How to Avert Aggressive Responses and Behaviours in Irritable or Cranky Dogs

Owning a dog can add countless hours of enjoyment and companionship into the lives of all family members and to that of the pet as well. Many dog owners have commented on the comfort they draw just by having the dog by their side, especially after a particularly stressful day or on those occasions when the owner is feeling under the weather.

Most people will concede that there will be times/days when they or those around them are not at the top of their game, so to speak.  In fact, they may exhibit behaviour that is recognized as being rather out-of-character and even commented upon, by family, friends, or co-workers.  These observers might further express the hope that such uncommon behaviour is not a sign that something is truly wrong behind-the-scenes for that person.

Much like its human companions, a dog can have its off-days too; although dog owners would like their pets to always be happy and content, there will be times when a dog will be, for want of a fancier word, cranky. There are several factors that can contribute to a dog feeling irritable or cantankerous (fancier words for cranky) – these would consist of:

• Boredom
• Pain or illness
• Disturbed sleep
• Lack of exercise
• Over-exhaustion
• Lack of attention
• Heat and humidity

In turn, a dog can display behaviours that are out-of-character too, something that one may describe as short-tempered in humans but, in dogs, are actually signs of aggressive tendencies that can be detrimental to its relationship with family members, neighbours, young children, and other dogs.  These signs can and will include:

• Snapping and biting
• Snarling or baring teeth
• Guttural warnings/growls
• Over-possessiveness with toys
• Resource guarding – food, treats
• Territoriality over any encroachment

While it may not always be possible to prevent irritability/crankiness in a dog, especially in circumstances relating to illness, injury, or weather conditions, there are actions that dog owners can take to minimize or prevent these aggressive responses and behaviours. Such steps can encompass the following activities with/for their dog:

• Building stamina through regular exercise
• Generating mental stimulation via play time
• Accentuating care/attention (not neglect/isolation)
• Enrolling dog in aggression control training classes

With respect to professional dog training support for curbing aggressive behaviour in dogs, their owners may find benefit from the programs offered by Alpha Paws in Newmarket.

Professional Dog Training Classes to Address Aggressive Behaviours in Dogs

As noted above, there are three fundamental steps that dog owners can employ/apply to help deter aggressive behaviour/responses from a dog that is not feeling at its best:

• Exercise
• Mental stimulation
• Attentiveness or TLC

However, there may be extenuating circumstances behind aggressive dog behaviour that may need to be resolved through professional intervention and training, despite the best efforts of its owner. In such cases, an Alpha Paws trainer will perform an assessment, in the dog’s home environment, to identify the possible causes of its aggressive behaviour then recommend an appropriate training strategy to best address that specific situation.

In turn, the Alpha Paws trainer will deliver this dog training program in one of two ways:

• Private Lessons: either at Alpha Paws or at the home of the dog owner

Understand why your dog can be cranky and investigate ways to minimize or prevent its associated aggressive behaviours.  Call the dog training experts from Alpha Paws today at 1-877-868-7297 to discuss our dog training classes for aggression control.