Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Truth About Aggressive Behavior in Dog Pets

By Aleesha London

Everyone knows it is not easy to live with aggressive behavior in dog pets. This is definitely one trait that every owner would want to weed out from their pets. This is why dog owners who have aggressive dogs want to find ways to eliminate the behavior. The first thing every dog owner should know though is that there are deeper truths behind dog aggression.

Behind the Aggression

Dogs are animals. This does not mean though that they are not capable of thinking, feeling or forming valid reactions. Just like human aggression, dog aggression is a valid defensive response. If something threatens us, our possessions, the people we love and our principles, we tend to take defensive stances that can quickly translate to aggression. The same can be said for dogs.

Obviously dogs will tend to defend themselves from harm. Anything that dogs perceive as possible source of pain or harm will be treated with suspicion and, when necessary, violence. People with sticks or any other threatening tool could therefore be a candidate for a dog attack. This is even when there is no real intention to harm. Dogs that have been through painful and traumatic experiences may tend to incorrectly interpret some situations as possibly harmful.

Dogs can go to great lengths trying to defend themselves. They will also try to protect what they think is theirs. That would include objects like dishes, toys and territories. They may however include people who they feel belong to their pack.

Emotionally-threatened dogs are the ones that manifest aggressive behavior in dog pets. Since dogs naturally belong to packs that follow hierarchies, your dog might feel that you and other people are trying to challenge its dominance. Your dog might actually think that other people and animals are its subordinates and will not permit challenges to its authority.

What You Should Do

The first thing to remember when your dog shows aggression is not to panic. Remember that it is a valid response that may be based on incorrect perceptions that your dog may have. Although you should be careful, it is important at this point to show acceptance for your pet. It is also crucial not to attempt to fight it out with your dog. Dealing with dog aggression in a similar way can only lead to disastrous results. You could either make your dog even more aggressive or you could endanger both of your lives.

The best thing to do with aggressive dogs is to let them undergo obedience and behavior training. Behavioral training will teach your dog that it is not being threatened and that you are its master and not the other way around. You can either get a professional trainer or you can train your dog yourself. The latter option however would require you to follow a reliable set of guidelines. This option may be a good one to take considering that you too may need to learn new ways of perceiving and handling your dog.

Keep in mind that any bad dog behavior can be corrected so there is no need for you to be frustrated over aggressive behavior in dog companions. No matter what they tell you about not being able to teach dogs new tricks, aggression can be corrected.

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