Aggressive dog training is essential if your dog displays menacing behavior. An aggressive canine is a social worry – and a threat to you. Your dog may guard its food bowl, growl at men, corner puppies, bark at cars, snarl at neighbors or lunge at other Dog trainers Houston tx. Regardless of what provokes your pet’s attitude, aggressive dog training can help.
Dog aggression will get worse if not corrected. Aggressive dog training helps by treating the cause and by teaching you corrective techniques that will help your pet’s behavior. Keep in mind that with a physically threatening, aggressive dog, training might require outside help. But do not wait until disaster strikes. If your pet turns aggressive, use the following aggressive dog training tips right away to tame your dog.
- Visit the vet. A behavior flare-up can be caused by an undiagnosed health issue such as a neurological irregularity, hormonal imbalance, lead poisoning, blood sugar imbalance or mineral deficiency. Tell the veterinarian about the aggression problem so he can test for diseases that can cause the behavior you described. Aggressive dog training will not give lasting results if the underlying health cause remains untreated.
- Become the Alpha leader. Often, a dog’s threatening behavior is an attempt to become the Alpha leader. Your pet may be wired for dominance, trying to intimidate you into giving up Alpha leadership. On the other hand, it may be afraid because it feels like there is no Alpha leader and attempts to fill the void by becoming aggressive. You will not be able to train your dog successfully, let alone work on aggressive dog training, without establishing Alpha leader status first.
- Take an obedience training class. Your dog will respect you when you follow through on your commands and not give in to its will. Obedience instruction teaches your dog to follow your instructions and shows you how to command it clearly. You will be able to get your dog’s attention and reward it correctly when it responds appropriately to your commands. You will be able to control your dog without brute strength if you make obedience training part of your aggressive dog training plan.
- Adjust the dog’s diet. The canine version of junk food can cause unusual behavior and poor impulse control. Make sure you are using a high-quality, additive-free dog food. If your dog eats commercial dog food, its aggressive behavior might be exacerbated by non-nutrient additives and few or no vitamins. Even some high-priced dog foods are full of junk. You can check your brand’s rating here.
- Do not punish your dog. Fear can be overwhelming for your pet, resulting in fear-based aggression. Minimize its fears by not using punishment to curb bad behaviors. Correct when your dog acts inappropriately rather than punishing for its mistakes. If you forcefully discipline an aggressive dog, training with any kind of correction may make its behavior worse rather than cure it.
- Hire an aggressive dog training specialist. If you are afraid that your dog may harm a person or another animal, find a professional immediately. There are trainers who specialize in aggressive dog training. They help correct the behavior before it causes you serious problems. Don’t wait until it is too late. Your veterinarian can point you to a specialist that will help.
Aggressive dogs are a serious problem. Aggression is not just a phase. It can lead to much worse behaviors such as biting or attacks, and results in a generally uncomfortable household. If your pet’s behavior gives you pause, start aggressive dog training right away.