Aggression in Dogs

Your dog may be having behavior problems that stem from puppyhood, like unwanted aggression. Maybe it is a dominance issue between you and your dog or it might be your dog being attacked by another canine earlier on, and because never being dealt with, the dog acts out. Whatever is causing your dog’s aggression,should be addressed as soon as possible. The results of leaving your dogs problem can not only be scary, but dangerous if not quickly taken to task.

Where the aggressive behavior comes from

Dog aggression can start as early as 6 weeks, This is the age to get your dog involved socially with other dogs and trained not to bite other people. The necessary period of social interaction with other dogs should last until the dog turns 14 weeks old and can extend further beyond that.

Several rules of thumb can be applied here. Firstly you should never take a puppy away from the litter before 8 weeks of age. You should never use yelling or harsh discipline with the puppy around the period of 8-10 weeks. Hitting, yelling or other harsh punishments at a young age can breed aggressive behavior in dogs over time.

A puppy needs to socialize correctly with people and other canines during the period of 8-14 weeks, this will prevent unwanted aggressive behavior in the future.

A dogs aggression can be triggered off by a number of reasons. Some breeds are known to be more aggressive then others – genetics does play a roll here – but it is not set in stone. Also, dogs that have not been neutered or spayed are more likely to be aggressive.

The most enduring factor in the character of an aggressive dog is their environment. A dog exposed to poor living conditions and harsh owners – where there is no interaction with other dogs, or that has been frightened or attacked by another dog – is far more likely to be aggressive as it grows up.

Aggression can derive from the need to establish a pack pecking order. Signs of biting, posturing and other aggressive behavior are the result of a dog testing for dominance. By beginning to establish your dominance from an early stage and maintaining that dominance through the dogs adolescence you will ensure control of your household.

Aggressive tendencies in your dog can be stopped and controlled.

If signs of aggression start surfacing after 14 months of age, usually at the time of sexual maturity and especially if this occurs after it has been altered, you should not allow for the bad behavior to escalate. The first thing you should do is make sure you have established yourself as the pack leader, then don’t reward your dog for aggressive behavior, even if it is scared – actually especially in this case.

Teach your dog to obey your commands and control its feeding and walking times – also make sure the dog has a strong leader in the house. If you do not allow your dog to take liberties in your house, it will be less aggressive toward others.

If your dog displays defensive-aggressive attributes, they may strike out at a person in fear. The cause could be that they did not properly socialized with people or other dogs. Keep them away from small children (which they may see as direct threats) and attend a training session or behaviorist who can slowly acclimate the dog to a social atmosphere.

Aggressive behavior in canines is a immense issue that lots of owners have, but it can be controlled, even as your dog gets older. If your aggression ever advances to violence, think about hiring a professional to intervene before someone gets hurt and your dog is blamed.