All dog owners need to be aware of their legal liability when it comes to owning dogs who exhibit aggressive behavior. Most states have some sort of strict liability law that makes dog owners financially responsible for the victims of dog attacks. Unfortunately, dog attacks are not a rare occurrence, as every day you can find articles in news papers about aggressive dog behavior. Also, dog attacks are not limited to specific breeds. Some people mistakenly think that aggressive dog behavior is based on genetics, but this is assumption is incorrect. Dogs are not born to react aggressively, this type of behavior is a learned reaction. Any dog can learn to exhibit aggressive behavior and any dog could react aggressively to situations once that behavior is learned and not corrected. Also, you can’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because your dog has an overall pleasant, happy disposition. We had one of the sweetest golden retrievers you could ever meet and yet he still demonstrated aggressive behavior in certain situations.
Typical signs of aggressive behavior include: growling, baring of teeth, snapping, biting curling lips, mounting humans or other pets, blocking your movement, lunging, or a dull glassy stare with legs stiffened and hackles raised.
To begin to understand how to start aggressive dog training, that is to control your dogs aggressive behavior, you first need to understand what the most common types of dog aggression are:
Dominance Based Aggression
Dogs are pack animals. This is a highly socialized environment in which they thrive under a clear cut hierarchy. However, some dogs may perceive their place in the social pecking order of your family as higher than yourself or other members of your family. I this is the case, you will notice your dog exhibiting aggressive behavior as a way to challenge your or other family members in certain situations.
Fear Based Aggression
When dogs have experienced previous abuse, they may interpret a simple non-threatening act such has a pat on top of their head as an actual intention to strike the dog. In this case the dogs will react to protect themselves by responding aggressively..
Territorial Based Aggression
Dogs will seek to protect their territory as a way of protecting their pack. So, if they believe that a stranger within the boundaries of their territory poses a threat they will react aggressively. If you walk your dog around the neighborhood and allow them to mark their territory through urine marking, they will then have a larger territorial area in which they may feel driven to protect.
Aggressive Dog Training Tips – keys to limiting the behavior
- First of all, if your dog suddenly begins to exhibit aggressive behavior when he or she hasn’t done so before, you should take your dog to see your veterinarian. It is possible that your dog is reacting to a medical situation. Also, if your dog is not reacting to a physical condition or problem, your veterinarian will be an excellent source for a quality referral for a canine behavioral specialist to help you deal with your dog’s aggressive behavior.
- Be responsible. If you you know that your dog may respond aggresively if certain situations, you should consider using a muzzle on your dog when you take him out in public. However, don’t leave your dog unattended while wearing a muzzle because it won’t take much for him to figure out how to take it off.
- Avoid situations in which your dog may be prone to show aggressive behavior.
- Have your dog spayed or neutered. Dogs who have been altered are far less likely to exhibit aggressive behavior.
Be a responsible dog owner. It is your obligation to insure the safety of other pets and people from the behavior of your dog.