Control Dog Aggression:

Dog aggression is any dog behavior that is shown with the intent of causing harm. While barking, growling, and biting are most common aggressive behavior in dogs, there can also be other aggressive behavior that are not commonly perceived to be so. Mounting or lunging at people and blocking the path are also aggressive behavior although, because they don’t look as threatening as barking or biting, they don’t gain as much attention.

There is a common misperception that certain breed of dogs show more aggression than others. This is untrue – all breeds of dogs can show aggressive behavior. Usually, 0.1 percent dogs of every breed may show increased aggression. But, due to the way dog breeds are commonly portrayed, people usually perceive that aggression is somehow linked with the breed of the dog.

Dog aggression happens due to a variety of reasons – dominance, fear, and territorial aggression are the most common types. Dogs can become aggressive when they feel threatened or when their territory is intruded upon. It is important that the real cause of dog aggression is found out before taking appropriate action on it. Consult your veterinarian or professional dog trainer to do a proper diagnosis.

There are no definite paths to stop dog aggression – the issue needs to be tackled according to the underlying cause and the severity of it. However, it is important to protect yourself and your family first, in case the aggression turns out to be unmanageable. Here are some dog aggression training steps that you may take to take care of your pet’s unwanted aggressive behavior.

Start a behavioral modification program on your pet. However, ensure that you involve a professional dog trainer or behaviorist before starting on the program. According to the type and extent of your dog’s aggression, a suitable behavioral modification program will need to be devised. But, it is important to understand that this behavioral modification program needs to be implemented gradually, patiently, and consistently over time.

Do not put too many expectations on your pet. Be patient and understand the behavior your dog shows. It is also important to make the dog socialize a bit, so that it lessens the chance of fear or territorial aggression.

Finally, and most importantly, never punish your dog for exhibiting aggressive behavior. This will further aggravate the problem and make the dog more aggressive. Understand why your dog may bark, snap, or growl – it may not always be out of unwanted aggression; often, the dog may have been provoked or the dog does so out of discomfort.