How to Control Dog Aggression to Strangers?
Dog Aggression. Dog Behavior Correction and Socialization
Dog owners often face the same problem: a dog is aggressive to
passers-by. Dogs attack in various ways, on long and short distance,
unexpectedly or after a warning by growling. But one thing that is
common - a dog is absolutely out of control. Walking such a dog is a
real torture. It is impossible to leave it off leash, and a dog is
walked muzzled only and in desolated places. It goes without saying
that there is no pleasure of walking an aggressive dog as well as no
use as a guard dog, as in most situations you cannot rely on your
dog, because it will be chasing something or someone.
What are the reasons of aggressive dog behavior?
1) High level of dog dominance.
Dominance is not to be considered as black and white. The level of
dominance may differ in wide ranges, from total ignorance of a dog
owner to panic fear of him. Your relationship with a dog may vary in
this space from one level to another. Many dog owners do not admit
that their dog is not a scared puppy any more, it has grown and
"sits on their head with its legs dangling". Usually, it is
difficult for an inexperienced dog owner to evaluate his
relationships with a dog in the right way until he sees dog
aggression.
If a dog attacks a stranger and does not react owner's commands, it
means that the stranger is a much stronger irritant than the owner.
And it is the sign of dominant dog behavior.
2) Insufficient level of basic dog obedience
Absence of straight reaction to basic dog commands "come", "sit",
"no" etc may be also the reason of absence of control over a dog.
Dog obedience training in various conditions (including presence of
strange people) puts a dog at its place in the hierarchy of
relationship and trains to a calm reaction to strangers.
3) Insufficient dog socialization
If your dog is not used to presence of strangers, do not wait for
its calm reaction to them. When you raise a puppy turn your
attention to its socialization: walk with a puppy in public places,
train dog obedience and play with your pet close to lively streets.
It trains a dog to react calm to people, vehicles, dogs etc.
If you have an adult dog you need much more time, patience and
skills to achieve the results. But it is certainly important thing
to do.
Very often dog aggression problem is caused by several reasons from
the listed above.
So, what we have to do to control dog aggression
to strangers?
1) Take a class of intensive dog obedience training with suppression
of dog dominance.
A basic dog obedience training class is completed with special
exercises to suppress dog dominance. We will tell more about dog
dominance in our next articles.
Include exercises in presence of strange people to the training of
dog obedience. Gradually shorten the distance to strange people in
the training course.
2) Socialize your dog
Treat it as a kind of dog training. Schedule a training plan to
include complications: at first dog walking, game or training of
basic skills of dog obedience on a long distance from a lively
street, then shorten the distance gradually until you feel your dog
is calm in the most lively street. It is obligatory to visit public
places: markets, squares etc. Your dog is to be muzzled. At our store you will find a rich collection fo dog muzzles for all dog breeds, sizes and purposes: wire dog muzzles and leather muzzles for dogs.
These simple rules mean long, patient, careful work the result of
which depends not only on the trainer's persistence but also on
constant analysis of individual dog reactions. But you will see the
result if you are ready to devote your time and skills to dog
training.
Nobody but you can make a dog obey you.
Before start of dog behavior correction according to our
recommendations evaluate how these means are efficient for your dog
and in its case. If a dog has weak nerves, unsure behavior its
training with use of suppression of dominance will make it even
weaker. But if you have a strong, aggressive to strangers and
dominant dog, than harsh suppression and control will work well.
Try our bestsellers to control your big dog:
Our dog muzzles are produced in many sizes and shapes to fit any dog individual snout size. If you need an advice, you are welcome to contact us at info@fordogtrainers.co.uk.
