Dog Training Basics

Posts Tagged ‘dog aggression’

One of the toughest things for a dog owner to deal with is having a dog that is aggressive. Not only is it extremely difficult to deal with an aggressive dog but it can be risky as well.

The very first thing you should do before trying to tame an aggressive dog is to figure out what it is that is making him aggressive.

Is your dog exhibiting dog aggression towards other dogs?

If so, one way to tame an aggressive dog that seems to be out to get other dogs is when you are taking your dog for a walk and you see another dog, get your dogs attention.

If you have done any dog training with your dog then you might be familiarized with the simple command of watch me. Basically what it is, is when you say watch me to your dog they need to be looking you in the eye.

If you can get your dogs attention on you then you have a good chance that they will not get aggressive towards the other dog.

You also want to make sure your dog cannot make direct eye contact with the other dog. When dogs make eye contact with each other they are challenging each other to prove who the leader is. This can lead to real problems when you have two bull headed dogs who think they are king of the castle.

Another form of dog aggression is food aggression in dogs.

Some dogs feel threatened when they are eating and become very territorial around their food. If this is something that sets your dog off then you need to be very careful if you have children around your dog.

One way to curb you dogs food aggression is to make sure he does not eat his meal before or at the same time you and your family eat. This will make your dog understand that he is not in charge which is needed if you plan on training aggressive dogs.

Every canine is transcended from wild dogs so the possibility of aggression is always there. Some people believe that certain breeds of dogs are naturally aggressive but the truth is that the dogs that get a bad rap for being aggressive are the ones that people tend to train to be aggressive.

Lets take the pit bull breed for example. In the long and short of it pit bulls are not overly aggressive by themselves. In fact they can be very mild tempered and sweet dogs. However people love to train the pit bull to be a mean aggressive dog.

While all dogs of a breed are not aggressive all dogs have their own distinct personality. If you find that you have an aggressive dog you need to use caution around them especially if they are around children.

So what do you do if you’ve adopted an aggressive dog besides wondering “is my dog aggressive“?

Well other then to get your dog trained, the answer depends on how aggressive your dog is and what sets them off.

One of the common signs dogs exhibit is the getting down low to the ground and barking. One of the best ways to curb this type of behavior is to simply ignore your dog. Any form of eye contact will be taken as a challenge by your dog and the game will continue on.

Never push at your dog or try to spank him when he is doing this or it will turn into a game. Once it becomes a game for your dog it will be very hard to break him of doing it.

If your dog’s aggression is related to food then you might want to consider staying around him when he is eating. Do not touch an aggressive dog when he is eating. Start out by staying on the other side of the room while he eats and slowly get closer every meal.

Use caution when doing this and pay attention to the signs your dog is giving you. If he is getting agitated then do not get any closer to him.

When you have a very aggressive dog the best thing you can do is to use caution when around your dog and talk to a dog trainer to get the best advice on how to handle your individual situation and to get more information on training aggressive dogs.

Barking, chewing, pulling on the leash, jumping on people, these are just a few of the topics that fall under the heading problem dog behavior.Experienced dog owners are usually familiar with these common problems and it is important to know why a dog behaves in these ways.  If you understand why a dog behaves in these ways, it is more likely that you won’t mishandle the situation.  You may be considering dog ownership, you may just be a new dog owner or you may just wish to better manage your dog’s behavior.What ever your reasons are, it is important to understand problem behaviors as a way of both preventing and solving them.  

A primary principle is that a tired dog is a good dog.Problem dog behavior is often caused by a dog having too much energy.  If a dog gets enough exercise, he or she will be much less likely to exhibit undesirable behaviors.  Does that make sense?  Think of yourself, how do you feel after a good workout?Have you expended your excess energy?What does it make you want to do?Would a good nights sleep result from this?.You will also get more exercise if you make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise.Your commitment to care for this animal includes that it will get enough exercise.

