Aggressive behavior in dogs can have many different causes including for instance:
- A dominant dog that wants to enforce its dominance over you
- An cause that was not dealt with since the dog was a puppy – such as an attack by another dog.
It does not matter what causes your dog’s aggression, it is key that it be dealt with as soon as possible. Prolonged aggression when left alone in a dog can get worse, and be dangerous to all parties involved.
Train the dog properly from 6 weeks of age.
The first source of aggression as well as aggressive behavior in dogs starts from about 6 weeks of age. At this age care should be taken with a puppy to socialize it with other dogs, and train it to be people friendly. This crucial period of socialization in a dogs life lasts up to about 14 weeks of age, an it can last even longer than that.
In this period care should be taken with the puppy in regards with the following:
- The puppy should not be taken from the litter before he/she is at least 8 weeks old
- Treat the puppy gently. And without strict discipline between the ages of 8 and 10 weeks
- Refrain from hitting or yelling at the puppy during this period as it can breed aggressive behavior in the dog at a later stage
It is important that a dog has been socialized with people as well as other dogs at 14 weeks of age to make sure it does not develop any aggressive behavior in the future. Aggression in dogs can be caused and triggered by many different factors including genetics as well as heredity, but by proper socializing and training in this first 14 week period you can largely neutralize any aggressive heredity tendencies in a dog. It is also a good idea to have your dog spayed or neutered as it will lessen aggressiveness.
Create the right environment for the dog
The number one factor that can create aggressive behavior in dogs is their environment. A dog that is mistreated, which lives in very poor conditions, and are not used to people or other dogs is far more likely to be aggressive as it gets older.
It is crucial that you as the dog owner establish dominance at a young age over the dog, and continue to be the dominant pack leader throughout the dog’s adolescence in order to prevent the dog in gaining that dominant position over the household.
Aggressive behavior in dogs can be the result of the dog feeling the need to establish him in the pack. When a dog bites or shows other aggressive tendencies it is often the result of it testing for pack dominance.
How to stop and control aggressive behavior in dogs
- It is crucial that you try to remedy any aggressive behavior in your dog after it is 14 months of age, immediately. If you leave the aggression and not address the problem it will only get worse.
- The first step is to make sure that you are the pack leader, and not your dog. Be sure not to reward your dog for any aggressive behavior.
- Your dog should be trained to listen to you, and you should control walking as well as feeding times.
- Try to establish a routine and walk and feed your dog the same times every day.
- You must be a strong pack leader to your dog, and not allow it to take any liberties otherwise the aggressive behavior will only get worse.
Defensive-aggressive dogs are usually not properly socialized, and they can often strike out and bite out of fear. They are often dangerous to small children due to the fact that the dog can see them as a direct threat. It is good to seek out specialist training for such a dog, or see a dog behaviorist.
Aggressive behavior in dogs can be a very big problem, but with the right training as well as environment for the dog such behavior can be controlled and even prevented entirely.