Understanding Why Some Dogs Are Aggressive
Understanding Why Some Dogs Are Aggressive
Most dogs don’t have multiple personalities. They don’t simply “flip out” as some owners seem to think. Instead, they have instinctive triggers which lead to aggression. Understanding the reasons why some dogs show aggression is the first step toward training and encouraging positive behavior. Below, we’ll describe the 4 primary reasons dogs become aggressive.
Displaying Dominance
Dogs show dominance at an early age. While some people think it’s adorable for a small puppy to growl, it’s important to curb the behavior while it’s young. Otherwise, the dog will likely show dominant aggression to its owner as it grows older. Dogs are pack animals. If your dog shows dominant aggression, change the “pack hierarchy.” Move that dog to bottom of the pack and make it clear that you are the pack leader.
Being Territorial
Dogs can easily begin thinking that the place in which they live is their own. For guard dogs, that can be a significant asset. For a domestic dog, it can become a nightmare. If your dog begins showing signs of territorial aggression, you need to change its perception of ownership. If it believes the backyard is its domain, keep him in the house.
Exhibiting Fear
Many owners mistakenly believe that dogs which show aggression based upon fear must have been abused in the past. While occasionally true, a dog’s fear is often the result of bad nerves, lack of socialization, or poor breeding. Unfortunately, this is one of the most difficult forms of aggression to correct. Some owners even opt to have their dog put to sleep if they’re unable to control their fear-based aggression.
On The Hunt
Some dog breeds exhibit a prey-based aggression. If left unchecked, it can become a problem. They’ll instinctively chase things that run. This could potentially be a small child. Like other forms of aggression, resolving the problem requires putting the dog in a circumstance that is inconsistent to its instinct. For example, have your dog lay motionless while you throw a ball. By doing so, you reprogram your dog and teach it control.
Dealing With Aggressive Dogs
Remember, dogs learn by routine and consistency, but are driven by instinct. If your dog manifests one of the types of aggression mentioned above, take the steps to do what is inconsistent to the dog’s nature. Aggression is hard to control, but with persistence, you can program much of it out of your dog.
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