How to Treat Aggressive Dog Behavior
Aggressive dog behavior is a problem for many dog owners, but left untreated and it can lead to someone getting hurt via a dog bite. Moreover, aggressive behavior can make a household very stressful, which only adds to the dog's fear, which is the source of most aggressive behaviors in dogs.
- Ensure there is not an underlying
medical condition that is causing the aggression. For instance, if
your dog has always been calm and sweet and suddenly develops
aggression when nothing has changed, there could be something going
on medically. Therefore, take your dog to your veterinarian and get
a full check up. It is not uncommon today for some veterinarians to
treat aggressive dog behavior with antidepressants such as Prozac.
Sometimes it is nothing more than a chemical imbalance in the dog's
brain causing the aggression. - Choose a positive training for
your aggressive dog. Punishment-based training not only doesn't
work, but it makes the dog more aggressive. This means do use choker
chains or spanking as a way to train since this will cause more
problems in the long run. In addition, you can work with a trainer,
but do not allow the trainer to take your dog from you to train
since this does not teach you how to handle your dog. - Consider behavior modification.
Some dogs have learned to be fearful and this leads to aggression,
and behavior modification can help in many of these cases. One
technique is to provide an adequate amount of exercise for your dog,
this can help get out pent up energies. Begin socialization
especially if he is fearful and shy, but this needs to be in baby
steps so that everyone around is safe.