Dealing with aggressive dog behavior

Aggressive dog behavior is one of the worrying problems in dogs, if your dog shows aggressive behavior towards people this is a concern and must be dealt with immediately.

Aggression is usually a symptom of other problems. There are several different reasons that some dogs become aggressive such as:

If your dog feels threatened or is fearful he may choose to snap or bark. Some dogs with back pain or arthritis will bite or growl if he is in pain when being patted or picked up. Older dogs with poor hearing and vision will sometimes bite or snap, out of fear when startled. Some dogs may show aggressive behavior if their territory is invaded by other animals or even people.

The best treatment is prevention so it is important to understand why your dog is reacting aggressively so you can take steps to remove the problem that is causing the fear or pain.

Some helpful suggestions:

Re-establish dominance, so your dog respects you.
Do not punish your dog harshly.
Consult your vet as to any health issues that may contribute to the problem.
Ensure your puppy is spayed or neutered.
Attend puppy classes even if you are not keen on training to help socialize your dog.
Avoid any situations that may lead to aggression.
Don’t isolate your dog ensure he has plenty of social experiences.
Don’t encourage your dog to get over excited.
Consult a professional dog trainer who can assist you in aggressive dog behavior problems, or enrol in obedience training.

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