors.
- Clickers: Clickers are small, hand-held devices that make a clicking sound when pressed. They are often used in conjunction with positive reinforcement to help train animals (dogs) by marking desired behaviors. For example, if your dog is sitting calmly and you press the clicker, they will learn that sitting calmly is the desired behavior. Eventually, you can phase out the clicker altogether and just give treats for the desired behavior.
- Treats: As mentioned above, treats are often used in conjunction with positive reinforcement to help train dogs. When choosing treats, it’s important to choose something that your dog really loves and is willing to work for. Otherwise, they won’t be motivated to perform the desired behavior.
- Leashes and Collars: Leashes and collars are often used to help keep dogs under control during training sessions. They can also be used to help correct unwanted behaviors, such as pulling on the leash or jumping up on people.
Final Thoughts
Training an aggressive dog takes time, patience, and consistency. However, it is possible to train an aggressive dog to be well-behaved using positive reinforcement techniques. If you are struggling to train your aggressive dog yourself, consider hiring a professional trainer or behaviorist who can help you achieve success.
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*photo by cynoclub – depositphotos