Dealing with Aggressive Behavior in Puppies

If you believe your puppy dog is showing aggressive traits the first question to be answered is exactly what constitutes the aggression and the second is why?

If any of these behaviors tend to be more than an isolated occurrence then your puppy is actually showing hostile behavior.

1.Growling at you or a family member

2.Biting as well as snapping

3.raised hackles

4.excessive barking

Kinds of Aggression

To be able to successfully correct aggressive behavior in a puppy the type of aggression or even the reason for aggression must be recognized. Puppies display aggression in terms of defensiveness, being territorial, wanting to dominate, gender aggression or aggression as a direct result fear or anxiety.

If a puppy is actually showing aggression when a family member touches his food or toys this is territorial aggression. Dominant behavior arises from a puppy viewing themselves at the top of the hierarchy inside a family. Defensive aggression is often sparked by fear or anxiety every time they feel threatened while gender aggression could be linked to dominant aggression.

Type of Training

The two primary forms of training suited to aggressive puppies is either socialization or obedience training. Each set of techniques is targeted at a specific type of aggressive behavior.

Socialization is often a method of training which introduces a puppy with other dogs and also to other people. It is aimed at getting a puppy comfortable with the not familiar without feeling threatened and with no need to defend itself from fear or anxiety.

Obedience training is targeted at getting a puppy to know its place inside the household unit through training it to obey commands from its masters. This type of training is best suited to correcting defensive, gender or dominant aggressive behavior.

Teaching the dog owner

Aggressive behavior in a puppy as described is actually the result of a number of factors. When genetics play a part in specific dog breeds, aggression is more often a result of environment.

First of all at the actual way a puppy is treated within the family unit usually has a bearing on their behavior. If a puppy is ill handled, teased or punished excessively it will built up defensive mechanisms. Shouting particularly prompts a pup to react in kind which could lead to excessive barking and then punishment. The majority of bites are prompted by fear.

To be able to prevent negative behavior from a puppy an owner ought to check the way they deal with it. Children must be taught not to tease or even ill treat a puppy. Adult masters must also adjust their behavior and voice commands to ensure that a pup feels non-threatened. Punishment should not be physical.

Bob Leland is a dog training specialist. For more great advice on training aggressive puppies, be sure to visit www.lovingtouchpuppytraining.com.