One of the biggest dog-aggressive behavior reasons that many dog owners seek out veterinary treatment is their dog’s aggression toward other dogs. It’s also the scariest number of reasons why pets are put up for adoption or reclaimed by their owners. Aggressive dog training should never be attempted on your own. There is usually a reason for the aggression – whether it’s an injury fear, territorial instincts, or just plain old bad luck. To effectively train an aggressive dog, you need the right tools and guidance.
Here are a few basic tips for aggressive dog training. First, never ever hit a dog (either in the hand or with a bite) because you might cause the dog to become violent toward people as a result of your actions. Instead, use positive reinforcement and stick to the no aggression policy at all times. Be sure to always exercise control at all times when around other animals, children, or people.
Use your voice with your dog to gently guide him in the correct direction. You’ll want to be firm, consistent, and calm in the interaction, using your voice and body language to direct the dog toward the proper place or direction. When using your body language to command your dog, pay attention to his ears and tail, as they will be the first signs that he’s getting it. You’re teaching him to stay calm in uncomfortable situations. You should try to work on getting the dog to listen to your commands throughout his entire range of motion, from walking forward to backing away from you, using both eyes ears, and tail.
The next thing you need to consider when training a dog not to be aggressive to other dogs his muzzles. A well-behaved dog will keep its muzzles on all the time. Muzzles are essential safety equipment. They protect the dog from any contact with a person or other animal, including being hit, touched, or scratched. Keep in mind that puppies may not always be able to control their actions when wearing the muzzle, so you may need to intervene. With some dogs, gently guide them into the appropriate position for the training.
Once you know how to train a dog not to be aggressive to other dogs, you can begin your long run training. Your long run goals should include obedience, agility, tracking, health care, and protection. Obedience training should involve your dog following your instructions and respecting your authority. Agility needs constant short walks, tracking needs plenty of exercise, health care requires regular checkups and physical exams, and protection needs you to be nearby at all times.
The next step in the long run is behavior tricks. These can be used to make sure your dog doesn’t become aggressive toward other dogs. This can include simple commands like sit, stay, come, and down. You can also use these behavior tricks with a leash, which gives you more control over how the dog responds to others. These can include such simple games as the tug of war and hide and seek. You can work toward increasing your dog’s agility and handling skills through these exercises, as well.
After you have started working with your dog, you may find that he or she has some behavior problems or aggressive tendencies. In order to deal with these problems, you should remember how to train a dog not to be aggressive to other dogs by starting with simple commands like sit, stay, and come. These will begin to teach your dog that you are the leader of the pack and that you are the handler. At this point, you can introduce physical activities and leash training for added control and to build your dogs’ confidence. Be careful, though, not to start lunging at other dogs when you first start out; instead, start with the basic commands and then add more challenging commands as you and your dog become more comfortable with each other.
You should also know how to train a dog not to be aggressive to other dogs by making sure that the dog has its own place to rest and play while you are not around. If your dog is constantly bored, it is more likely to bark and chew on anything or anybody that comes near it. Another great idea is to invest in some bully sticks or chew toys for your dog. Keep in mind that if you have any questions about how to train a dog not to be aggressive to other dogs, consult your vet, who should be able to give you sound advice based on your dog’s breed and age. Good luck!
