One of the more common behavioral reasons that dog owners seek professional veterinary attention is a dog’s aggressive behavior. It’s also the commonest cause of relinquishment or destruction of property (such as in cases of attack or possession). Training an overly aggressive dog shouldn’t be attempted without the expertise of a qualified dog trainer, but there are some aggressive dog training tips that can help you with this problem.
The most basic, aggressive dog training tips revolve around maintaining a proper balance between the owner and dog. Dogs naturally tend to growl at people when they are dominant or when they feel threatened, and some dogs have problems with this behavior even when they are owned by people who never own them. You can learn how to train your dog to growl responsibly by keeping a handle on your temper. Some dog training tricks for this problem include using the “come” command instead of “let go,” taking your dog for regular checkups, and providing a safe pastime (like going for a walk) where your dog is allowed to growl at any dog in your presence. Don’t use choke chains or physical force, since this may encourage aggressive behavior in your dog. Instead, use a kind yet firm voice, with a firm hand on his chest and a firm “come” command in your voice.
If you find that other dogs love to follow you around, try using a leash and treat system. To teach this trick, hold a leash in one hand and a treat in the other. Approach your dog from a standing start and extend your right leg. Your dog will then growl at you to keep you from crossing in front of him. Be prepared to receive some yelping back as he thinks you’re about to pass. When you put your weight on him, he’ll let go and give praise or treat in return.
If your dog has a habit of jumping on people, you should know that he’s really benefiting from it. In fact, if your dog loves to jump up on visitors, your guests, family members, mail carrier or anyone else, you’re probably doing him a favor by not bringing him into your home. He’ll get lots of free exercise and good exposure to people in your presence, who are often on high-risk lists for him. One way you can make him stop jumping is to be sure that he isn’t coming directly into contact with the person who’s instructing him. This can be accomplished using a harness with a chin strap that restricts his movement.
You should also teach your dog to come when called by their owners. You can do this by attaching a “Do Not Disturb” sign to their collar. Then attach a leash to your dog with its lead already attached. Have him stand still and wait for the command to be issued. Release the leash and then walk away. Every time he hears that annoying “Do Not Disturb” sign, he’ll stop his quest and come to greet you.
One last tip on dealing with overly aggressive dogs is to make sure he has plenty of chew toys. Dogs naturally love to play with bones, teething rings, rubber balls and anything else they can grasp. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have enough of those things around the house. When your dog gets stressed out, he may scratch or bite. This can create a vicious cycle where you can’t scratch because you don’t have enough dog-scratch treats in your house, which means your dog can’t get all the excitement he craves because there aren’t any dog-scratch treats around. It’s a catch-22.
By keeping a careful watch on his behavior, you can teach him what kinds of behavior are unacceptable and what kinds of behavior will get him attention and praise. But how can you tell which behaviors are caused by a lack of exercise, lack of playtime, or other situations? That’s where the “Do Not Disturb” sign comes in. By learning how to recognize how your dog is feeling and responding to it, you can give your dog more positive experiences and therefore reduce his stress level. Use the “Do Not Disturb” sign as soon as your dog starts to act up and you’ll have a much better chance at getting him to calm down and behave properly.
There are many ways you can teach your dog to behave properly. Some methods work better than others. Using dog training tips like the ones above will ensure that your dog doesn’t become overly aggressive and continue to act up despite all of your best efforts. Once you identify the root cause of his aggression, you can then take measures to correct it and restore him to his original, passive, or obedient self. And that’s the last thing you want to see happen!
