Has Your Dog Changed From Peaceful To Aggressive? 6 Tips That Can Help

Aggression in dogs may be associated with fear, establishing, controlling, and protecting territories both inside and outside the home, dominance, object guarding, psychoses, relationships with others of the same species, play, or feeling pain. Dogs become aggressive because they feel threatened, whether the threat is real or only imagined. They will use the only weapons they have at their disposal - their teeth and bodies - to ward off the potential danger. Signs of aggression vary depending on the cause, but an aggressive dog may stare, lower his head, stalk, growl, bark, show his teeth, and, in the extreme, attack and bite. A mildly aggressive dog may simply jump on people or pull on his leash when walked.

Most dogs exhibit some types of aggression periodically. Aggression is one of the ways they communicate, and a certain amount of it is natural between members of the same species.
When the aggression becomes commonplace or threatens household members, including other pets, the behavior is a problem. As with all behavior problems, prevention is the best cure. Even if you live with a mild-mannered wimpy-type dog, your dog may develop aggressive tendencies that are a result of environmental factors or his physical condition as he ages. Here are some tips for dealing with an attack dog.

1. If your previously peaceable dog shows signs of aggression, have him examined by a veterinarian to make certain there is nothing physical causing him to behave aggressively. Your dog may have a medical problem that causes him to experience pain when you pet or lift him, for example.

2. Check your environment to determine if anything is causing your dog to be aggressive. For example, is anyone in the home teasing your dog? When your dog goes outside into his fenced yard, are any neighborhood children tormenting him? If the source of your dog's aggression is environmental, eliminate the source of the problem.

3. If you've eliminated physical and environmental factors as a source of the aggressive behavior, nip the problem in the bud. Whatever training technique you use, practice it consistently and immediately. Waiting an hour after your dog has conducted himself aggressively to correct the behavior won't have any effect.

4. Punishment should never be physical - your intent is to startle your dog and disrupt his behavior.

5. Staring is threatening behavior for dogs. Avoid staring at your dog, especially if he appears defensive. When looking at or gazing at your dog, blink slowly every few seconds. Blinking allows dogs to gaze without threat.

6. Don't take chances on being hurt by an aggressive dog. If your dog is threatening, appears dangerous, and possibly injurious, consult a professional behaviorist. A behaviorist will outline a plan to correct the situation based on your dog, the type of aggression, and the source of the problem.