Dog Aggression – How To Prevent Dog Aggression Towards Strangers
If you have a dog that growls or acts aggressively towards strangers, it’s not too late to do something about it. But first, you should understand why your dog’s acting this way.
Your dog’s ancestors were aggressive by nature. Living in the wild meant having to hunt for food, and defend themselves from other animals. It was instinct to protect their resources like food, mate and territory.
Over time, selective breeding has significantly lessened and refined this trait. That said, by nature all dogs are still physically capable of causing serious harm. (Just look at his teeth and you know this is true!)
The good thing is, there is a lot we can do as dog owners to prevent this aggression from surfacing. And if it does surface – for whatever reason – there are things you can do to deal with it.
Although aggression in dogs comes in different forms, aggression towards strangers is one that is quite common. This type of aggression is stems from nervousness. If he becomes nervous around strangers, his instinct is to protect himself (and you) from the percieved threat.
Dogs that are nervous around strangers are pretty easy to spot. When someone unfamiliar approaches (a visitor, delivery person, or someone walking down the street) they will usually act one of two ways… Either they will sit completely still, staring hard at the new person, or they’ll become agitated. They’ll be fidgety, pace back and forth and bark or whine.
The reason a dog acts agressively towards strangers is because he hasn’t been exposed to a wide variety of people and places. As a dog owner, it’s your job to be sure he learns that strangers aren’t a threat. He relies on you to take him on outings where he can meet new people and learn about the world around him.
We call this process “socialization” – and it is, without a doubt, one of the most important things you should do with your dog. Socialization is best started as a puppy, and it should be done continually through your dog’s life. It helps your dog learn about the world around him. He learns that new people, places, or other animals are not a threat. Exposing your dog to as many different experiences is vital to raising a relaxed and stable dog.
You can’t just bring an adult dog into a crowd of new people and expect him to stay calm and relaxed. Saying “It’s okay, Trixie. Settle down” doesn’t work. Your dog needs to learn that it’s okay on his own. Socializing your dog helps him learn this. You want to expose him to all sorts of people — small children, teens and old people, kids on skateboards, delivery people in uniforms — anything that’s different from what he’s use to seeing at home.
When you start socializing your dog as a puppy, he learns that new experiences are a good thing, instead of something to fear. He’ll be much more relaxed and comfortable when he’s around strangers.
One of the easiest ways to start socializing your puppy is by signing up for a puppy class. These are sometimes called puppy kindergarten or puppy preschool. It is a series of classes specifically for puppies. Most are held at a vet clinic or another controlled indoor environment.
Puppy classes are usually taught by a qualified dog trainer. Many times the instructor will bring one or two assistants, which lets you have more one-on-one time with a trainer during class. You’ll learn about your puppy’s developmental stages, how to crate train and potty train your puppy, and even a few basic obedience commands.
This obedience work is a great way to start your puppy on the road to being a trustworthy and well-behaved dog, but it’s really just a “bonus” to the real benefit of puppy classes… which are the play sessions. Several times at each class, the puppies get a chance to run around off-leash and play together. This gives them a chance to learn social skills in a safe, controlled environment. Playing in a group of unfamiliar dogs and people helps them learn how to interact with strange dogs and that they don’t have to be afraid of people they don’t know.
Just remember… socializing at puppy school is just the start. To raise a friendly, confident dog you need to continue exposing him to new experiences. You’ll want to take him to as many new places as possible – just don’t overwhelm him. Start off slow, and you’ll see his confidence grow. By consistently socializing your dog, he’ll grow up knowing that new people and new places are good things. He’ll have nothing to fear, especially strangers!
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