Identifying Aggressive Dogs Through Behavior
Understanding the nature of a dog will help you be a better owner and make it easier to guide your dog into being a better pet and companion. Love and respect are paramount when it comes to animals and if you treat them like a family member, then they will act like a family member. Leaning how your dog communicates is vital as well as learning how to properly communicate with your dog. We are going to focus on the things in the environment that cause aggressive dogs to bark and growl.
Just like humans, dogs are social creatures and will accept their family as a social group and based off interactions he will rank everyone in a social order; this is why it is important to establish dominance and effectively be the ‘alpha male’ in your pet’s eyes. Doing this will cause the dog to look to you for orders and guidance and be a friendly and loving animal. If the dog feels that he is the ‘alpha male’, then he will often bark and growl when he feels like you are challenging his position in the social structure.
Dogs are protectors by nature and very territorial. A dog will often establish what he considers to be his property; this area is most often the house or yard around the house. The dog will accept that certain other people own that territory as well, such as the family or other pets. If the dog feels that strangers are encroaching on his territory with malicious intent, then the barks and growls will come out along with other aggressive behavior. Training your dog to be accepting of strangers within their territory will help reduce this negative behavior.
The last common factor that breeds aggressive responses is when the dog feels threatened or is afraid. What actions a dog deems as violent or threatening will vary by body and the environment they grew up in. If as a puppy their owner would raise a hand and strike them, the dog could see any raised hand as something that will hurt them. Many of the thoughts a dog forms will be early in its development and this is where love and respect become paramount in the raising of your pet. Punishments that involve being locked in a room for short durations of times will work far better as behavioral modification, as opposed to corporal punishment that will only breed aggressive behavior.
Aggressive dogs are bred from confusion and mistreatment. Breeds of dog that are often seen as violent or aggressive can be trained to be some of the most loving and loyal companions; it is all about whether or not they are brought up correctly and taught the proper ways to behave.