Thoughts on Training an Aggressive Dog

Can You Successfully Train an Aggressive Dog?

Dog aggression - not just against people but also toward other animals, is a serious problem. If you have an overly aggressive dog and fail to properly protect people from him, you may be liable for a range of legal problems and costs and the dog might even be taken and killed. A dog that ends up biting someone is a risk not only to others but to you and itself. Of course with training focused particularly on the dog's aggressive behavior you can teach it to deal appropriately with people instead of chewing on them.

Dogs may become aggressive for a variety of reasons and it can be important to determine just what triggers aggressive behavior. Dogs are territorial and they may get aggressive when they feel threatened or that their territory is being invaded. In a sense this can derive from insecurity and a lack of confidence. I once had a dog who had the opposite problem, very shy and overly friendly except when I was holding onto his collar - then he appeared remarkably aggressive. In that case, basic insecurities only allowed his protective instincts to emerge when he felt safe. Obedience training will not necessarily resolve aggressive behavior. Training focused on dog aggressiveness however, may solve the problem. And the problem needs to be dealt with before someone gets hurt.

There are a number of ways to deal with an aggressive dog. If the problem is extreme, you may want to check your local area for experienced trainers. You will need to find someone who really does have experience with or specializes in dealing with aggressive behavior.

Some, perhaps most, training and obedience schools that work in classes with the dogs' owners will not accept aggressive dogs because eof the potential risks. A specialist can be expensive. But so can the risks you take with a highly aggressive dog you can't control. If the problem is less extreme, you may be able to handle it yourself with suitable information and techniques for stopping dog aggression.

You do need to be aware that in a few cases, dogs may become more aggressive once you begin training. Normally this resolves itself as training proceeds, but it can be upsetting if you weren't aware of the possibility. Older dogs will be much more difficult to work with than puppies. THis is one reason why starting off with a carefully selected puppy can be so important in having a long and pleasant relationship with your dog. Keeping a close eye on your puppy's development will let you handle problems as soon as any warning signs appear and this will almost always guarantee a successful outcome.