Aggression in Dogs
Dogs can be very aggressive and it is of the utmost importance to be able to identify aggressive dog behavior to understand not only how to deal with the dogs but also how to stop aggressive dog behavior with training.
Dog to human and dog to dog aggression can lead to fights and other situations – and may be dangerous to themselves, to their owners and to anyone else around them. 90% of dog bites happen to a person who knows the dog, so it’s important to know what to do so this does not happen.
The first thing is to know about the different types of aggression.
Dominant aggression in dogs can come from male or female dogs, though it is most commonly found in male dogs that are still sexually intact. They may barge through doors, block the path of people walking, stop eating when approached, try to mount other dogs (or the legs of people) or simply lunge themselves at people.
Defensive aggression can come from dogs of all sizes, even the smallest of dogs. These dogs will show submissive behavior, such as a lowered head, ears back, avoid eye contact and may even urinate.
Dominant aggressive dogs can be extremely dangerous to everyone. It may have to do with a territory, predatory or sexual aggression. Either way, these dogs may end up growling, barking and may end up biting someone. They will not run out of fear – they will act.
Defensive aggressive dogs are different. They are submissive by nature and if they growl or bite, they are doing so out of fear.
Dog to dog aggression can be a serious threat, particularly with certain breeds. Do you know how aggressive your dog can be by nature and what you should do if your dog begins exhibiting signs of aggression toward another dog? If you don’t, you will want to learn soon so you don’t learn the hard way.
The important thing is to deter aggressive behavior before it has a chance to get out of hand. Positive reinforcement and socialization are two of the most important things you can do for a dog acting out aggressively. If you are too harsh on a dog, it can have negative repercussions for you – and this is when you will want to seek the help of dog aggression training experts.
Puppies and old dogs alike can be trained to break free of their aggressive attitudes. Not only is the training important for the dogs but the owners, too. You may have an aggressive dog on your hand but that may only be because of how you are handling the dog. Find out how to improve your dog’s behavior through training.