Your dog may engage in aggressive behavior caused by frustration, fear, territoriality, or other various reasons. The aggression of these animals is an unwelcome trait, as well as being a frequent problem. One of the main causes is the lack of socialization when they are still puppies, which leads them to be afraid of their surroundings. If frightened, a small dog seeks the protection of its mother, while an adult dog (especially if it cannot escape) may consider attacking as the best way to defend itself and, consequently, there is a risk that it will become aggressive. However, there are several ways to manage your dog's aggression, but keep in mind that in these cases re-educating him costs a lot of time and patience.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Protect yourself
Step 1. Make sure your dog doesn't have a chance to escape from his fence
If you have an aggressive dog, it is essential to set up a sturdy fence around the house so that it cannot approach people who circulate outside. Check it regularly to make sure there are no weak spots or holes in the ground that it can escape and injure someone.
Step 2. Use a sturdy lead
When walking, the leash you use to go out with the dog must be sturdy enough so that you can control the animal more easily. Try to consider using the harnesses employed to train dogs so that you can have extra help in controlling your furry friend. It is imperative that you use a sturdy leash and be able to control your dog in case it poses a threat to other animals or people.
Step 3. Use a muzzle
In addition to the leash and harness, the dog should wear a muzzle in public places or if you have guests around the house. Look for a basket model so that the animal is able to breathe and drink. It will also allow you to feed it a few treats through the cracks, while still being an excellent protection tool against any dog bites.
- To teach your four-legged friend to wear a muzzle, insert some of his favorite kibble inside, making sure they don't fall out. Let them study and eat them. Do not try to muzzle him during this phase.
- Give him a treat and, while he eats, put the muzzle on his face. Then remove it as soon as it has finished eating.
- Once your dog has accepted this practice, insert another treat into the muzzle.
- When he's finished eating it, put the muzzle back on and give him a few more kibble through the slits. Wait a bit between treats for your dog to start associating them with the muzzle.
Method 2 of 4: Using Desensitization
Step 1. Understand the purpose of desensitization
It is to expose the dog to what scares him, but without exaggerating. This way you make sure he doesn't get too anxious. As you expose him to his fears, you will need to reward him for showing a calm attitude towards the triggers and over time you can gradually increase their intensity. Desensitization requires extensive training and often involves a rather slow increase in exposure to triggers. This is why it takes so much time and patience to desensitize the animal to its fears.
Step 2. Teach your dog the command "come"
The command "come" instructs the dog to abandon a situation and go to the owner. It would need to be used to distract him when he senses a threat, such as a stranger or another dog. This command also appeals to the animal's natural instinct to return to its mother (which in this case would be you) in moments of highest tension.
- To train him to respond to the command "come", take the dog to the garden or somewhere free of distractions. If there are no fences, you can use a long rope to prevent them from escaping.
- Have him explore the courtyard and then give him the command "come" followed by his name.
- As he moves towards you, take a few steps back, but encourage him to get closer.
- Once he catches up with you, reward him with a few treats.
- Keep practicing this exercise outdoors. You should get to the stage where, by saying "come" followed by his name, the dog comes running.
Step 3. Expose it to triggers safely and under control
To do this, make sure you are in full control of your furry friend as you bring what triggers his fear into his field of vision.
For example, if strangers are the problem, ask a friend to stand around the perimeter of the garden - it will be close enough to be noticed by the dog, but also far enough away not to provoke any reaction
Step 4. Use the "come" command to get the dog's attention
Once he sees your friend, call the dog saying "come" and give him a treat. Keep praising him, asking the other person to step forward. Let the dog explore again (while he is tied to the rope) and, as soon as he notices his friend's presence, call him again saying "come".
Step 5. Make sure that the various sessions don't last long and end on a positive note
Expose the dog to the trigger for about 10-15 minutes and try to finish the training pleasantly. Do not allow the exercise to last more than a quarter of an hour, otherwise the animal could become intimidated. If he becomes anxious, aggressive or agitated, regain control of the situation with the "sit" command. Then reward him for obeying you and end the training session.
Step 6. Don't rush
Remember that you will need to increase your dog's exposure to triggers over time. However, it is important to do this gradually. For example, if in the first session you started with one person standing around the perimeter of the garden, start the next one by taking him one step forward.