The most common problem dog behaviors are:
– Barking
– Chewing
– Straining On The Leash
– - Ignoring Commands
– - Improper or No House Training (Potty Training)

Understanding why your dog behaves in these ways is important.A dog has different reasons for barking, it is one of their ways of communicating and it could be an indication of serious problems.Chewing is another example.Another behavior that is natural to dogs is chewing, but this can be a problem if the dog destroys things.  How about house breaking, or in other words potty training?Does that have an effect on your life?

These behaviors are natural to dogs and dogs have reasons for behaving in these ways, but problems can develop.To stop the unwanted behavior, you should learn why the dog behaves in a particular way and find out if there is something that you can change that might help the situation.You need to find the reason that is causing the dog to behave in a certain way.A tired dog is a good dog.Walk your dog or play with it a lot so that it gets enough exercise.   There is a great benefit to dealing with your dog’s problem behaviors, and that is that the relationship between you and your dog will be more fulfilling.

A lot of times, professional dog trainers find that people have tried to train their own dogs without the proper background knowledge.It is sometimes necessary to untrain inappropriate behaviors that have been unintentionally trained in this way.If a person is not experienced at training dogs, they could teach unwanted behaviors along with the desired behaviors without even knowing it.  This is why it is critical to learn from a professional.  Do you have to go to classes?Its up to you. Classes are good for some, but you have to take into account your individual time and financial resources.Not everyones’s schedule is the same and it is better to set your own.   There are some excellent training systems that you can use.

These problems require that you get proper advice.You could make the problem worse if you do the wrong thing.  Get help with PROBLEM DOG BEHAVIOR

Aggression is instinctive to dogs. This attribute of dogs developed over many centuries ensuring their survival in the wild. Many centuries of selective breeding techniques have reduced dog aggression traits. Read on to learn about why dogs behave aggressively.

What makes my dog aggressive?

Many factors can cause aggression in dogs but the most common is minimal socialisation with other people and the issue of dominance.

Stranger aggression:

It is natural for a dog to be cautious and suspicious. Unfamiliar situations may cause your dog anxiety if it has not had much experience with strangers and new surroundings. If you widen your dogs knowledge and consistently reinforce positive experiences your dog will feel at ease when confronting a new situation. Check out our Review of Charlie Lafave’s Dog Training Zone for more ideas to stop dog aggression.

What can I do about it?

The key to your dog feeling comfortable with a wide variety of experiences is starting from a young age. You will want to make sure your dog experiences new places, new people and new animals. Experience will teach your dog how much fun other places, people and animals can be. Make socialising your dog fun and you will soon see how easy it is to do. Puppy pre school is a good place to meet new people and a variety of other dogs. Once your puppy is at ease with new people and dogs, you’ll be able to expand this experience. You will continue to need to socialise your dog.

Aggression with family members:

Dogs are commonly aggressive towards members of their own human family when they are trying to protect something they think of as their own. Resource guarding is the term used for this behavior. If your dog gets snarly or growls at you when you are near where it is eating or playing with a toy, then you know you have a resource guarding problem. Your dog will behave like this if it thinks it has power over you. Remember, dogs are pack animals. Dogs are used to structure and are ranked according to a hierarchy of position and power in relation to everyone in their family or pack. Since your dog does not have a dog family, it will rank itself against its human family and this ranking will tell it how to behave at all times. If your dog perceives himself to be at the top, it is his job to behave aggressively. A lower ranking member of the pack will behave in a passive, submissive way and would never growl or snarl at a higher ranking member if you approached its food or toys. You need to make it clear to your dog that you are the boss and he is a lower ranking family member.

Is there anything I can do about this?

Working with your dog regularly and consistently in obedience training will help to re program your dogs preception of you as the pack leader. Short and regular training sessions are critical to effective behaviour modification. Make each training session enjoyable: play a game by giving your dog lots of praise, pats and treats when it has worked well with you.

