How To Tell If You Have An Aggressive Dog
Learn to Identify a Few Signs of Dog Aggression
and Some Quick Tips To Stop it Early
I´m sure it comes as no surprise that every year thousands of aggressive dogs are dropped off at shelters following either chronic or situational aggression. Due to the sheer number of dogs residing at shelter already, a fair majority of the time these aggressive dogs are euthanized. This is truly unnecessary since these dogs, with the proper training and guidence can rehabilitate and live happy lives with their owners.
Your Actions Strongly Influence Behavior
As you delve into correcting and identifying the issues of dog aggression, first understand dogs are animals first, they do not learn or relate as humans do, so educate yourself as to how a mother dog would teach and correct her pups, using energy, body language, and consistency. This will give you a better chance of success, you may be contributing to the problem and not even know it.
Let me give you an example of some early signs
You come home at the end of a long work day, you walk through the door eager to see your beloved companion, at this moment he/she comes bombing around the corner and leaps from the floor and nearly knocks you over, wagging its tail with excitement.
Of course you bend over and start to speaking to them in a baby voice as though they are your child, you may say something like "OK"OK, I love you too " as you pat him on the head (after all you are happy to see them) your dogs excitement continues as he/she races through the house knocking over plants and fixtures as though he/she has been locked up for months. Sound about right?
Let´s look at this scenario closer. You likely feel that your dogs is trying to let you know how happy they are to see you (which they probably are) but unsure why it has to be this way, right?
If that was all it was and ended immediately you might be ok with it, but there are several things going wrong here that will encourage dangerous future trends, some of these trends you may be contributing to.
- First, in the hierarchy of the pack, which is how your dog views your family unit, no matter how many family members there are, the ´Pack Leader´ would never be jumped on and disrespected in that way; the leader would be approached in a submissive way due to boundaries already set.
- Second, the ´Pack leader´ would always enter in a calm assertive way (NO Baby Talk) this will encourage unwanted behavior and be seen as weakness.
- Lastly, the ´Pack leader´ would never mistakenly reward the disrespect by patting them on the head and saying "OK, OK, I love you"
"This is where alot of dog aggression starts, this is where the roles of ´Pack leader´ VS "Follower" are reversed"
This is where alot of dog aggression starts, this is where the roles of ´Pack leader´ VS "Follower" are reversed. Dogs do not waste even one second thinking about who is in charge.
If you are not, they will take over in an instant. After all, in the dog world, someone has to be in charge and lead the pack at all times.
I know what you’re thinking, "I was trying to calm them down", well the truth is you were in fact rewarding them for unwanted actions. These actions by the dog are really telling you "I’m in charge, frustrated and need mental and/or physical stimulation" please don´t dismiss or think for a moment these behaviors will remain as they are, they will develop into higher levels of frustration and more volatile aggression.
Stop Your Aggressive Dog Problem
Quick tip:
Try this next time you come home and find your dog acting the same way.
When you enter the door be very aware of your posture, your dog will recognize your posture and body language/energy. Stand up straight, walk in a confident manner, expecting to find a respectful dog.
If you expect an issue the dog will sense it.
Do not make eye contact with your dog right away, and do not approach them, let them approach you, they will see this as strength in you and be more apt to see you as "Leader". This is how the Pack Leader is greeted among dogs.
If your dog approaches you in a calm submissive way then it will be ok to pet them, as long as they remain calm.
If they do not approach in a calm manner, then try slightly lifting your leg off the ground so that the dog meets your raised knee, you are not kneeing them, this is never OK but they will be forced back to the ground,it will be more difficult to reach you if the leg is raised.
Directly following this ignore them (Don’t worry, their feelings will not be hurt) this is what they would expect from a Canine “Pack Leader “.
Your dog will know, If they are calm submissive, I will be rewarded, if I am disrespectful, I will not be rewarded! Remember they are not human, see it through their eyes.
Your best friend will see and understand your new demeanor and will eventually understand that yes, you love them very much but expect them to follow guidelines, creating a well balance relationship.
Understand, consistency will be the key; you must retrain your dogs thinking and possibly your own. This simple technique will help them understand where they fit in and will result in a much happier member of the family.
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