Easy Guide to Training Aggressive Dogs -
How to Solve Dog Aggression

When training aggressive dogs, don't allow them to achieve dominant status over any family member.

Proper obedience training will help you establish yourself as the leader. It will also help your dog understand what you expect of him, thus improving communication between the two of you.

Visit puppy aggression to learn more about dog aggression and to find out if your puppy is too aggressive or just playful.

When a dominant aggressive or defensive aggressive dog (refer to puppy aggression for explanation) tries to intimidate you, 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. 

Here is a short video by Laurie Wagner from Professional Pet Services demonstrating a training session for an aggressive dog...

Socialization training involves teaching your puppy a proper way to interact with the 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 with dominant aggressive dogs.

I mentioned earlier that sometimes it's better to leave training of overly aggressive dogs to professional trainers. At the very least, follow the advice of a professional dog trainer. But how do you find a good professional dog trainer?

Visit dog obedience school to learn what to look for and what questions to ask when evaluating an obedience school for your dog.

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. And what was 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 just swallow some magic pill and 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 dog'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 pill, 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 its effect on male dog's behavior.

Visit growling dog and puppy biting for more advice on training aggressive dogs.