Preventing Dog Aggression
Dogs fight for a variety of reasons. Fights may erupt because of food possession, territorial issues, over territory or toys and some dogs may become dog aggressive when feeling restrained or vulnerable when on a leash. The best way to prevent dog aggression is to learn how to identify it and to understand the root causes behind it.
An improperly socialized dog will fight because of fear. This is one of the most common reasons many dogs fight. Dogs that haven’t been properly socialized can be shy or fearful, feeling threatened when put in an unfamiliar situation. Fighting is a way of defending themselves or a reaction to a perceived threat.
If you find your dog is social to other dogs and people at home but turns into Mr. Hide in public, the chances are that your dog lacks proper social skills that enable him to behave with confidence outside his comfort zone i.e. his home. The ideal way to tackle this problem is to help socialize your dog to help him cope with unfamiliar situations.
Taking your dog for a drive and allowing him to see places where there are a lot of dogs and people, such as dog parks, from the safety of the car will help him to feel more comfortable and less fearful of such places. Gradually begin to take him to new places and observe him for any signs of anxiety or fear such as him putting his tail between his legs or huddling close to you. If you notice any anxiety in your dog remove him from the situation immediately so that he will learn to trust you to protect him from situations he finds uncomfortable.
Teaching your dog to put his trust in you to protect him is a big step in helping him handle unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations.
Obedience classes can also help your dog become socialized properly. Before enrolling your dog in an obedience class, make sure you call ahead to talk to the trainer about your dog’s aggression issues. The trainer may offer you some helpful advice on how to decrease your dog’s stress levels and give you some helpful pointers on how to keep your dog safe in a class environment as well as ensuring the safety of other dogs in the class.
Territorial and possessive aggressive behavior patterns usually occur in dogs within the same household. Dogs live in clearly defined social hierarchies and there can be constant battles between dogs to establish dominance. Dogs in a pack will sometimes challenge one another for position within the pack and this is where fights may break out. A dominant dog may become aggressive when protecting his food or toys or what he perceives as his territory and you should try to allow dogs to work out their pecking order whenever possible. If aggression continues to evolve then you should try to diffuse the situation by feeding your dogs in separate areas and ensuring they have enough toys so as not to fight over them.
As mentioned before, dogs can fight because of a variety of reasons, and the best way to prevent an explosive situation is to remove the dog from a confrontational situation and seek professional advice. Trainers and dog behaviorists can help you with training techniques and exercises to do with your dog that can greatly help with your dog’s aggression issues.
Understanding why your dog resorts to aggression and working with him patiently to resolve these issues should cure your dog of anxiety and stress and help him cope with new situations confidently and appropriately.
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