Training An Aggressive Dog

Training an aggressive dog is an important issue that doesn't need to be a frustrating experience. It's something that has to be done, if you want to avoid potential trouble in the future.

Even though it may be your dog and you love him/her, it is YOUR responsibility to keep your dog safe as well as other people and animals safe. It only takes a second for a nasty incident that may have been preventable.

Potentially Dangerous Scenarios

Dogs are very much like people. They can have similar health concerns, both physical and mental. Sometimes, as responsible people, we have to step in and lend a helping hand.

There have been some horror stories of dog attacks. We've all heard about them. A pack of dogs escape and maul a child to death; a big dog attacks and kills a little dog that was being walked by its elderly owner.

Sometimes, a leash or collar could snap. After all, we are talking about a dog that may be both large and aggressive and therefore, powerful. The dog could cause great damage to a person or animal.

Possible Legal Problems

There are potential legal problems for you to be concerned about. The aggressive dog may be put down; however, the damage to someone's life would have been done. It's best to take steps to totally avoid this.

Some dog breeds have a bad reputation, such as the Chow Chow, the Pit Bull and the Rottweiler. However, it also depends on the owner. Even a Jack Russell can be quite an aggressive animal.

There are also different types of aggression. For example, fear aggression could cause a dog to bite someone who comes too close, since it feels threatened. Most aggressive behavior should not be tolerated, unless it's an aggressive mother protecting her newborn babies.

Some Advice On Aggression

Again, you will need to be patient and persevere. Don't punish your dog for being aggressive. There are many methods you can use. By the way, has your dog been spayed or neutered? This could have an impact as well.

You could try desensitization by gradually exposing your dog to a certain stimulus that provokes aggression. It's almost like exposing someone with a phobia to the object of their fear. It eventually decreases.

Don't encourage aggression by playing games like tug-of-war. It's also not a good idea to enroll in a 'normal' obedience class.

Speak to your vet and also a professional. Training an aggressive dog may cost more, but it's something that needs to be addressed quickly.

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