Is Your Dog Aggressive?

By : Bob Evanston
Humans and dogs have a long history of happy co-existence. For many people, as the old saying goes, their dog is indeed their best friend. Dogs can serve many roles -family member, guardian, jogging buddy, worker and countless others.

Sometimes, however, the canine-human relationship is not completely harmonious. Unfortunately, dogs can inspire irritation and even fear in people. What does a dog owner do when faced with an aggressive or downright vicious animal that he or she cannot seem to control?

Aggression is the most serious problem faced by dog owners. It can take many forms. Your dog may have a problem with other dogs, with children or with just certain people or in certain environments. So, first of all, you should narrow it down and pinpoint the exact issue.

The first step to take is to have a veterinarian you trust examine your dog, to make sure there is not a physical problem that is the cause of disruptive behavior. You should also try to control your dog's environment as much as possible, avoiding whatever tends to provoke problematic behavior.

Don't take unnecessary chances. If your dog is a threat to people or other animals, you have to make an effort to prevent any unpleasant situations from arising. If your dog is a biter, use a muzzle until you have corrected the problem. There can be serious consequences if a dog attacks someone.

In some sad cases, as when you have a dog who is a threat to a young child, you may have to give up the dog. In most cases, however, the problem can be remedied with some perseverance. One thing that often helps is to increase the amount of exercise your dog gets. Often, an aggressive dog is one who has too much unused energy.

While playing with your dog is a great thing to do, some owners unwittingly foster aggression by playing roughly, as in getting into tug-of-wars with a sock or toy. This is fine for some dogs, but if your dog is already showing signs of aggression, you don't want to increase this. Do play and exercise your dog, but don't encourage him/her to bite or growl if this is already an issue.

Another factor to consider is socialization. Dogs who are left alone for long periods, especially in uncomfortable situations (e.g. tied to a stake or tree or in a small pen) often develop behavioral problems. Dogs are social animals and are not happy being left alone for long periods. If you are away from home a lot, perhaps you can make arrangements to have someone else watch your dog for part of the time.

The above are basic suggestions and will not be enough to correct a serious behavioral problem. The truth is, an aggressive dog needs some serious attention. You will have to hire a qualified dog trainer to help, or take the time to work on your dog on your own, which will take some time, patience and education.

An aggressive dog is a situation you cannot ignore, hoping it will improve on its own. The fact is, most dogs are trainable and with some attention will turn out to be great companions. However, some dogs need more guidance and training than others when it comes to social behavior.

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