Stop Dog Aggression

Dogs can be aggressive, as you already know. As a dog lover, I’m sure you’ve seen many dog programs covering an array of topics. Some may have even dealt with aggression in dogs.

To be able to do anything about it though, you need to understand what the source of dog aggression is and why it happens at all. Then too, every dog’s personality is different, so even when you learn the source of aggression, and the principles that need to be followed to change that aggression, you still need to consider how much intensity to put into your training based on your dog’s attitude.

If your dog is quick to understand and has a compliant attitude, the intensity of your training must not be too harsh. If it is, your buddy can become shy and withdrawn for fear of not pleasing you. In the same way, if your dog chooses to be more stubborn and is strong-willed, you will need to increase the firmness, so he gets the message that he is not the dominant figure in the relationship between the two of you.

Then too, size is another factor to be considered. If you have a small toy dog, of course the quick tug on a leash can’t be as strong as with a large dog. If you have a Great Dane or a Rottweiler, the same leash strength you use on a toy dog will never do to teach your large dog what he needs to learn. All of these things need to be personally adapted to your own dog.

The huge contributor to the source of aggression is a lack of exercise. Once again, the larger your dog, the more room he’ll need to run. If you live in an apartment and own a large dog, you’ll need to commit to walking him a couple of times a day for 20 to 30 minutes each. Just like a child that is apartment bound for a couple of rainy or snowy days, they need to get out and burn off excess energy. If they don’t, you’ll find they become much more disagreeable and anxious in finding things to occupy their time.

Dogs are no different. Not only do they need the exercise to dispel their energy, they need the mental stimulation of seeing all the activity going on outside. The fresh air is much better for them and their alertness will be heightened.

Dogs are born with the instinct to dominate. Therefore, if they’re getting the physical and mental stimulation, along with the dominant assertiveness you portray to them as their leader, their aggression will naturally subside and become much more manageable, even to the point of not being aggressive at all. You must display to them that it is YOU who are the boss; the one who makes their decisions for them as to how they will behave in any situation.

Some dog owners think that exerting physical hitting or slapping as punishment will accomplish this. They’re absolutely wrong. It actually has the opposite affect. Instead of calming the aggression, they exacerbate it by putting the dog in a situation where he now feels threatened and needs to protect himself. This is a disaster!

A dog cannot be beaten into submission and still love and respect his master. He may choose to obey for the moment, but you can bet he’ll bolt at the first opportunity just to get away from the situation. So, in essence, you’ll be creating more problems than you’re solving.

Proper dog training is actually training yourself to correctly communicate what you want your dog to do through respect and care, and then being consistent to avoid any confusion for your dog. By demonstrating your genuine love and caring to him through continued proper positive and negative experiences, he’ll not only obey your commands, he’ll do it willingly and with a servant’s attitude. You’ll find you’ve developed a mutual trust and dedication between the two of you that is often only seen in movies.

You see, a dog really can be man’s best friend. Now what could possibly be better in an owner and dog friendship?