Handling Dog Aggression

Handling Dog Aggression

By nature, a dog is genetically predisposed to being an aggressive creature. Most of us are aware that the domestic dog is a distant descendant of the wolves and wild dogs, and as such, in the wild, having aggressive abilities can mean the difference between life and death.

Aggression is needed in order to hunt efficiently to find food, somewhere safe to sleep and to find a mate. Over the thousands of years that man has kept dogs as domesticated animals, selective breeding has minimized the aggressive tendencies in our dogs for good reason. You only have to have a look at those teeth to be able to clearly see the potential damage they can cause. Thankfully, those teeth are usually no danger, but the potential is always there.

Having said that, just because a dog is born with a nice set of carnivorous teeth, it doesn’t mean we have to sit by and let him use them if he so wishes. There are many steps we can take as dog owners to handle dog aggression and prevent it making an appearance in the first place.

There are several different types of aggression in dogs. The two most common ones are:

Dog Aggression towards family members

Dog Aggression towards strangers.

You may be wondering what is the point in differentiating between different types of aggression. Surely, aggression in dogs is aggression in dogs? You want to learn skills that will help when handling aggression in dogs.

These two different types of aggression in dogs stem from two different causes and consequently require two different types of treatment.

Handling dog aggression aimed at strangers.

It’s usually fairly easy to spot if a dog does not feel comfortable around people he doesn’t know. He may be constantly fidgeting and unable to sit still, he may be very jumpy and on constant alert. He may jump at the smallest of noises and be barking or whining. The flip side to these reactions is a dog that goes completely inside himself and sits rock solid still, and starring hard at the object of his troubles.

So, why does this happen?

There is usually one big reason why a dog doesn’t like strange people. Dogs, as a rule are usually pretty pleased to be around people; if a dog isn’t happy to be around people, it’s usually because he’s never had the chance to get to know them. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that as dog owners, we are 100% responsible for everything our dogs learn or don’t learn. It’s our job to broaden our dog’s horizons and teach him about the world and for him to come to accept through consistent and positive experiences that just because he hasn’t come across something before, it won’t necessarily be bad news. After all, mummy or daddy pack leader has always looked after him in the past, why would that change now?

If your dog hasn’t had the benefit of being traipsed round every shop, bus stop, brass band, litter bin, banging door, mail man, fireman, horse, cow or pig playing a tambourine already, anything outside the comfort zone of his bed, kitchen and garden is going to cause some traumatic reaction in him of some sort.

So, what can be done about it?

It’s never too late to start teaching your dog about the outside world. Admittedly, it’s easier with younger dogs, but it’s not impossible with older ones. The process of introducing your dog to the outside world and all it has to offer is called socialization and it’s a very important part of your dogs life. Ideally, socialization should begin as soon as your puppy has had his vaccinations and is able to venture out into the world to meet every new person, animal and experience you can find.

How can dog socialization prevent stranger aggression?

Through socialization, your dog learns to accept all manner of sights, sounds, people, animals and experiences as perfectly normal. He will readily accept them as no threat to himself of other members of his pack. He will see and accept them as fun and not scary.

It’s just not going to happen that you sit your dog down in an unfamiliar crowded area and reassure them that it’s ok. He has to see, from repeated exposure to the same and similar situations that it is ok. When you expose puppies to all these sights and sounds from such an early age, they really do accept them as part of life, much like breathing and eating.

He needs to meet every type of person you can think of and come across. Big people, little people, children, babies, toddlers, teenagers, uniformed people, those carrying umbrellas, shopping bags, ladders, pushing wheelchairs, those in wheelchairs, wearing crash helmets, raincoats, roller-skates; the list is endless. The more different things he comes across, the happier and more accepting of new and different things he will become.

Socializing your dog to prevent stranger aggression

Puppy socialization isn’t really a specific lesson, or set of lessons. It’s more a general way of going about doggy life. Ideally you should take your puppy to puppy classes. These are often held at your local vets and have the added benefit of teaching your puppy that the vets is a nice place to be!

Usually at puppy classes, you will find that a group of puppies and their owners, together with suitable dog trainers will be teaching the puppies the basic dog obedience commands of sit, stay etc.

These lessons are great for that, but I find the best bit is that usually at the end, the puppies are all allowed to run round together and play. Apart from being great fun for the puppies, it gives them a fantastic start in learning how to interact with other dogs. It teaches them vital social skills in dealing with others dogs and other people who aren’t their owners, in an environment that is safe and supervised.

Remember that socialization doesn’t stop when puppy classes do. It’s an ongoing program that continues throughout the life of your dog; but be careful not to overwhelm him. As with all things dog training related, take small steps consistently in the right direction.

Dog Aggression towards family members

There are usually two reasons why a dog will show aggression towards a member of his own human family. One is that he is trying to defend something he views as his from something he perceives as a threat. This could be you that he sees as his!)

This is known as resource guarding and there’s a lot more going on here than him trying to keep his kibble for himself!
He’s basically not comfortable with the handling or treatment he’s getting from you or other members of the family.

Resource guarding is fairly common among dogs and refers to overly possessive behaviour from your dog about specific items. He may give you a flinty glare if you try to take his toy, or start to growl if you approach him whilst he’s eating for example.

All dogs are able to demonstrate periods of possessive behaviour from time to time, it’s the nature of dogs. To us, there’s no apparent logic to why they would want to be possessive over an old sock or piece of inedible rubbish. Usually, however, resource guarding is demonstrated of the two things with very real value to a dog- food and toys.

Why does Resource Guarding happen?

Resource guarding is basically a dominance issue, and comes about as a result of the hierarchy structure of a normal dog pack. To your dog, the family he lives with, is his pack, and he has his own ideas about who ranks where, whether below or above himself.

If your dog views himself as above other family members, he’s going to push the issue of food and/or toys; aggression comes about if he really starts to get too big for his boots. This happens because dominance and aggression are exclusive rights of superior ranked animals; as a lower down pack dog, he wouldn’t dare show this behaviour to higher ranking animals. It literally could be the death of him.

In simple terms, if it was clear to your dog that he was the lesser ranking animal, he wouldn’t put up any challenge over food or toys, but merely go along with whatever the family said.

Help With Handling Dog Aggression

The best way to make good progress with this issue, is consistent and frequent obedience session. This will reinforce who has the upper hand. This can be achieved in just 2 fifteen minute sessions a day.

This can be backed up with copious treats and praise for obeying a command, and rigid time out for misbehaviour.

It’s important that you have the confidence to carry this out convincingly. If you don’t, it may be wise to get an experienced dog trainer to lend a hand.

Make sure you have a read about canine psychology and communication to help you see why these things are happening. This will also help you communicate with your dog more clearly.

The whole topic of handling dog aggression is a complex one, but with the right guidance and help, it is possible to make huge progress. Some excellent further reading on dealing with a whole range of dog training issues, behaviours and problems, you might want to have a look at is Secrets of Dog Training. You can also get a free report exposing some of the myths associated with training your dog from here. There is also a free 6 day mini course which you can get delivered straight to your email inbox from here. Enjoy!