One of the biggest common behavioral reasons that dog owners seek out professional veterinary attention is the dog’s aggression. It’s also the easiest number of reasons to train your dog not to be aggressive. Training an aggressive dog shouldn’t be done by yourself without the assistance of an experienced dog trainer, but there are a few of these aggressive dog training tips that may help you out.
The key to aggressive dog training is to start early, train often and understand your dog. Aggression is usually bred from early mistreatment and inadequate training early on in a dog’s life. Most people who own dogs have learned the hard way that consistency and firmness pay off. So, if you consistently train your dog not to be aggressive and use positive reinforcement at the same time, the dog will learn to like you and respect you.
One of the first things you want to make sure you understand when training your dog not to be aggressive is that aggression toward other dogs and people is completely normal behavior for the majority of canines. You can actually train your dog to behave better in social situations by making sure it knows its place in the pack, that all family members are respected and that it gets its fair share of love and attention. You should never beat around the bush with your dog because this will only make it more aggressive and frustrated. Train your dog in a way that makes him feel secure and loved, and he’ll be far easier to train effectively.
One tip for teaching your dog how to act properly in different situations is to teach him not to react to negative stimuli. You should trigger his imagination so he associates them with something positive. For example, if you toss a toy in front of him, he should immediately begin to imagine a pleasant or enjoyable experience. If the toy he’s tossing rolls into the grass, he should immediately imagine a dog cleaning it up. You need to make sure that you trigger his imagination with positive experiences, so that he associates bad experiences with negative stimuli.
If your dog likes to play with another dog while you are out, you need to take control of the situation before he becomes overly dominant. You can easily do this by using the command “stay” while holding a treat above his head. If he keeps going for the toy, you should yank the leash tight and say “stay” over again. Eventually, he’ll learn that he can’t have the toy because you’re using the command “stay” and will stop playing with the other dog.
Another useful tool for handling aggressive behavior is called the respondivity chart. This chart is simply a piece of paper with four boxes on it, each one representing a different sensation that your dog may be having when he’s aggressive. You can put the chart in a place where your dog can easily see it, such as on your kitchen table, and you can reward him when he reaches the top of the chart.
Dogs are sensitive creatures and they can feel when you don’t approve. So, when you’re out walking your dog, try to leave the house for longer periods of time, because really, he needs to “relax”. He’ll get the message and be less likely to have an aggressive dog showing its teeth at you while you’re out and about.
Another useful tool to use when teaching your dog not to have any fun with other dogs is the chew toy. While it’s not particularly useful for how to train my dog not to be aggressive toward other dogs, it can be really helpful for training him not to have any problems with chewing up your favorite chew toys, such as socks or golf balls. Some people have used bird feathers, or even stuffed toys made from cotton and wool to train their dogs not to chew, which can be useful. But, frankly, there are many other ways you can teach your dog not to be aggressive toward other dogs, including the fun stuff.
