Ever wonder how you can teach your dog not to be aggressive? Maybe you have been bitten or attacked by your dog, and now you want to protect yourself, your family, and others. You may want to protect your property or your pets. You need aggressive dog training tips that will help you control your dog.
The first rule in any dog training class is NEVER physically punish your dog. Some aggressive dog training tips advocates a muzzle. A muzzle, worn by the dog during training, helps control the dog’s aggression and prevents biting the arm of an innocent person, or worse yet, a child. The muzzle should be made of strong material to prevent choking or damage to the dog.
Second on the list of aggressive dog training tips is to never, ever snap, pull, or beat your dog. Snapping, pulling, and beating are only ways of getting attention. If your dog continuously bites you, even if it was defending himself, he is exhibiting aggressive behavior.
During training, stay calm and speak gently to your dog. You want your dog to understand that aggression is not normal behavior. Remember, you will not be able to change aggressive behavior. However, you can, with repetition, teach your dog that certain actions are unacceptable and others are acceptable. With consistent reinforcement of your pet’s behaviors, you can develop self-control, confidence, and self-respect.
When training your dog not to be aggressive, many dog owners make the mistake of praising good behavior. While this is often a good thing, it can actually cause your dog to misbehave because he senses you are praising him for bad behavior. The key is to avoid rewarding bad behavior and instead give rewards for good behavior. This may sound difficult at first but with a little practice, you will quickly notice that your dog loves praise and will respond well to a simple verbal praise or treat. Be sure to use lots of treats.
Another of the important dog training tips is that most dogs lose their appetites when they are left alone or let out of their crates or dog carriers. This is why you should keep them in a safe, exciting place most of the time to help them stay relaxed. Purchase several toys to play with your pup and keep them in a safe excitement state. Do not spend too much time playing with your dog, however. Your dog needs to have some time to itself so he can get adjusted to his new collar and leash.
A dog owner who has difficulty training his dog to stay calm and not to bark excessively can opt to use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. Using positive reinforcement offers the best results. Many dog trainers make the mistake of yelling at their dog if he exhibits bad behavior. While yelling does work sometimes, most experts recommend using positive reinforcement instead. For example, if your dog begins to bark when you leave the house, immediately stop your dog from barking and reward him with a treat. Positive reinforcement works and is much more effective than yelling at your dog.
Another useful tip for those with dogs that act aggressively is to take your pup outside often during the day. You can practice leash training by walking your dog on a leash while praising him for good behavior. Taking your pup for daily walks ensures that he gets used to being taken out in public and will hopefully curb some of his less than desirable behavior.
When practicing training a dog not to be aggressive, one of the most important dog aggression dog training tips is to pay attention to your surroundings. If you are with another dog or person and they make unwanted advances towards you, do not be tempted to back away. Instead, simply turn away from the situation and walk away. Of course, paying attention to your surroundings is very important for people walking their dogs as well so be sure to pay attention to your surroundings and pay close attention to the people around you as well.
Dogs are very territorial creatures and will naturally want to show their power over others. When training tips for aggressive dogs focus on aggression, remember that they have the natural instinct to guard their territory. As they guard their territory, this means they will naturally attempt to corner or attack those that enter their territory. However, when training tips for aggressive dogs address the natural instinct, do not become aggressive yourself. This can cause the aggressive dog to begin to think that he has the right to aggressively defend himself. In fact, it is very possible for the dog to become aggressive toward you as well.
The easiest thing to remember when training a dog not to be aggressive is that you should never touch or push the pup in any way. You should also refrain from giving any special treats to the dog unless the puppy is defending his human (which he will if he is allowed to run around freely). Training a dog not to be aggressive, can be very difficult if you don’t know how to properly train him. However, if you follow the training tips above and treat your pet with respect, he will love you for it.