Stop Dog Aggression – How To Control Your Dogs Aggressive Behavior of Biting, Growling & Snarling!

Every dog owner fears their own pet becoming aggressive. Not only does having an aggressive dog make it impossible to take part in normal activities like daily walks or visiting friends together, but if your dog attacks someone, then serious action needs to be taken.
Aggressive behavior can include, but is not limited to:

• Biting
• Growling
• Snarling

The sooner you address your dog’s behavior, the more likely you will be able to stop dog aggression. If you ignore or avoid this behavior you are putting your dog at risk. You are also letting your dog be the one in control of your relationship which leads to many other problems.
While some dogs are naturally aggressive, there are several other reasons why a dog can start acting this way over time. Aggressive behavior is not entirely breed specific. While some breeds are more likely to become aggressive or violent, as they have been traditionally bred as fighting dogs, every breed has some history or patterns of aggression within it. This is to say that while there is a greater likelihood of aggression in particular breeds, avoiding these breeds altogether does not rule out the possibility of having a dog that becomes violent.

Different Types of Aggressive Behavior

Many dogs display passive-aggressive behavior patterns. This is when a dog becomes aggressive in response to a particular action, for instance another dog getting to close or someone touch something that belongs to them, like a toy. There are less obvious signs of aggression such as blocking people’s path, mounting dogs or people and lunging at people. This behavior is often a precursor to far worse behavior. If you recognize these signs in your dog you should take action straight away.
Dogs that show aggressions through herding or lunging are often trying to establish dominance over others. You may notice that dogs direct these activities towards children, or members of the household who they see as less threatening. This behavior is an attempt to establish dominance and in turn become the alpha dog of their pack. In all aspects of your relationship with your dog you need to establish yourself as the alpha dog.
When they are scared, dogs have two responses. The first is to look away from what or who is frightening them and back away. This is the famous tail between their legs response we know so well in dogs. When dogs are really frightened for their own safety they will get ready to attack, growling or snarling.
This is fear aggression. If your dog in genuinely scared they will do this, it is not something that will happen very often. In dogs that have been attacked in the past, or mistreated by their owners, this response becomes far more common. If this is your dog then socialization is in order. Your dog needs to learn that not everyone out in the world is out to get them. There are many classes out there that specialize in reeducating dogs that have excessive fear or have been attacked in the past.
Most dogs are territorial to some extent, whether it be over their home, their family or their possessions. Make sure your dog knows you are the boss, whether it be over your backyard or the food bowl.

Stopping Dog Aggression

Once you have recognized the type of aggression being displaying you can identify the best way to stop dog aggression. Most of the behaviors described above occur through lack of discipline as a puppy. By establishing more discipline into your dog’s everyday life you begin to decrease the likelihood of your dog being aggressive. If you are getting increasingly concerned about your dog aggressive behaviour, I recommend you pick up a copy of Daniel Stevens book here.
Never yell at or hit your aggressive dog. This is only going to exaggerate their behavior, likely causing them to bite your or someone else. You need to be firm with your dog, but not violent.
The problem with aggressions is that it is very difficult to reprimand an aggressive dog, as doing so usually leads to further aggression. Instead, focus on the source of the aggression. This way you can treat the cause and not the symptoms. This is a lengthy path and will require much time and effort on both your own and your dogs part.
Start by making a list of all the ways your dog is disobedient. They may snatch food, yank the lead when they walk or bark when you are not at home. These are just some ideas, think about what your dog does specifically. Once you have done this you may start to see a pattern emerge. You may leave your dog alone a lot, or not spend much time training them. From here it is a good step to set aside an hour each night to train your dog. You don’t have to focus on their aggression to begin with. You may like to teach them to sit or stay or even some tricks. It doesn’t really matter what you do, just that both you and your dog enjoy spending time together and that they are learning discipline, as well as the fact that you are the boss of the relationship.
Once you have done this you can move on to specific training. If your dog is yanking on the leash, look at some techniques to stop this. If they steal food from people, concentrate on teaching them to hear a certain command word before they are allowed to eat at dinner time.
A well trained dog is a happy dog. The more discipline you teach your dog, the better behaved they will be across the board. The better behaved they are, the more time you will spend enjoying each others company.