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Are You Worried That Your Aggressive Dog May One Day Hurt Someone? Discover What You Can Do

29 11:54:13

Are You Worried That Your Aggressive Dog May One Day Hurt Someone? Discover What You Can Do






     Territorial aggressiveness is common when it comes to dogs but if it's ignored, it can get to the point where someone may actually get hurt. That is not something you do not want to risk. Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with an aggressive dog.

What is Territorial Aggression?
Many people consider territorial aggressiveness as a form of dominance. Your dog will look at his area (yard, house, couch, patio) as his. Most territorial dogs feel the need to be defensive whenever a stranger gets near his property. In some extreme cases of territorial aggression, the dog will snarl or act aggressive to his own master. If this resonates with you, this is something that needs to be addressed immediately!

Some other examples of territorial aggression can be seen when your dog growls at you when you try to get him off the couch or bed. Some common and frequent examples are aggression towards the mailman or other uniformed workers. Many people think that the uniform is what cause the dog to react in an aggressive manner.

In fact, that's not what happening at all. The dog sees the mail man as an intruder. Your dog will bark at the mailman and the mailman will leave once he's delivered the mail. What your dog sees is that every time he barks at the mailman, he or she will leave. With repetition, your dog is reinforced that barking at the mailman will make him leave. These dogs learn that the more they aggressively bark at whom he sees as an intruder, the faster they will leave.

How to Control Territorial Behavior
In order for you to control this unruly behavior, you are going to have to establish yourself as the alpha leader. Instinctively, dog packs have a hierarchy. In each pack (your household) there is an alpha leader. The alpha leader makes all the decisions and gets first dibs when it comes to anything. Everyone else is a subordinate of the alpha leader. Does your dog understand that you are the alpha leader?

Many people who leave their dogs in the backyard while they're at work seems to think that this is good for your dog. To be honest, your dog will relax or sleep all day until you come home. You can easily put your dog in a gated area in your house, a crate or even a dog kennel.

Remember, letting your dog outside in the backyard will not meet his exercise needs. A dog needs exercise everyday to meet his physical needs. This means taking your dog out for walks in the park or around the block is important. A tired dog is a happy and well behaved dog.

Other ways you can exert your dominance is by not allowing your dog to enter or leave the apartment before you. You can also make sure your furry pet is sitting calmly before you give him his food. Never give your dog his food when he is barking or jumping up and down. When you and your dog plays together with dog toys, whenever the game is finished, make sure you collect the toys. Don't leave them out for whenever your dog feels like playing with his toys. These are some examples of how you can become the alpha leader.

You will need to make sure your dog goes through obedience training. This will play a big factor in getting the message across that you are the alpha leader.