How do I train my dog not to be aggressive towards strangers? This is a question more owners are asking every day as they find themselves defending their dogs from potential harm on a daily basis. Even within the domestic dog population, there are some breeds that can be found with aggressive tendencies. Some examples of these include Dobermans, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and Great Danes. The good news is that these types of dog breeds can still be taught proper manners if taught by a professional.
It used to be said that you could not potty train an angry dog. This is not true anymore as long as you have a reliable, dedicated and consistent resource to train and educate your canine. When was the last time you showed up at the dog park with your dog and he was just sitting around doing nothing? That would be considered normal behavior. The only time you should worry about it is if he has been left alone in the car for a period of time as he might be afraid or aggressive towards anyone who comes along.
If he barks when ever someone arrives at your house, you need to take note of that as well. Remember, the key to training any dog is communication. You would want to let the dog know that it cannot bark too much because it could scare you away. This way, the dog would know that when you arrive home, you would not chase it or harass it.
In terms of toys, this does not need to be a difficult question to answer. Of course, the dog likes to chew and play. Your job then is to find suitable toys that are not harmful to it. Some common toxic items include metal, paint or wood. These items should not be given to a dog under any circumstances. They can cause serious illnesses and infections.
Most importantly, your dog is going to need socialization in terms of being around other people and dogs. How do you find out what is acceptable in your area? You can ask around at dog training schools in your area. Ask fellow dog owners for advice on which places they would suggest. It would be even better if you could find a couple of references, since this will increase your chances of getting good results.
With socialization complete, you need to start obedience training. The dog will have to learn that it is perfectly within its rights to ignore other people and dogs. Remember that it has no business pulling ahead of cars, barking unnecessarily or jumping on people and pets. The goal here is to get it to realize that it is doing these things because it is not part of its natural behavior. Once it learns that ignoring strangers and dogs is not going to get them anywhere, you can move on to commands.
Obedience training is probably the trickiest part of learning how to train your dog not to be aggressive towards strangers. A dog that barks at every car that passes by or that sniffs around the house for garbage does not learn to behave properly. Instead, it learns to bark incessantly at anyone who comes near it or who touches it. This is a huge problem as dogs are taught to respect their owners. If you cannot relate to this type of training, perhaps a visit to a dog obedience school would be in order.
Train your dog to act appropriately when it comes to being around strangers. If your dog barks at cars and gets on your nerves, remember that your dog does not know better. It is only reacting to the situation around it. Teaching your dog how do I train my dog not to be aggressive towards strangers can be done if you use positive reinforcement.
