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When people think about getting a puppy, they think of a cute, sweet little furball that loves to play and lavish everyone they meet with big, wet kisses. The last thing they think about is training for aggressive dogs because it never crosses their mind that their sweet little puppy could grow up to be large, scary, aggressive dog.
When people think about getting a puppy, they think of a cute, sweet little furball that loves to play and lavish everyone they meet with big, wet kisses. The last thing they think about is training for aggressive dogs because it never crosses their mind that their sweet little puppy could grow up to be large, scary, aggressive dog.
Most people are under the mistaken impression that only dogs who are abused and neglected become aggressive. Unfortunately, this is not true. While abuse and neglect are generally responsible for cases of severe aggression, there are many dogs raised in loving environments that grow up to be aggressive. So why is it that some puppies grow up to be aggressive even though they are raised with love and kindness?
The reason is so simple and obvious that is often overlooked. Dogs have been domesticated for so long that we tend to forget that they are animals with natural instincts that are very strong. These instincts are perfectly natural, and many of them, like their sense of loyalty to their owners, are part of what makes them so desirable as pets. In some dogs, however, certain instincts are heightened, and when left unchecked can develop into aggression. Owners often fail to realize this, and dismiss early warning signs of aggression as nothing more than typical dog behavior.
It is crucial that owners are aware of and able to identify early warning signs of aggression so that they will be able to better understand how to treat aggressive dog behavior. Training for aggressive dogs can only succeed when owners understand and address the underlying causes of aggression.
Excessive displays of dominance, fear and territorialism are all warning signs of aggression. As an owner, your first step in learning how to help an aggressive dog is to recognize these excessive displays for what they are and work with your dog to help them understand that their aggressive reactions are not acceptable behavior.
Fear can bring out the natural instinct of a dog to protect itself. Usually you will know when your dog feels scared. Its first response could be to put its tail between its legs, flatten its ears back against its head, and it may either look away or run. But when it feels like it has no other way out, it may lash out by growling, snarling, baring its teeth and eventually biting. Proper training for aggressive dogs will teach them to overcome their inappropriate reactions to fear.
Dogs are pack animals and every pack must have a leader, or alpha dog. Some dogs are naturally alpha dogs, and they attempt to establish themselves as such by dominating everyone and everything around them. While this instinct is perfectly acceptable in the wild, it can quickly become a dangerous problem in a domestic setting, particularly in homes with small children. It is imperative that dogs understand their place in the “pack” and recognize that their owner is the alpha dog. Training for aggressive dogs can help curb your dog’s dominant behavior and teach you how to assert yourself as top dog.
It is good for dogs to watch out for intruders, but excessive territorial attitudes become undesirable, especially when you have guests in your house. Dogs consider their home, family or anything they believe to be theirs (toys, food, your shoes) as their possessions that must be defended at all costs. If your dog’s defensive behavior is excessive, you need to realize that it is a sign of aggression and learn how to treat aggressive dog behavior.
There is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners. Dogs are just like children in that they need love, patience and understanding. They also need proper discipline, and owners that can recognize warning signs of aggression and provide them with training for aggressive dogs when needed. So take the time to learn how to help an aggressive dog so that you can help your dog overcome any aggression problems and become a sweet, friendly dog.