At times, dog owners may forget that their loving dog is a predator and can cause serious injuries. Did you know that on a yearly basis, there are over 4.5 million Americans bitten by dogs? Most probably the actual number is much higher because many are not reported. Half of the victims are children under the age of nine.
It’s critical that you understand what the signs of an aggressive dog are. For example biting, growling, snarling, and snapping. If you ignore these behaviors they can become a serious problem. Your dog can hurt someone, you can be sued you, or your dog can be sentence to death.
Things that contribute to a dog’s aggressive behavior include: living conditions, lack of socialization skills, and excessive punishment, being spoiled, teasing children. Dogs like Akitas and Dobermans are more at risk to more aggressive than Labrador or Golden Retriever.
Three Types of Aggressive Dog Behavior
When dogs become aggressive they are letting you know to keep your distance. However, since human have a different communication system the aggressive behavior can be perceive incorrectly. The following a list of the three most common types of aggressive behavior in dogs:
Fear Aggression
Genetic predisposition, a prior trauma or mistreatment play a major factor in this type of aggression. The dog may lash out in self defense if he feels threaten. Regardless, of whether you believe the fear is real or imaginary you should take it very serious and help your dog.
Dominance Aggression
Dogs have a pack order which determines their rank. This status is established and maintain by their body language. Within their pack, one dog will be have the dominant status (leader) and the other dogs will have a lower rank. When dogs live with people, it is critical that the human family establishes themselves as the Leaders.
As terrible as it sounds, dogs need to be at the bottom of your family hierarchy. If this is not clear to your dog it can result in aggressive behavior. When dogs don't welcome their lower status within the human structure they can respond hostile to well-intended gestures, such petting or hugging. Your dog may feel that your loving expressions are challenging his status.
Territorial Aggression
Dogs guard a specific territory and will become aggressive when visitors unknowingly step into this mark territory. Depending on whether they have scent marked their own yard or the entire neighborhood, they might end up with small or big territories. Overly territorial dogs will display aggressive dog behavior to any person or animal entering their space.
Ideas to Modified Aggressive Dog Behavior
Aggressive behavior in dog is complicated but the great news it that it can be modified or controlled. Here are few ideas:
There are approximately fifty medical reasons for aggression in a dog. Therefore, it makes sense to visit a veterinarian to rule out medical condition (liver disease, brain tumor, low blood sugar). This should your first step, if the aggressive behavior develops at maturity.
Early socialization in very important, so puppies should be treated gently. They should be hand fed by children and adults and taught to grab the food politely. Aggressive grabbing or lunging should not be permitted. Unwanted behavior should be ignored. Never physically punish your dog.
Preferably before he is six months old go ahead spay or neuter your dog. Intact dogs have higher chances of displaying aggressive behavior. Dogs know when there is a female dog in heat nearby, and their desire to reproduce can trigger them to start fighting with you or other dog.
After an illness has been eliminated, its time to start a dog training for aggressive dogs. This will allow you to get to know you dog even more and learn to clearly communicate with him.
A dominance human- dog relationship should be started. Don’t allow your dog to obtain a dominant status over a family member. He needs to be clear on his social ranking and never allowed to challenge people. If you’re the leader dog, he will feel safe and secure. He will not feel the need to guard the marked territory from visitors.
Professional help may be necessary to counter aggressive dog behavior before it spirals out of control and someone gets bitten.
It’s important that you do not ignore aggressive dog behavior. These kinds of problems will not disappear by themselves. The great news is that it's possible to re-educate and train even the most aggressive
Visit www.dog-obedience-training-ideas.com to find more ideas on how to stop aggressive dog behavior, dog training reviews, or other behavior problems, such a biting, chewing, aggression, jumping up, barking, begging, digging and many more.
