When your dog starts to show aggressive behavior, you want to do whatever you can to understand why it’s aggressive and help it.

If you want to help your dog tackle aggressive behavior, then the best way to do that is by providing adequate training.

You can take the help of a professional trainer by Googling ‘dog training near me’ and finding a training center, or you can train your dog at home by following the best tips mentioned below.

Determining the Source of Aggressive Behavior

All measures for managing aggressive dog behavior can become void if the main cause of aggression isn’t addressed. There are many reasons as to why a dog is showing aggressive behavior, such as:

Fear

Most dogs only show aggression when they feel scared, trapped, or cornered. Dogs who used to have abusive owners are also likely to show aggression.

Possessiveness

Also known as “resource guarding.” This is considered the most common reason for a dog to show aggression.

A dog would become possessive of its food, chew toys, and even the place that it sleeps. If it sees someone or a dog coming near any of its things, then it would start growling and barking.

Territorial aggression

Dogs tend to show this type of aggression when they feel like their space is being invaded and they have to protect it. This aggression is mostly directed towards strangers and sometimes friends.

Vet checkup

When you’re sick, you can easily communicate to your relatives or friends that you’re not feeling good. However, when it comes to dogs, they can’t talk like us. They try to communicate to us through different behavior patterns.

One of the main reasons behind your dog’s irritative behavior could be that it feels pain or discomfort. That’s why you must get your doggy examined by the vet as soon as you notice signs of irritation.

Seek Assistance of a Licensed Dog Behavior Consultant

Before jumping directly into training, it’s recommended to seek the advice of a professional dog behavior consultant. A new dog owner may find it difficult to understand why their pet is behaving aggressively. Thus, they may not take the correct preventive measures.

A professional dog consultant can assist in determining the root causes behind a dog’s aggressive behavior. Through proper diagnosis, the consultant can develop a correct behavior management plan to tackle aggressive behavior triggers such as fear or stress.

Give Your Fuzzball a Loving and Active Environment

A home without a loving and caring environment can have adverse effects on the mental health of your dog. Mental and physical health are interlinked, and if one of them is overlooked, the other is affected too. 

Giving your dog a nurturing environment is the responsibility of every owner. Make sure that your canine friend eats well and has an active routine. Lack of proper care and attention can result in the development of aggressive behavior in your doggy.

Precautionary Measures for Tackling Aggressive Behavior

Relying solely on behavior modification is not enough for protection against aggressive dog behavior. Just like humans, dogs can have an outburst of emotions, making it difficult for them to control their aggressiveness.

Out-of-control aggressiveness can result in injury to any person close. This emphasizes the need for aggression management techniques. These techniques include:

  • Use of gates
  • Muzzles
  • Leashes

Measuring the Aggressive Level of Your Dog’s Behavior

A professional dog behaviorist Kendal Shepherd introduced the stages of aggression in canines. This shows the severity of aggression present in your dog.

A dog may show that it’s feeling tensed by showing body signs. Common signs include nose licking or yawning, looking or turning away, and creeping.

If such signs are overlooked by an owner, the dog may move to higher levels of aggression to show that it feels disturbed. These can be stiffening, staring, growling, or even worse, biting.

Keep observing your dog for any signs of disturbance so that they can be resolved ASAP.

Make a Daily Record of Your Dog’s Behavior

Noting down the activities and moods of your furry friend daily can help in identifying any triggers of aggressive behaviors. Important factors to make a note of when your doggy is agitated include:

  • Stimuli
  • Time of day
  • Weather
  • Events before the aggressive behavior
  • Your response to the aggressive behavior

Such data records can help canine behavior consultants to understand what is triggering your dog’s aggressive side? With this data, correct management techniques can be formulated for tackling aggressive behavior.

Placing a Muzzle

Many people consider placing a muzzle on a dog as a sign of cruelty. However, muzzles can prove to be a handy safety tool for the protection of outsiders or children from harm.

Aggressive dog owners can take their dogs out for walks while eliminating the risk of someone getting harmed by using a muzzle.

When selecting a muzzle, opt for a design that enables your doggy to breath, pant, eat, and drink properly.  

Refrain from Punishing Your Dog

Would you like to make matters worse for your dog to control aggressive behavior? Use of punishment will only cause such behavior to aggravate.

Many times, dogs show signs of aggressiveness out of fear or anxiety. Giving them verbal or physical punishments can only cause their anxiety to worsen, worsening their aggressiveness.

Focus on helping your dog feel comfortable and boost its confidence through positive reinforcement and a lenient behavior modification strategy for breaking aggressive dog habits.

Don’t Invade Your Dog’s Comfort Zone

Just like humans, dogs don’t like their personal space from being invaded when they’re relaxing. Sometimes, new owners face aggressive behavior from their dogs when they try to show affection.

If your dog begins to snarl when you show compassion, then give it personal space. Let your canine friend come to you for affection.

Especially if you have just adopted a new pup or dog, give sufficient space and time for it to become comfortable with your home environment. Some dogs become aggressive due to past traumatic experiences. That’s why time and a nurturing environment must be given to earn your dog’s trust.

Conclusion

Dogs, just like humans, begin to show signs of aggression out of irritation and discomfort. Punishing them for such a response can only worsen their condition. To help your dog to attain a healthier lifestyle emotionally and mentally, follow the above-mentioned aggressive training tips.