How To Deal With Aggression In Dogs
Dogs are mans best friend, the most adorable and loving pet you can have, that is unless they are aggressive and mean.
What causes aggression in dogs? Is this something that can be changed, can they be trained to overcome their behavior? How serious is dog aggression? These are just a few questions that I will answer for you. If you are an owner of an aggressive dog, then you have a lot to deal with, and you need to know that this is something that can be prevented. You need to know about your dogs growth periods and what the major influences are in his development which can cause aggressive behavior.
There are reports of over a million victims of dog bites every year, more than likely, there are a lot more that are never reported. Did you know that 1% of emergency room admissions are due to dog bites, and usually, the victims are children under the age of 10? This is sad and can be prevented.
Some of the major factors in aggression in dogs are genetics. There are breeds such as Rottweilers, and Dobermans that are bred as protective animals and will tend to be more aggressive than a Labrador Retriever. Terriers were bred to be feisty in order to kill small game, and they still tend to remain feisty even now.
A big cause of aggression in dogs is "inbreeding", which can create unstable temperaments. Another thing that can cause aggression are hormones in females in heat or with new puppies. Aggression in dogs is also influenced heavily by their living conditions. Aggression can be happen when a dog lacks socialization, or has received harsh punishment, or maybe has been frightened or even attacked by an aggressive animal. A dog can also become aggressive by too much attention, being spoiled with unearned praise, or being kept away from people. Dogs can also become aggressive due to children teasing them. There are so many influences that can bring out aggression in dogs, but if you are aware of these factors, you can avoid them.
Is there a way to prevent this aggression? The answer is yes, and actually quite simple. Never allow your dog to achieve dominance over any person, young or old. A dog needs to know that they are not allowed to challenge their owners or any person. When they learn this, they are a happy and gentle member of the family.
Early socialization is a great prevention in aggression. Puppies are fragile and need to held gently, mainly around three and four months old. Adults and children should feed the puppy by hand, teaching them to take food without lunging or grabbing. Do not allow your puppy to chase anyone such as joggers and children. Teach them that growling is not allowed for any reason. When you play with your puppy, do it gently, don't play tug of war, wrestling or any other type of aggressive play. Never, ever, punish your puppy physically for aggressive behavior, teach them an alternate way to behave.
Aggression in dogs is not a lost cause, this is something that can be prevented. It is also something that should not be tolerated if it is a problem. If you have an older dog with an aggression problem, never leave your dog with children. Children that are around the dog on a regular basis, need to know the basic commands that will give them some control over the dog. Take care of you dog, love him, after all, your dog is mans best friend.
Lynn Hall |
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