| Sadly, every year thousands of dogs are sent to | | | | In some situations an adult dog will show |
| their deaths at animalshelters because of their | | | | aggression to someone in yourown family. This |
| aggressive behavior towards people. Althoughdogs | | | | type of aggression is usually a behavior that |
| are instinctively aggressive creatures, the overly | | | | dogsexhibit when they are trying to guard a |
| aggressive orvicious behavior some dogs exhibit | | | | resource from what theyperceive as a threat. He |
| can be prevented if you take aproactive | | | | may be guarding his food, or his territoryfrom a |
| approach. | | | | perceived threat-you or another family member. |
| In nature, aggression comes in handy and is in | | | | Some dogs willgrowl if you approach them while |
| fact necessary. | | | | they are eating or may give you a |
| Descending from wolves, dogs needed to defend | | | | "staredown" if you try to take anything away |
| themselves against otheranimals, had to hunt and | | | | from them such as a toy. |
| protect resources and of course find a mate. | | | | This behavior is commonplace and it relates to |
| Lets face it-dogs are well adapted to do some | | | | the social behavior ofdogs. Dogs are pack animals |
| serious physical harm-take a look at your dog's | | | | and live in a structured, hierarchalsociety. Each |
| teeth! Some of a dog's aggressive nature | | | | individual in their society has a certain status or |
| hasbeen minimized through selective breeding but | | | | rank. |
| you can't change the factthat dogs are hunters | | | | The highest ranking dog, the alpha, is the leader |
| and had to be aggressive to survive. | | | | of the pack and getshis choice of food and |
| The easiest way way to stop aggressive | | | | mates. Each dog knows his rank, or dominance |
| behavior in dogs is to not letit form in the first | | | | inrelation to every other dog. So he would know |
| place. Count yourself lucky if you are readingthis | | | | which dog he can easilypush away, which ones he |
| while your furry friend is still a puppy because | | | | can muscle in on, and which ones he must |
| really all youhave to do is what I call diverse | | | | backaway from in a confrontation. |
| socialization. Let your puppy see andplay with a | | | | Your dog also lives in a pack-your family. Your |
| wide variety of people: babies and toddlers, old | | | | dog already haseveryone ranked in the family in |
| people,young boys and girls, men with beards, | | | | his social schema. The problem thatcan occur here |
| other animals and even themailman.(Don't | | | | is that if he thinks that he has a higher rank than |
| laugh-according to the US Postal Service every | | | | youor another family member he may act |
| year | | | | aggressively. This aggressive ordominant type |
| 2,851 mail carriers get bitten by dogs) | | | | behavior is the "right" of a higher ranking animal. |
| Your dog depends on you to broaden his social | | | | Onlya higher status or dominant dog would act |
| horizons. If you give himmany positive socialization | | | | aggressively this way. |
| experiences with a wide variety of peopleand | | | | In other words, if your dog understood that he |
| animals he will feel more relaxed when he | | | | was not the alpha dog inthis situation he would |
| encounters a stranger orunfamiliar situation. He | | | | never aggressively try to prevent you fromtaking |
| has learned that new people and situations arefun | | | | his food or toy. A lower staus or ranking dog |
| and interesting, not scary. He has to learn this | | | | would simply goalong with what the higher ranking |
| through experienceand the earlier you start him | | | | dog (you or your family) doeswithout a fight. |
| on this "socialization training" thebetter. It is not | | | | The best way to stop this is with some |
| enough to put your adult dog in a room full | | | | obedience training which willmake him understand |
| ofstrange people and tell him to "Relax, settle | | | | that you and your family are the leader of the |
| down Rufus, it'salright". He has to learn this | | | | packand not him. Don't take this to mean you |
| himself. If you don't have time to dothis yourself | | | | have to beat your dog if hedisobeys-this can lead |
| there are "puppy preschools" that encourage | | | | to fear biting and other problems. It's betterif you |
| socializationwith other dogs and their owners. The | | | | spend a couple of short sessions a day-say 10-15 |
| environment is safe andcontrolled and your dog | | | | minutes andreward him with praise and food |
| will get exposure to wide variety of | | | | treats for following your commands andputting |
| different,friendly faces and other dogs. This way | | | | him in isolation when he disobeys. Your dog wants |
| he will learn that he doesn'tneed to fear new | | | | to be anaccepted part of the pack. |
| faces. | | | | Some dogs, especially dogs that have been |
| It is best to continue with a dog's socialization as | | | | abused and abandoned inshelters may be |
| an ongoinglifetime effort. If he looks like he is | | | | especially aggressive and fearful. He may be too |
| being overwhelmed just back offthe training a | | | | muchto handle for you. If you have the heart |
| little bit until he can build up his tolerance. | | | | there are professional dogtrainers that can help |
| Aggression Towards Your Family Members | | | | train very aggressive dogs. |