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The Importance of Aggressive Dog Training

Aggressive Dog TrainingThe Importance of Aggressive Dog Training

All dog owners are proud of their pets, but sometimes that pride can blind them to the realities of their dogs’ behaviour, which may have become hostile or aggressive to other dogs or people. If your pup exhibits bad or uncontrollable behaviour, it can be helpful to enroll them in an aggressive dog training program. Read on to learn how to recognize aggressive behaviour and understand when to seek professional help.

Why Is My Dog Aggressive?

A dog is rarely born more aggressive than any other dog. Thus, they learn their behaviour either from other dogs or their owners and handlers. Although dog owners usually have the best intentions when training their pets, they sometimes don’t consider how their actions can affect their dogs.

  • Failure To Establish a Pack Leader – Dogs are pack animals and view their owners as a part of their pack. To function well, the pack must have an alpha dog or a leader. If you don’t establish yourself as the leader, your dog may try to assume the role. Aggressive behaviour might be your dog acting on instinct and trying to take control of the pack.
  • Incorrect Training – Incorrect training methods, including physical force, intimidation, excessive punishment, or constant scolding, can cause aggressive behaviour in dogs.
  • Other Causes – Dogs may also learn aggressive behaviour from other dogs who exhibit similar traits. Sometimes, aggression may be temporary due to pain from an injury, fear, discomfort in a situation, or a medical condition.

Signs of Aggressive Behaviour

If your dog exhibits any or all the following traits, they may need training to correct the hostile behaviour before it becomes worse:

  • Excessive snarling
  • Baring of teeth
  • Intimidating barking
  • Biting

Why Are Some Dogs More Hostile?

Tense encounters between dogs aren’t unusual, especially if your pet is more reactive. According to dog training experts, dog-on-dog aggression is a common behavioural problem that owners often deal with. The main reason for this type of aggression is that the dog was not taught how to socialize with other good-natured dogs at a young age. As a result, they may grow up with poor social skills and become aggressive.

Arranging regular playdates is an integral part of training aggressive dogs. They can teach your pet how to behave well and help them to develop social confidence. In addition, these positive socialization experiences can prevent your dog from having fear-based aggression and ensure they are not isolated. As a result, they will become more social as they get older.

Are Some Breeds More Aggressive Than Others?

Research and statistics indicate that some breeds may be more likely to bite and show aggression due to their hunting prowess, guarding and protective tendencies, tenacity, and more. It helps to research a breed’s nature to understand if that pup is a good fit for you and your lifestyle.

However, do not judge a dog by its breed. A dog’s temperament and history of interactions with people and other animals are good predictors of their hostility. Understanding these aspects is the best way to learn how to approach a potentially aggressive dog.

Can You Cure Aggression in Dogs?

When dealing with hostile behaviour, it may not be possible to say whether an aggressive dog can be completely cured. However, you can certainly limit the instances of it coming out by enrolling them in an aggressive dog training program. The experts will assess your dog’s behaviour, understand the causes of the aggression, and recommend suitable solutions to deal with it.

Correcting Aggressive Behaviour with Training

Fortunately, there are specific dog training techniques that will teach your dog how to behave well. The first step is to determine the cause of aggression and change or remove it if possible. Then, with patience and proper obedience training methods, you can begin training them to respond and react in acceptable ways.

If you aren’t able to determine the exact cause of the aggression in your dog or you incorrectly identify it, your efforts to correct bad behaviour could worsen the situation or make it more challenging to correct. Working with expert dog trainers who are well versed in different techniques can help you find the right solution for your pup.

Components of Effective Training for Aggressive Dogs

Most programs for training hostile dogs include planned activities that can help improve the pup’s behaviour. This can include some of the following steps:

  • Shaping – Reinforcing small actions toward the desired goal.
  • Desensitization – Presenting other dogs or triggers at a distance and gradually decreasing the space to help them learn to interact calmly and safely.
  • Counter-Conditioning – Keeping other dogs as well as a few pleasant things in the same environment as your pup so that they get used to them.
  • Training – Helping them deal with aggression by teaching them to respond to specific cues.

Our Aggressive Dog Training Specialists Can Help You

It is best to seek the advice of professionals to avoid the risk of making the problem worse. The expert dog trainers at Alpha Paws offer specialty training programs for aggression control in a caring environment that is focused on your dog’s well-being and good behaviour.

We also offer private one-on-one lessons that start with basic obedience and can progress to full off-leash training.

Regardless of your pup’s training requirements, our professional instructors have the skills and experience to assess your needs and recommend the right approach for you and your pet.

If you are looking for aggressive dog training in Newmarket or the surrounding area, call us at 905-830-9500 or toll-free at 1-877-868-7297.

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