It is the number one reason why so many dogs end up in animal shelters or are given up to the pound. Training an aggressive dog shouldn’t be done on your own without the guidance of an experienced dog trainer, however, there are some aggressive dog training tips that can help you with this task. There are things that you should know before embarking on aggressive dog training. Your goal is to have a dog that is well-behaved and obedient, but sometimes dog training can’t always reach that goal.
The most important tip for aggressive dog training is consistency. When you use any one of the tips that you read about, make sure that you follow it consistently. This will allow your dog to recognize what you expect of him. It may take time, but the results will be worth it. Some dog trainers suggest that you train your dog at home. While this is fine if you live in a city where there are dog trainers available, in rural areas it is better to hire a professional.
Dogs that are aggressive usually get their start from having an abusive situation around them. They may be scared, neglected, or have been abused in other ways. To avoid this from happening to your dog, talk to a professional about getting him street passes or even leash slips for walks. These things can desensitize him to approaching people on foot, which can help to correct aggressive behavior.
One tip for training your dog to be gentle is to hold eye contact when you are speaking to him. Sometimes training a dog to be gentle means holding his eyes instead of his ears, as dogs often sniff or lick their owners’ faces to communicate where they want to go. If he holds your eye contact, he will know that you mean business and that he should stay close to you. Also, try not to lean forward when giving treats. This can make another dog afraid of you, and the dog does not want to give up his treats to avoid a fight. He wants to be obedient, so he will learn to stay put when you lean forward to give him a treat.
Some types of dog behavior are more easily corrected by positive reinforcement than by negative conditioning, so you may wish to choose methods of training that uses positive reinforcement. The goal is to teach your dog how to respond to his own behaviors rather than reacting to negative stimuli. Aggressive and reactive dogs that react strongly to another dog’s presence can be corrected by positive reinforcement such as body reinforcement or verbal encouragement. Some dogs with a genetic predisposition to aggressive or reactive behaviors are more difficult to train, but they can be trained with the proper methods.
A good start to correcting aggressive behavior is to introduce a “missive” into your dog’s life. A dog that associates only with his pack, that barks whenever someone enters its territory, or who continuously exhibits herding behaviors (shearing sheep, for instance) may have been bred to be aggressive. In most cases, a new dog owner can correct these types of aggressive dogs with some basic obedience training and by establishing that she is the pack leader. Once she is housebroken and has learned to respect your authority and to listen to your commands, you will find that she is no longer aggressive towards you, your family, or other people.
Another important thing to look for in dog training tools are shock collars and electronic collars. These two types of collars are popular for a variety of different reasons. Some dog owners use them to correct their dog’s behavior on cue; the dog learns to anticipate the next command before he receives it. Others use the shock collars and electric muzzles to physically punish aggressive behavior. Electronic collars can also be used as a communication device between you and your dog, as well as a fun learning device.
If you want to teach your dog how to be aggressive, one of the best tools you can use is a leash and/or a muzzle. Leashes are effective because they allow you to control your dog when necessary without actually having to pull on the leash. The leash can be used as a way to teach your dog to wait at the door when you are going out, or to wait by the fence. Some good dog trainers recommend using a muzzle on your dog, though, so that you can discourage any aggressive dog behavior that might occur when your dog is excited or frightened.
