Stop Dog Aggression NOW

It is natural to feel scared when your treasured pet turns aggressive.  It may seem funny when your puppy shows aggression towards another puppy, but this can be a serious problem if it continues until you become desperate to stop dog aggression in your much loved pet.

 

It is important to consider the cause why this is occurring.  Has your dog been well socialized?  If your dog lives in the backyard or house and never sees another dog (except perhaps another dog you own) it is likely he will become aggressive when he does come face to face with another dog.  So how do you stop dog aggression like this?

 

First Step

 

Make sure your puppy socializes with other people and dogs as you first step.  There are puppy socializing classes held in most large vet clinics and you should take your puppy.  Take a 3 month course with your local dog obedience group once your puppy is 3 months old.  Your dog will not only learn some basic skills, but will also be better socialized with other people and dogs, while paying attention to your  commands.

 

If you want to stop dog aggression, you can’t just start, then stop this activity.  I was obedience training my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and was also using the clicker training method with the young dog Cooper.  As he got better with the clicker training I stopped going to dog obedience and only trained him at home.  Twelve months later if he even saw another dog at the Vet he would bark madly (not really  aggressively, but nevertheless it was a real nuisance), so I took him back to dog obedience for a short time to socialise him again.  Ever few months I would take him back to dog obedience.

 

Why You Get Dog Aggression and How to Stop It

 

You may need to stop dog aggression in a dog that is not neutered.  With male hormones running riot, dogs are much more aggressive.  If your dog is guarding you, your property or his territory he is likely to be aggressive.

 

Obviously you need to neuter any dog that starts to show aggression towards other dogs, unless of course you are showing them or want to breed from them.  Similarly, if your dog is being protective, you want him to be this way, but you also want him to obey you and you need to be able to stop dog aggression if necessary.

 

Having a well trained dog is the answer.  You are the boss, the leader, the alpha being; and your dog needs to
know it.  Stop any form of aggression right away, even if it is just a low growl.  The command ‘No’ has very little effect in aggressive situations.  To stop dog aggression, try growling with your teeth bared; you could get good results if done in the early stages of the behavior.  I would not propose you do this if the dog is in a full throated attack mode as it is best not to even have eye contact if the dog is acting very aggressively towards you.

 

How to Stop Dog Aggression

 

Try using a special lead or muzzle, or indeed any other restrainers on the market.  These are not cruel and do not hurt the dog, but can stop them from opening their jaws wide enough to bite.  Try some of these tools and when you are positive your dog is reliable when on a lead, then you can remove them; it is a good way to stop dog aggression.

 

If your dog has been trained using food rewards, then food can become a good way to distract him and stop dog aggression.  Combining a command with offering food (which he can see and smell) will get his attention.  Offer him his reward as soon as he is paying attention to you.  Give another command straight away and throw the food on the ground so he has to look for it.  The food reward will bring him to focus on you and not be distracted by the other dog.  Repeat this process a few times until he has his mind entirely on you and the reward. To understand better there is a book covering how to stop dog aggression to help you.

 

I believe that aggression tendencies will disappear in most dogs, if you show strong leadership qualities as soon as you notice any sign of aggression.  However there are some breeds e.g. Rottweilers, Pit Bull Terriers and Dobermans that are ‘hard wired’ for aggression and you could have difficulties training them out of their aggressive behavior.  Don’t put off getting a professional trainer to help you if you cannot manage yourself.

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