The Value of Aggressive Dog Training Early in a Dog’s Life

Often, the main cause of dogs’ aggressive behavior is the dog owners themselves. Bad training methods like violence, persistent scolding, teasing, or even ignorance of proper training can cause the aggressiveness in a dog. Constant chaining, excessive punishment and under feeding contribute to the development of dangerous aggressive behavior in dogs.

The first step toward a solution is the ability to recognize the threat of possible aggression. Like humans, dogs have certain threshold for pain or irritation. They can show signs that they are about to cross their threshold by growling, baring teeth or a snap. There are more subtle signs like hard stare, panting, yawning, pinning ears to the head or whining.

Do not prevent a dog from showing these signs because when a dog stops showing theses signs, it might just suddenly bite. In cases when a dog has shown aggressive behavior, punishment or scolding is not the proper way to handle it because it will only intensify the dog’s behavior. In such cases, you need to call for assistance from a professional who has aggressive dog training expertise.

Aggressive dog training should start in your dog’s puppy years. If you can attend a puppy training class, do not hesitate to do so. Experts say that the critical socialization period in puppies is from birth to age six months. Generally, puppies will associate with all types of people.

Experts have what they call “time-out” method to teach your puppies not to bite. Say “No” when it bites; then, leave the dog inside a room for thirty seconds. It helps the dog understand that biting is wrong.

Counter conditioning is another positive aggressive dog training technique you can use to temper aggressive behavior. If the presence of other dogs triggers your dog’s aggressiveness, try to give a piece of delicious meat or anything that it likes to take its attention away from the triggering factor, which is the other dog.

We can prevent the onset of life threatening aggressive behavior in dogs with good care and training as early as possible. “You cannot teach old dogs new tricks,” is a popular cliché people use that has not only analogical value but also a literal truth. It is difficult to curb bad behavior in dogs through aggressive dog training when they are already old and big. Perhaps, experts could offer some help but still, “prevention is worth more than a pound of cure”, especially when it comes to aggressive dog training.