For more detailed information about dog training and other behavioral problems, check out Secrets to Dog Training. Read a detailed look at Daniels Stevens Secrets to Dog Training at DogHelpdesk.com

puppy training

Television can bring to light many different types of careers. One of these is being a certified dog trainer. This is an ideal career is a person loves to work around animals. It may not be a traditional job in an office but it is a career in which someone is doing what they love. The trainer is instrumental in teaching both the dog and owner how to bond and interact with each other. It is very satisfying to know that your knowledge and skill is being passed on to other dog lovers.

Becoming a certified dog trainer begins with a love of animals. It requires patience and a desire to interact with the animal. Dog obedience training takes knowledge and a compassionate nature in order for there to be success. Most people do not turn to a certified dog trainer until there is an obvious sign of dog aggression and then the battle begins. Dog training starts when the animal first comes home and continues throughout the life-time of the canine.

Not all dogs are alike. Different breeds will require you to know how they interact with other dogs and humans. It is for this reason that basic classes in dog breeds, aggression level and physiology are studied in order to know what to expect. The basic coursework prepares you for understanding the psychological and physical aspects each different dog will require.

Once the basics of dog behavior are down, then begin the specialized coursework designed to train a dog through a variety of methods. The instruction will teach how to use a variety of instruction in order to train the dog such as through a clicker or through positive reinforcement. Other steps include teaching safety to the owners as well as the dog. It is also important to learn how to deal with dogs that are more difficult to deal with due to a past history of violence or dog fighting.

Once the coursework is complete, the certified dog trainer is ready to begin. There are a variety of places to work such as pet supply stores, kennels or even opening up a business. One great example of a certified dog trainer is Cesar Millan who works with troubled dogs and their owners on his hit television show ‘The Dog Whisperer’ airing on cable.

A freelance trainer will not punch a clock or find them working day-in and day-out within the confines of an office building. There is the freedom of working outdoors and getting to play while being paid. If you decide to work for a company such as Pets Mart then you can get benefits as well. You may never be famous but you will be important to the people you help.

Dogs are instinctively aggressive and we all realize that dogs are able to seriously injure people and other animals. This does not mean that dog owners are completely helpless in their ability to stop aggressive dog behavior. An aggressive dog must be given obedience training immediately, before someone is injured.

For a really excellent dog training book, I strongly recommend that you check out: Training Aggressive Dogs.

Aggression towards family members and towards strangers are the most frequent behaviors shown by aggressive dogs. Dog aggression can be triggered for many different reasons so it should be reacted to in different ways.

Aggression Towards Strangers

Dogs will often dislike unfamiliar people and other animals until they have an opportunity to get used to being around them. Socialization is the method used to familiarize dogs with new environments, and strange people and animals. It’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of socialization in your dog’s training. You’re probably wondering how socialization can stop aggressive dogs from attacking the postman or pizza delivery guy. A socialized dog starts to understand that new experiences can be enjoyable rather than scary.

He needs to learn this lesson as a young dog. The more frequently your dog gets to interact with different people (for example, men in uniform, elderly people, young children, teens, people with umbrellas or wearing helmets in peaceful and enjoyable surroundings, the safer your dog will be around strangers.

Just a reminder, if you are looking for a great free site to help you solve your dog’s aggressive behavior, you should check out: How to Stop Aggressive Dog Behavior.

Puppy group training courses (often run by pet stores or at a vet office) are an excellent place to socialize your pup in a controlled environment. Your dog will learn how to behave with unfamiliar dogs. He will also learn that there is no reason for him to be afraid of the unfamiliar people at these sessions. He should not feel overwhelmed at these sessions – allow his tolerance to build gradually by starting off slowly.

Aggression to Family Members

Aggressive dog behavior towards human family members is most commonly for the following reasons:

• Your dog is trying to protect his possessions (food, toys, etc.) from an apparent threat (namely you or your family members). Such excessively possessive behavior or resource guarding is not unusual in dogs.

• As dogs are pack animals, it is a question of dominance and your dog’s perception of his ranking in the pecking order of the household. Dogs perceive the family make up as being no different from a dog pack. Dogs that perceive their ranking in the hierarchy to be higher than their owner or family members will probably show aggressive behavior.