Try not to rush it, or the dog's aggressive behavior could get worse
Method 3 of 4: Coping with Other Behavior Problems
Step 1. Make your dog have less opportunity to be defensive
Remove him from situations where he comes to show and engage in suspicious behavior. Basically, you don't have to allow him to walk back and forth along the fence to keep watch, but keep him indoors, take him to the park so he can exercise, and lock him in another room when guests arrive.
- If he barks at the front door when someone comes to visit you, consider tying him to a long enough leash and taking him to another room as soon as the guest arrives.
- If he barks, don't react or yell, otherwise he may think you're doing the same and feel encouraged to continue.
Step 2. Teach your dog that he has no need to protect food
Pour part of her dinner into the bowl and place it on the ground. While eating, sprinkle another portion next to the bowl, just as much as you can. If necessary, keep something to eat in his treats bag, and every time you walk past the bowl, pour some inside so that he begins to link your presence to a generous amount of food.
Start with the empty bowl and have the dog sit using the appropriate command. As soon as he sits down, put a handful of food in the bowl and let him eat. Then tell him "sit down" again and pour in another handful. Repeat the operation. This way you will teach him that you are in control and also the management of the food
Step 3. Follow up with positive reinforcements
Once your dog is no longer aggressive in the face of triggers, continue to use positive reinforcement to let him know that he is doing well. Praise him and give him a treat when he follows your instructions to continue strengthening these associations.
Method 4 of 4: Understanding the Dog's Aggressiveness
Step 1. Think about the factors that trigger aggression in your dog
These animals react aggressively for a variety of reasons. Such an attitude can be triggered by a certain person or a certain situation. For example, some dogs become aggressive when unfamiliar guests come into the house or when someone walks along or crosses the yard they are in. Try to identify the triggers to understand how you should re-educate your dog.
Step 2. Practice interpreting your dog's body language
Pay close attention to the physical attitudes he takes when exposed to a trigger. Many dogs are afraid or anxious before they attack. The most common signs to watch for are lowered head, lower body posture, tail between paws, lick your lips, look away, dilated pupils, tremble or shake.
Step 3. Learn to recognize the most common signs of aggression
A dog that intends to attack slightly changes the way it stands. Look for direct eye contact and stare at his target. Then shift your body weight to the front legs. He can also wave his tail by keeping it stiff and low. Watch out for these signs as they indicate that it is about to fire.
- If you are faced with a dog that takes this attitude, the best defense you have is to step aside or walk away, avoiding looking at him when he stares at you. Stay calm and quiet.
- If you notice your dog behaving this way, regain control of the situation by putting him on a leash or bringing him into the house immediately.
Step 4. Keep in mind that there is no quick fix against aggression
You will not be able to solve this problem by training him once. Re-educating an aggressive dog takes time. Be patient and take precautions (e.g., sturdy leash and muzzle) to protect yourself and others during training.
Don't beat him up or punish him for being aggressive. If anxiety is the cause of this attitude, he may become more agitated or become more fearful. Therefore, there is a risk that its aggressive charge will increase
Step 5. Consider consulting a qualified behaviorist
To increase the chances of success in dog rehabilitation, it would not be a bad idea at all to turn to a dog behaviorist. Aggression is characterized by many factors that encourage it, so by consulting an expert, you may have a better chance of identifying these factors and putting in place the best strategy to control them.
- For example, the dog may fear strangers or other dogs, exhibit territorial aggression, or a greater propensity to protect a resource such as food.
- Ask your vet for help finding a qualified behaviorist in your area.
Step 6. Change your habits to reduce exposure to triggers
As you train him, try to avoid what triggers his aggression, for example by choosing a quieter and less frequented path instead of walking the dog instead of the normal route to walk the dog or playing in the garden until he gets tired instead of going. at the park.
Advice
- Never physically punish your dog, otherwise he will be led to associate people or other dogs with pain and there is a risk that his aggression will increase.
- The dog can interpret the human voice and body language very well. Stay calm and keep a calm tone when teaching your furry friend to react less aggressively.
- Spaying or neutering your dog is a very effective way to reduce its aggressive behavior. If you haven't done so yet, do so as soon as possible.
