By nature, all puppies are friendly but as they grow, some of them develop personality traits that are difficult to control. Being an owner, it is your first duty to understand your pet’s instinct and ensure that he does not wrest control from you.
If you choose the right breed or pup that can negate the possibility of raising an aggressive dog, since you will be forewarned of the breed’s temperament. This is why it is imperative that you spend enough time with the parents of the pup you’re interested in buying. You should also try to check out the offspring of previous litters
When picking out a puppy, make sure it is outgoing and friendly. It is best to begin training your pup early. It is better to teach him with rewards such as food, toys and most importantly, praise rather than physical punishment. In terms of early training, begin by lifting the puppy to groom or bathe him. Make him lie still while you trim his nails and clean his ears. If you do this often, he will get used to being handled and held around the head and muzzle area, in the down position and on his belly or side.
You might bring home a pup that doesn’t like to be touched. Don’t stop touching him but do this in a gentle manner until he grows used to your handling. Now, give him an occasional treat and lots of praise.
Almost any dog can become aggressive when defending its food. To reduce his aggressive tendencies, teach your dog to sit and wait for the bowl to be placed on the floor in front of him. Once it is set down before him, he should be allowed to eat. Get your dog used to being interrupted while eating. For this, give him a small portion of his food and lift the bowl often to refill it during one meal. You could occasionally add a special treat for good behavior.
If you find that your dog is stubbornly aggressive and you can’t help the situation, call your vet immediately. He will offer tips on changing or controlling the dog’s behavior and perhaps recommend a trainer who specializes in behavior problems.
Your dog can either become aggressive due to poor breeding or poor socializing. This is why it’s a fallacy to say that your docile dog turned aggressive overnight—on the contrary, it displayed warning signs of unfriendliness early in life, preferring his own company and quiet corners. Or he could have turned into a bully after growling at strangers or anyone who came near his food bowl or toys.
If you missed the early warning signs of his aggression, it’s probably because this is the first dog you’ve raised.
6 signs of dog aggressions:
- Whining, Barking or growling.
- Staring directly at other animals or people nearby.
- Raised hackles.
- Tagging against the leash to reach the other animals or people nearby.
- Ears pointing forward.
- A stiff tail held up high.
