Friday, December 28, 2007

Do You Know What You Should About Training For Aggressive Dogs?

By Missy Matheson

There is absolutely nothing more adorable than a new puppy, with its dancing eyes, little wagging tail and milky breath. You can't help but fall in love with the little wriggling fur ball as it nuzzles your neck and slurps your face with its little wet tongue, lavishing you with unconditional love. The thought that you should start learning about training for aggressive dogs never crosses your mind, because you can't imagine that this little four-legged angel could ever be anything other than sweet and gentle.

Unfortunately, many puppies do grow up to be aggressive dogs. Many people are under the impression that aggression is the result abuse and neglect. While many dogs are indeed aggressive because of shameful mistreatment, neglect and abuse are not always to blame for aggression. In fact, many aggressive dogs have owners that love them and treat them extremely well. So why do some dogs with kind, loving owners turn into aggressive dogs?

The problem is simple, and unfortunately, extremely common. Dogs are animals with very strong instincts. Some of these instincts, like their sense of loyalty to their humans, endear them to us and have made them "man's best friend." But dogs have other instincts that while completely normal, can develop into aggressive behavior when felt too keenly. By failing to recognize that certain instincts in their dog are kicking into overdrive, owners are failing to recognize that their dog is actually displaying early signs of aggression.

Recognizing these early signs is the key to understanding how to treat aggressive dog behavior. The only way that training for aggressive dogs can be successful is if the underlying causes of aggression are identified and understood.

So, in order to learn how to help an aggressive dog, you must first learn to recognize the warning signs of certain instincts that are becoming problematic, and understand what you must do to help curb these instincts. The most common warning signs to watch for are excessive displays of dominance, fear and territorialism.

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.

While it can sometimes be annoying to have your dog bark at every living creature that comes within 10 feet of your door, it is perfectly normal dog behavior. It is a simple fact that dogs are territorial and feel instinctively bound to protect their homes and their families. But if your dog's "protectiveness" is scaring your guests and neighbors, then you need to deal with it as soon as possible by learning 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.

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