Imagine bringing home a cute new dog. After waiting patiently for the ideal dog partner, you finally found a rescue puppy to complete your family. After observing the dog with your kids at the shelter, you decided that he was gentle and patient with them.
Now it is dinnertime at your house, and you have just set down the food on his plate. As he eats, you approach and give him more water. As you go closer to him, you are greeted with a deep roar and a fixed stare. You freeze, startled. The dog in the shelter was very adorable, so what is happening now? Dogs can exhibit aggressive behavior in various manners.
An aggressive dog can behave in one way or in multiple ways. If you cannot manage their behavior, there might be an underlying issue that an animal vet in Bradenton, FL, should address, as there are many such cases happening around.
Ways to Control Your Dog’s Aggressive Behavior
In the majority of cases, aggression is inherited or learned. Every dog is born with a certain amount of aggression that they need to survive. Certain dogs have a higher probability of being aggressive due to biological characteristics, chemical imbalances, or their personalities. There are always abnormalities within any breed, and parenthood and direct bloodlines play a big part in that. Some breeds have been shown to have more aggressive traits.
If aggressiveness is controlled and suitable training is provided, certain dogs’ traits that can lead to increased bite rates can also help them achieve the tasks for which they were bred. For example, many police and military dogs must have a solid defensive drive and a certain amount of natural protectiveness.
Preventing human aggression in dogs is most effective while they are still young. Later in a dog’s life, you can avoid or reduce this type of aggression by taking the following proactive actions:
- Ongoing Socialization
In addition to avoiding dog-to-dog hostility, a puppy class may also stop human-directed aggression by introducing the dog to other puppy lovers, who are also going to be prepared with lots of praise and treats.
- Managing Exercises
Practice gently massaging the puppy’s entire body with meal kibble as you offer generous praise and give them treats. Include places like their lips, ears, paws, tail, chest, and collar area.
When they are still young, most puppies are mouthy. If your dog is reactive in specific circumstances, avoid letting that stop you from being gentle and spending more time in those areas until they can happily accept them.
- Managing Encounters
Puppies’ early experiences influence their view of the world, which makes it essential to make them joyful while yet introducing them to situations they will ultimately be faced with.
