How to Recognize, Prevent, and Avoid, Aggressive Behavior From Your Dog, and Other Dogs.

I am sure that most ,if not all of us dog loving people, have either had a dog that was aggressive, or experienced aggression from a dog of someone else. I am writing this post so you can learn, recognize, and prevent aggressive behavior from your own dog, and other dogs you might encounter. There are also a couple of dog training techniques I would like to share with you also.

How to recognize body language ,and aggressive dog behavior

• If your dog seems uneasy or skittish, this means your dog is scared and might lead to aggression.
• If you dog moves toward another dog slowly and stiffly.
• Your dog leans forward toward another dog and makes himself look bigger. ex. arching his back, widened stance, head, tail, and ears are raised up.
• Your dog stares very intensely at another dog.
• The most obvious, if your dog growls at another dog, and bears its teeth.

How to prevent aggression using socialization (yes, back to the all important socialization)

• Socialization early on is the number one defence in aggressive behavior towards other dogs, and people.
• The more dogs he meets in different situations the better
• Do not shelter your puppy from other dogs, this is when he learns proper etiquette to the all important social ranking. Which brings me to my next point.

Aggression is common when trying to determine social rank.

• When two dogs of the same sex, age, and size try to assume a higher rank, aggression and maybe a little fight might occur.
  
• If this happens stay out of it. A noisy fight is a good sign that the dogs have good bite control.
  
• If it is a quiet fight is a bad sign. If you experience this again, stay out of it. Try t make a loud noise by shouting, or through some water on them to split them up. Usually one dog will give up before an all out fight happens.
• But again if your dog is properly socialized he should be submissive and will give the dog showing aggression the higher rank without a fight.
• Socialize, Socialize, Socialize!

Avoiding aggressive dog behavior

• If your dog is confronted by another dog, keep calm. Your dog will follow your lead.
• When on a leash keep the leash loose. If your dog feels tension on the leash his natural reaction is to pull away and even increase your dog's feeling of aggression.
• Do not try to comfort your dog by petting him or give him treats. Your dog will interpret this as a reward for his behavior and it will reinforce it.
• When in a dog park let, your dog socialize properly before you play fetch with him. If your dog and another dog go for the same toy it might result in aggression. But if the rank has already been established you should be free to play.

All in all, socializing your dog early is the best training you can give your dog. It effects pretty much every aspect of your dogs life.

Happy Dog Training!

Positive Dog Training

Positive dog training is basically a method use to train your dogs with rewards instead of negative training witch uses punishment. For example spiked or shock collars.

With the positive dog training method you use treats, toys, or a clicker (I will get into clicker training in a whole other post) or just simply praise by petting.

You would be surprised at what you can use as treats for your dog. Here is a list of examples.

1. Kibble
2. Cheese cubes
3. Hot dog slices
   
4. Cereal
5. Grapes
6. Apple slices
7. Cherry tomatoes

Training can get boring for you and your dog, so to keep it interesting, you could also stop training and reward your dog with some playtime using a favorite toy.

Good examples of fun toys are:

1. Stuffed animals. (I always wait until right after a holiday, when they are all on sale for like 25 cents.)
2. Rubber Bones
3. Tennis balls
4. Rope to play tug of war.

The whole point of this is, you need to make it fun for both you and your dog.

Ok so after you get set to start positive dog training, here are some steps in what to do next.

1. Dogs learn through association, this means from a dogs perspective " If I do this, I get a treat!"
2. Give your dog a command. ex. Sit.
3. As soon as your dog performs the command give him a treat.
4. Keep plenty of treats on hand. Put some in your pockets or get a fanny pack.
5. When your dog starts to respond with confidence reward him with petting or a toy instead of a treat.
6. Practice throughout the day even when not in a training session. Make your dog sit before putting his food dish down for him to eat. Make him sit before getting in the car.

Make sure not to over praise your dog. Only praise when you think it is appropriate. If you praise to much it will lessen its affect on your dogs training.

Oh yeah one more thing, don't give in when your dog is being stubborn. Be patient. If your dog is behaving badly such as barking at you, or jumping around, or even just laying down. Turn your back to him for 10 seconds, then resume training.

Happy Positive Dog Training!