Tips For Curbing Dog Aggression

Dogs come in all sizes, shapes, and temperament and you tried to pick one from the litter that was perfect.  And he has grown into a wonderful dog; he's loving and smart and he's your best friend.

But you worry about your dog because he has started to show signs of aggressive behavior.  He snarls and shows his teeth at other dogs when you take him for a walk, and even growls and carries on if they pass by on the other side of your fence.  You worry that he'll hurt another dog if you can't control him on the leash or if he gets out of the house.  You worry if you were to take him to the dog park and let him loose he might get into a fight and you'll get hurt trying to break it up.

To put this in perspective, you need to think like a dog.  If you consider you and your dog as best friends, equals, companions, then you're off the mark. What you need to do is think of yourself as the master, the leader, the alpha dog.  Your dog should be your follower and look to you to lead him. 

You, your dog, and your family are a pack.  Dogs are social and like to be part of a pack and they expect there to be a leader.  If you are not the clear leader, your dog may make a bid for it.  This is dominance aggression and it happens when they feel out of control in their social circle and want to be the alpha dog.

For some dogs, fear aggression is a reaction to having a bad experience in the past.  If the dog has been hit or hurt in the past, he may choose to growl or show his teeth when he feels threatened or scared.  You may see this in a dog who snarls when he has been backed into a corner by children.

If your dog is overly protective of his outside space, that's known as territorial aggression.  A dog may be perfectly friendly with other dogs on neutral ground, but if they enter your dog's personal turf, watch out.  Some dogs show territorial aggression with their food and growl if you or another dog comes close to their food bowl.  This is "guarding".

Dogs who see themselves as the pack leader can show protective aggression to protect their pack.  They step in front of you when someone comes to the door, and they walk in front of you on walks.

Curbing aggressive behavior is not always easy, but here are some important tips to know:

1.  Be the alpha dog.  Always lead, don't let your dog get in front of you.  Remain tall, don't bring your head lower than your dog's.  Don't show fear, especially if challenged.

2.  Be consistent in your training and always let your dog know when he is exhibiting undesirable behavior.  Don't let things slide some of the time.

3.  Do not hit your dog.  This could lead to fear aggression.  If you're being aggressive as an answer to the dog's aggression, you're reinforcing it.  Be firm, use a strong, deep voice to reprimand.  Stay in control.

4.  Give him plenty of exercise to help him work through and direct his energy in a more positive direction.

If you fear the aggression is out of control and you're not equipped to deal with it, seek professional help as soon as possible.  A professional will work with both of you to retrain your dog.