Resource guarding is definitely an act of dominance – a lower ranked dog would never show aggression towards to a more highly ranked member of the pack.

Providing consistent dog training is the best way to stop aggressive dog problems, which will make it clear to your dog that you are the “alpha dog”. Your “alpha dog” status can be strengthened with rewards such as treats and praise when he responds appropriately to a command, and with “time-out” for bad dog behavior.

I hope you have found this article useful. For a review of the top selling dog training product, check out: Secrets to Dog Training

Do you have a problem with dog chewing? A dog that loves to chew on anything he sees interesting and you can’t seem to figure out why he has this kind of passion? Did you ever come home from work and found your newest pair of shoes being chewed upon by your, cute, sweet and innocent, little dog? I suggest that you continue to read on if this is a familiar scenario to you.

One of the worst habits that any dog can pick up is chewing. Besides it being destructive to your property, a dog that enjoys chewing might end up injuring itself by breaking its teeth or swallowing harmful material. Worse, some dogs chew on themselves! This kind of bad behavior may cause hair loss and even serious infections to areas of their bodies like their tails, legs, and feet. If you have a dog chewing problem , work to immediately correct the situation instead of dismissing the act as a typical dog behavior.

Chewing is a known behavior of puppies . However, their choices of what to chew on will be depend on you and how you train your dog. If you are welcoming a new puppy into your home, be sure to supply it with adequate toys to prevent your pooch from destroying your home, car, or wardrobe. Furthermore , keep in mind to pick toys that are not mistaken for those “out of bound” objects. To somehow redirect its attention from the new pair they have just bought, many dog owners prefer to grant their pups with cast off shoes but to their surprise the puppy would still chew up on their brand new pair instead. Look for chewing toys and bones that will not splinter, break, or split and potentially cause a choking hazard. So that your dog does not become bored and opt to chew on your beloved possessions and furniture as an alternative, give your puppy with several different toys in various areas.

Yes, there are simple steps that can help you prevent your dog from chewing up your possessions! For starters, the easiest way to stop this routine is to keep an eye on your dog. Dogs cannot chew up your house and home while you sit watching them. Vigilance is a huge part of dog ownership. Besides, think about keeping your dog to a room or area of your home until you can trust him to have free rein of your abode. In addition to vigilance, cleanliness is a large factor in what a dog has access to chew. Simply put, your dog cannot chew your shoes unless they were left accessible. If you find your dog chewing something, if possible, place it out of his reach. In all likelihood , the dog will continue chewing the same item until it is either removed or completely destroyed.

“But what about the larger things like furniture, doors, or appliances that will be hard to move”, you say? For these structures, apply a thin film of Bitter Apple. Like its name suggests, this solution is quite bitter and very unsavory for dogs. Available in a spray or cream, Bitter Apple will not damage the finish of your furniture and can easily be wiped away once the dog learns not the chew. Don’t be alarmed if your dog does ingest the material, it will not make him sick, as the contents of it are non-toxic.

Lastly, be the protector of your own things. Teach your dog commands like “leave it” and instruct him to cease and desist the gnawing of your items. Use a spray bottle or a shaker device rather than physical punishment, which can sometime cause dogs to become more destructive in protest. If your dog is chewing on himself more than your home, immediately visit your veterinarian. There are a lot of skin conditions, including parasitic infections that can cause a dog to chew on his own skin in order to find relief. Turn to a cooling spray that will provide relief as the area begins to heal. Also, use an antibiotic cream to prevent infection.

Are your dog aggression problems too much and are now crying out for obedience training help? Then you found the right place. Here are four side-by-side reviews of the four best dog aggression training sites in the net today.

Sit Stay Fetch is the most excellent dog training website and we highly recommend it as it has lots of helpful advice to end your dog problem. Daniel Stevens discussed all the essential know-hows in fixing a dog’s aggression problems with ove 100 step-by-step images in order to make learning faster and more interesting. Dog Training Secrets is very informative but it doesn’t have supplementary photos. The third is Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer. Some great tips are also available.

