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Easy Guide to
Training Aggressive Dogs
Training aggressive dogs is a serious business. While sometimes it's better to leave training of aggressive dogs to professional trainers, there are a lot of techniques a dog owner can use to deal with dog aggression on his or her own.
Statistics show that children under the age of 10 get bitten most often. Usually, the offender is a family pet. So, don't take training an aggressive puppy lightly, especially if you have small children.
To learn more about dog aggression, or to find out if your puppy is too aggressive or just playful, visit puppy aggression page.
What follows is an introduction to…
Training Aggressive Dogs
When training aggressive dogs, don't allow them to achieve a dominant status over any family member. If you can accomplish this, your dog, no matter what his genetic predisposition is, will be less aggressive and a much more pleasant member of your family.
When you deal with dominant aggressive or defensive aggressive dog (refer to puppy aggression for explanation), the best course of action is to just ignore him. This not only protects you from being bitten, but it also teaches your dog that his aggression is not accomplishing anything positive for him.
Whenever your dog displays signs of aggression, fold your arms (to protect them from being bitten) and, in a firm and loud voice, say "Off!". Then, turn away and ignore him.
Socialization training teaches your puppy a proper way to interact with an outside world.
A properly socialized puppy will be less aggressive as an adult dog, so visit puppy socialization page to learn more about this important training. And unlike training aggressive dogs, socializing young puppies is fun and you can even get your children involved.
Some Tips...
Check with your veterinarian to rule out medical causes for your dog's aggressive behavior.
Avoid exposing your dog to situations where he is likely to show aggression. When taking your dog for a walk, always put him on a leash. With larger breeds, consider using a muzzle.
Punishing an aggressive dog will… only make him even more aggressive. This is especially true for dominant aggressive and defensive aggressive dogs.
I already mentioned that sometimes it's better to leave training aggressive dogs to professional trainers. But how do you find a good professional dog trainer? Visit dog obedience school page to learn what to look for and what questions to ask.
Are There Any Medical Solutions for Aggression?
I recently stumbled upon a website selling a "herbal" product that they claimed will stop aggression in dogs. The cost? How about $29.95… for a 15-day supply!
The ad reminded me of those "weight loss" ads, where a company promises that you will lose 10, 20, 30 pounds in some ridiculous amount of time. All you need to do is swallow some magic pill and… poof, the pounds will melt away!
While I am not qualified to evaluate this product, my opinion is, if something sounds too good to be true… it probably is. Don't waste your money.
That doesn't mean there are no medications that can reduce your pet's aggression. But unlike the product I just described above, only a veterinarian can prescribe such medications.
I wish training aggressive dogs was as simple as giving them some magic pills, even if they were prescribed by a vet, but it's not!
A medical procedure, neutering, may reduce a male puppy aggression. I strongly recommend you visit dog neutering page for more information about this procedure and the effect it has on male dog's behavior.
For more information on training aggressive dogs, please visit growling dog and puppy biting pages.
And, good luck!
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