Three Tips For Training an Aggressive Dog
Having an aggressive dog in the house can be a frightening and dangerous situation.
Even if the dog doesn't threaten the family -- aggression sometimes takes the form of over protectiveness -- dog bites or dog fights can bring injuries, bad relationships, and lawsuits -- or criminal action if the injury is serious enough.
Dominance aggression happens when the alpha dog, usually male, establishes himself as leader of the pack.
A variation on dominance happens when any dog is not sure who is the top dog in the household and sets himself to find out.
1.
Check with a veterinarian.
If you find yourself with an aggressive dog, particularly if your dog goes through a sudden personality change, a good first stop is your veterinarian.
A dog who is in pain can be snappish.
Also, some purebred cocker spaniels have a genetic condition called sudden rage syndrome or sudden onset aggression, which causes them to suddenly and viciously turn on their owners.
If the vet determines that you've got a behavioral and not a medical problem, then you can implement some lifestyle changes for your dog that will help to integrate him into the family.
2.
Teach the dog who is in charge of the pack.
First, the dog needs to understand that he's not the top dog.
As the provider of food, shelter and protection, that role belongs to you, the owner.
As the alpha dog, you and the family eat first, and then the dog eats.
If the dog is blocking your path, he needs to move.
If he has an aggression problem, he does not get onto the furniture or sleep on the bed -- a place of power for a dog.
He does not place his paws on your shoulders to greet you when you come home.
This looks like a hug to humans; a dog understands it as a dominance challenge.
He gets no meal, treat, toy, reward, or praise of any kind without doing something to earn it.
He must do a "down, stay" to get his food, "sit" for a treat, "down" for a chew toy (you pick the specific commands, but there must be something).
This is not unkind to the dog.
Dominant dogs tend to be intelligent and responsible and easily bored, so making their life more demanding is really something they like.
When he does his "down, stay," you give him enthusiastic praise as well as his dinner, and the same for every command he obeys.
3.
Avoid harsh physical punishment.
Teaching the dog who's in charge is not a matter of beating the dog into submission.
That would be more likely to teach him that he needs to fight to protect himself.
Instead, lavish praise and rewards on him when he behaves appropriately and either ignore or isolate him (for a few minutes) when he behaves inappropriately.
With these dogs, advice from professionals can be a big help.
Online dog training offers ebooks and videos, and some trainers will give consultations about difficult problems.
Dogs have lived with humans since before recorded history.
With effective canine training, you can get your dog to stop biting, fighting, threatening.
You can have a the dog you've always wanted and prevent injuries and lawsuits.
Even if the dog doesn't threaten the family -- aggression sometimes takes the form of over protectiveness -- dog bites or dog fights can bring injuries, bad relationships, and lawsuits -- or criminal action if the injury is serious enough.
Dominance aggression happens when the alpha dog, usually male, establishes himself as leader of the pack.
A variation on dominance happens when any dog is not sure who is the top dog in the household and sets himself to find out.
1.
Check with a veterinarian.
If you find yourself with an aggressive dog, particularly if your dog goes through a sudden personality change, a good first stop is your veterinarian.
A dog who is in pain can be snappish.
Also, some purebred cocker spaniels have a genetic condition called sudden rage syndrome or sudden onset aggression, which causes them to suddenly and viciously turn on their owners.
If the vet determines that you've got a behavioral and not a medical problem, then you can implement some lifestyle changes for your dog that will help to integrate him into the family.
2.
Teach the dog who is in charge of the pack.
First, the dog needs to understand that he's not the top dog.
As the provider of food, shelter and protection, that role belongs to you, the owner.
As the alpha dog, you and the family eat first, and then the dog eats.
If the dog is blocking your path, he needs to move.
If he has an aggression problem, he does not get onto the furniture or sleep on the bed -- a place of power for a dog.
He does not place his paws on your shoulders to greet you when you come home.
This looks like a hug to humans; a dog understands it as a dominance challenge.
He gets no meal, treat, toy, reward, or praise of any kind without doing something to earn it.
He must do a "down, stay" to get his food, "sit" for a treat, "down" for a chew toy (you pick the specific commands, but there must be something).
This is not unkind to the dog.
Dominant dogs tend to be intelligent and responsible and easily bored, so making their life more demanding is really something they like.
When he does his "down, stay," you give him enthusiastic praise as well as his dinner, and the same for every command he obeys.
3.
Avoid harsh physical punishment.
Teaching the dog who's in charge is not a matter of beating the dog into submission.
That would be more likely to teach him that he needs to fight to protect himself.
Instead, lavish praise and rewards on him when he behaves appropriately and either ignore or isolate him (for a few minutes) when he behaves inappropriately.
With these dogs, advice from professionals can be a big help.
Online dog training offers ebooks and videos, and some trainers will give consultations about difficult problems.
Dogs have lived with humans since before recorded history.
With effective canine training, you can get your dog to stop biting, fighting, threatening.
You can have a the dog you've always wanted and prevent injuries and lawsuits.