Sit Stay Fetch – Dog Obedience Training, covers all points of aggressive dog training and helps answers many dog problems, for example, your dog being usually disobedient, your dog being over-aggressive, being quirky off-leash or even on-leash, not appropriately housetrained, etc. It has over 100 step by step photos and is a very informative. It also includes the latest do training secrets used by professional trainers, which are not available in other books, such as dog whispering, advanced behavioral training and the like.

Dog Training Secrets by Charlie Lafave, shares to you the significance of training your dog and what may happen if you don’t. Includes pretty much everything you need to know about dog training, like the 7 common behavioral problems and solutions. There’s also a chapter dedicated to training adult dogs.

Starting from how to choose and purchase a dog, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer covers all possible about training dogs. This e-book is very lengthy and a bit boring, but finds the patience as it has very useful tips. Warning for the visual person: there aren’t any pictures at all and you might find it hard following certain instructions. It incorporates frequently asked questions of people wanting to train their dogs. There isn’t a table of contents.

How To Train Your Dog in One Evening, covers 10 most frequent problems. The first thing is to help you find out the reasons your dog are having these problems. Then it goes on with step-by-step directions, to show you what to do to solve these problems. This e-book is direct to the point and easy to understand. Although correct, obedience training your dog in one evening is very unlikely.

Popo, a Pomeranian dog has an excessive fear of loud noises. Popo turns his fear into aggression when he hears loud noises, and has already bit his owner Lindsey twice. Additionally, Popo fled when some guests began firing small fireworks during a Forth of July celebration. Good thing, Popo was found by a neighbor the next week and was safely returned to Lindsey. Moreover, Lindsey is concerned that Popo’s {relentless trauma | severe phobia} and aggressive approach is leading him on to tragedy.

Lindsey sought expert advice from her vet on stopping dog aggression. The veterinarian believes that Popo’s fear of loud noises originates from his petite size. In view of the fact that the dog has yet to be neutered, the veterinarian suggests the operation in order to lessen the aggressive tendencies. In the past, Lindsey has considered the procedure and consent of the operation. Popo have a reduced aggression after the treatment, but what’s left was his fear.

Concerned about her dog’s behavior, she then visited a veterinary behaviorist. The veterinarian’s plan was agreed upon by the behaviorist, but the professional feels that a lot should be made to address the fear prior to dealing with the dog’s fear successfully. Popo’s fear is starting to decrease after working closely together with the behaviorist for quite a few sessions. And for the dog to feel a source of comfort and security, the behavior specialist asks Lindsey to hold Popo. The dog is also restrained so that he will not be able to harm anyone in the clinic. Little by little , the dog is exposed to numerous different volumes of sound. . If Champs exhibits any sign of fear or aggressiveness, the stimulus is removed and Laura continues to pet, commend, and comfort. In the long run, Popo’ fear of loud noises slowly diminished and stopped acting out in aggressive behaviors in order to protect him.

Although the dog’s anxiousness lessens , poor dog is still afraid of thunderstorms. During these instances, the behaviorist gives prescription that will calm the dog. Upon giving the anti-anxiety medication, Lindsey observed a big change in his actions when the fear-causing stimulus is present. Furthermore, since Popo has started taking the anti-anxiety medication, the dog did not show any sign of violent behavior , even when the fear causing stimulus is present. Popo is no longer afraid of thunderstorms and today parties without the need of confining him, giving both him and Lindsey to breathe easier.

The therapy for Champs was a long process since the origin of the problem must be dealt with in order to cure the aggressive actions. Popo lost his aggression and once again serve as a cheerful and healthy member to society after the fear had been surpassed through methods including prescription and behavioral adaptation. Though Popo is a small dog, Lindsey is worried his bite and felt the need to stop the aggressive behaviors before it worsens. Lindsey proved to be a responsible pet owner and consider Popo’ situation to heart in the search to find a cure for the problem.