Types of Aggression In Dogs
Aggressive dogs can be a problem for everyone. They can be especially frightening for small children and adults alike. Even though some breeds are more aggressive than other breeds there is usually an underlying reason that a dog is aggressive. If you find out why your dog is acting out you can tailor your training methods to curb his aggression. You will be a more contented pet owner if you can trust your dog to be calm in most situations.
Sometimes aggressive behavior is because your dog wants to establish dominance. Dogs are pack animals and there is always a hierarchy to the pack. The alpha dog is the ring leader and the other dogs follow suit. Proper training will establish you as the alpha dog or the leader. Do not allow your dog to think of himself as the leader or you will continuouslyhave difficulties. Even so your dog may still try to establish his dominance over other dogs or animals and this may be the cause of his dominance aggression.
Dogs can also act aggressively because they are protecting their territory. Your dog thinks certain things are “his” including you, your home and your family. While this can often be a good thing in certain situations it can create problems with visitors or neighbors if it gets out of control. If you dog is excessively aggressive in protecting his territory his behavior may need to be curbed.
Often a dog will strike out from fear. Something scares your dog and rather than retreat he lashes out and attacks. The dog will start growling, pull his ears back and tuck his tail between his legs. Many times this type of aggression is mistaken for direct aggression. Fear aggression is mostly caused by a situation that has frightened the dog. He is lashing out because he is frightened and does not know how to handle that fear.
Aggressive behavior can sometimes occur for no apparent reason. However this aggression is usually misdirected. Something happens that triggers anxiety within the dog but he is not able to react to the actual stimuli so he lashes out on something else. This may be a reason for some inexplicable dog fights between 2 or more animals. The dog is just not able to act on the real cause.
There can also be biological reasons for aggression. Many times a female dog can be aggressive when they are nursing a new litter of pups. This type of aggression is understandable as she is protecting her litter from any perceived threats. There is also always a possibility of a medical problem if your dog is overly aggressive so taking your dog to the vet for a thorough examination is always recommended.
Spaying your female dog and neutering your male dog will usually help alleviate excessive aggression. Your training efforts will also be easier and more effective. If you are not in the business of breeding dogs, spaying and neutering is the responsible thing to do.
If you consider the reasons why your dog may be acting aggressively you can tailor your training methods and curb the aggression. You can work with your dog’s own specific needs and have more success.
Leading training tips for your pet dog plus learn what dog training videos I used to train my dog in a few minutes a day.
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