Dog Aggression Training
This series explains the different types of dog aggression in an easy-to-understand format for everyday pet owners.
While a few complex and technical terms are used, each category goal is designed to reach individuals searching for answers pertaining to dog aggression. Information provided contains current prevention tips and behavior protocols as well as how to find professional help if needed.
What is Dog Aggression?
Aggression means “often harmful, social interaction with the intention of inflicting damage or other unpleasantness upon another individual.” In the dog world, most dogs display aggressive behaviors to warn they can and will cause harm before actually engaging in a fight. Basically, this means most dogs are not born aggressive. Instead, dogs learn to use aggressive behaviors to guard favorite toys, protect themselves from perceived threats or redirect their frustration onto another dog or person.
Before labeling a dog with aggression issues, it’s important to understand that aggression is a symptom of anxiety. Fixing aggression does not help a dog; you’re just masking a symptom of an underlying cause. Instead, focus on managing anxiety, which will decrease aggression. Think of it this way: If someone has the flu, lowering a high fever, a symptom of illness, does not cure the flu. This is the same with aggression. Check out this article to dispel a few dog aggression myths.
What Does Not Work?
Punishment rarely works. Instead, punishment causes an increase in anxiety, which causes a surge in aggression. Punishment is usually categorized as leash correcting, yelling, screaming, scolding and physically striking a dog. If you’re scared of heights, would my screaming and pushing help your fear? Probably not. Instead, your fear will worsen or you’ll redirect your frustration by punching me in the nose!
Aggression is extremely frustrating and scary for pet owners. No one wants his dog to cause harm to himself or anyone else.
Instead of redirecting your frustration at your dog, channel your frustration to solving the issue.
Can You Fix Aggression?
This is a controversial topic in the dog training world, and I’m going to tackle it head on. No, you can’t fix or cure aggression, but you can teach a dog how to manage his anxiety. While you can’t fix aggression, you can surely teach a dog how to respond without acting aggressively.
Before you become discouraged, allow me to explain further.
If you’ve been violently mugged by a man wearing a red shirt, you understand the terror felt when another man wearing a red shirt approaches you. We all know men wearing red shirts are not scary, but you’ve learned to fear them. Over time, you learn red-shirt-wearing men are harmless, but your heart still pitter-patters when you see one.
Types of Aggression
Redirected Aggression
Road rage is basically redirected aggression. You’re turning your frustration onto another motorist. Instead of honking your horn, learn how to manage road rage by driving slower, keeping additional distance between cars and rewarding yourself for disengaging or ignoring a fellow road rage-er. I’ll be the first to admit, this is my personal struggle and I’m still learning how to cope with my frustration. 🙂
Resource Guarding
Oh and let’s chat about resource guarding. 🙂 How do you feel when a stranger or friend leans or sits on your new car? Mercy! You’ve worked hard to pay for that shiny new car so folks need to show respect, right? Now, you understand why dogs guard their new and shiny toys.
Short Answer
While you can’t fix aggression, you can surely teach a dog how to respond without acting aggressively. Not only will this reduce aggression, it also builds confidence and lowers anxiety. I think you are starting to see the whole picture now.
Let’s Jump Into Our Series Now!
One more thing, understand that fixing should only be used with cars. You can’t fix dogs nor people, but you can surely change behavior for the better!
Be your dog’s voice!
More:
Defensive Aggression
Offensive Aggression
Redirected Aggression
Resource Guarding
