Aggressive behavior toward other dogs

The aggression may stem from different factors. There is dominant aggression when a new dog comes on to your pet’s territory.

The problem may also be sex hormone related, where spaying or neutering may help alleviate the situation. Maternal aggression where they may become irritable and possessive, and protective of their home.

When you become aware that your dog is about to become aggressive toward another dog, try gaining your dogs attention the moment they make eye contact with the other dog. Try to distract it with a treat or toy and command it to sit.

Try having someone walk another dog by and practice with recalling and distracting until your pet has become accustomed to the activity.

To introduce two dogs when one may be aggressive is to rub a blanket on each of the dogs and let the other sniff and become accustomed to the smell.. Then introduce them to each other.

Aggressive behavior towards people

Dogs should be treated as a subordinate member of the family and obey the commands of all the humans in the family. Try to avoid inadvertently teaching the dog that they are the leader of the pack. Leaders think they should be fed first, walk though doors first, and be attended to first. When they don’t get their way they may exhibit aggressive behavior.

Dominant dogs tend to take over the couch. Try using a houseline to keep the pet restrained from using the furniture. Use the command “off” to discourage this behavior.

Try ignoring the dog, and advert your attention, until its pleas stop, command it to sit, all to show you are in command.

Have the dog become accustomed to you grooming them once a day.

The dog should be the last one in the family to eat. First prepare every ones meal including the dogs food, but don’t give it to them until you have completed your food first. This resembles the way a wolf pack works by the leader eating before the subordinates.

Also you have to be the first out of the door and then your dog this also will help retrain your dog into thinking your the leader of the pack.

Dominant dogs aggressive behavior may also be curbed by moving his sleeping spot to an open area rather than an confined space, to break them of their confidence of securing their den.

Practicing fetch exercises builds up confidence in the dog that you are the leader.

Biting out of Fear

Some dogs will bite not because they are aggressive but that they are afraid. Probably because the dog may not have had much social action or may have been mistreated. They may cower in fear and then bite at someone.

Try alleviating this anxiety by practicing using a friend and allowing your dog to walk up to your helper and take a treat from him without the helper giving him any attention. Keep doing this approach but every successful time change it up by having the helper kneel while the dog retrieves the treat. Then by turning and facing the dog to retrieve the treat. With practice the dog will come to behave confidently.

The Bad Habit of Guarding

A dog may exhibit possessive and aggressive behavior when it thinks its the leader of the pack.

They think they own and will try to protect their toys, food bowl and sleeping area even from their owner. Try not to back away from their aggressive behavior when you approach their food or toy, that will only encourage them in thinking they are the leader.

To help train your dog try first feeding your dog some very bland food, like rice, have them sniff it, then introduce some tastier food, and let them eat it, does this over several days until your dog welcomes your approach to the dog food bowl.

Dominant dogs tend to choose their sleeping areas, like your couch or bed.

Train the dog by keeping it on a leash throughout the day and enticing it to move off the furniture with the “off” command, give it a treat when they comply.

Some dogs guard their toys, try to avoid playing tug of war when they exhibit this behavior.

Try training your dog with a treat in one hand and a toy in the other, entice your dog to take the toy and then attempt to retrieve it, give them the treat when they comply.

Your dog may be owner – possessive and guard the family when a friend comes to visit. Try to remedy this by leaving a treat for your friend by the front door so they can give your dog a treat when they comply to your sit and stay commands.

There may be a competitive rivalry going on between your dogs

Dogs experience emotions like jealousy and rivalry. They will fight over bones, sleeping quarters, and even attention. They shouldn’t share things like food bowls, beds, and toys. Try to feed your dogs at the same time but apart from each other to reduce fighting during meals. Try to determine which dog is the dominant dog and treat him accordingly by greeting that dog first and serving the dominant dog first.

Jealousy may be exhibited from your mature dog when a new one is introduced, try to minimize the anxiety by by always feeding them together but not in view of each other. Allow the mature dog a break from the constant pestering of the puppy. Always make sure they have their own private space or sleeping quarters.

Sexual problems

Unfortunately this is another natural urge of dogs that can sometimes become annoying and offensive.

Some sex related problems are mounting of your leg and toys or rugs, urine marking, wandering, and territory guarding. Every time a dog tries to mount someones arm or leg, respond with the verbal command “off” and isolate them for a minute. Then let them back in the room and ignore them. Keep isolating them if they continue to mount you. Reward them after they have stopped the offensive activity. You can also use a squirt gun when they attempt to mount objects. Squirt them with it and yell out the command “off”. If your dog is not going to be used for breeding consider neutering them to alleviate any sexual related problems.