You may think your dog would never bite, but according to the Kansas Humane Society guidelines, if your dog barks to alert you to strangers in the vicinity...and you have to tell him to quit barking when they approach...then he has the propensity to bite. That doesn’t mean he will – but it is better to be safe. Remember, if you teach your dog to bark at strangers, he will bark at bad ones and good ones, alike.
Is it just the "Nature" of the Beast?
Dogs are pack animals, and if left to their own devices they will seek to fulfill that role. A dog that has been trained to hunt is also likely to chase joggers or bicyclists, or the neighbor’s cat, unless he is taught to know the difference.
Once a dog has shown any hostility towards humans, steps should be taken to keep further incidents from occurring.
Too often, however, pet owners don’t know where to start and they may ignore the aggression, hoping it was just an isolated incident. Alternately, they may confine the dog to a pen for hours at a time – which can actually have the opposite effect, actually making the dog more hostile. Or owners may feel they have no choice but to have their dog euthanized.
Things you can do to help correct aggressive behavior before resorting to that irreversible step:
- First, a visit to your veterinarian is in order. Many causes of dog aggression can be alleviated right there. In older dogs, arthritis, a painful condition, can make the dog cranky when people approach him. Your vet may prescribe an anti-inflammatory or pain medication. Many owners see a reduction in aggressive tendencies after their dogs are spayed or neutered. Sterilization reduces hormonal levels in the body, often resulting in a more temperate pooch.
- Your second step is to find an obedience class. Sometimes a dog just doesn’t know how to respond to commands. If you feel your pet is basically good, yet he doesn’t listen when you command him repetitively to quit barking - a good trainer is in order. When enrolling him however, be sure to mention exactly what problems your dog has so the trainer can put him in the correct group, or work privately with him.
- There are a couple of techniques you can try to properly socialize your dog at home. Take your pet on frequent walks where he will encounter other dogs and people. If he is introduced to animals and humans on a regular basis, he won’t react as aggressively when they come into his yard or home.
- When your dog behaves in a threatening manner you need to react immediately to the incident. Dogs don’t understand why you’re scolding them an hour after they snapped at your guest’s hand; they must be chastised right away and forced to modify their behavior. Don’t wait – stop everything and confront Fido with his error. Let him know then and there that his behavior was unacceptable and remove him from the room. Isolating him at once will reinforce the lesson. It can’t be stressed strongly enough how important immediate reaction is in solving the problem.
Reward Good Behavior
Don’t forget to reward him when he exhibits positive social behavior. Training a dog is a process of rewards and discipline. He needs some motivation to continue the good behavior, after all.
Could it be his Food?
Lastly, try changing his diet. Recent studies have indicated some kinds of commercial dog food may be poisoning a small percentage of canines. Try switching his store-bought food, and if the problem persists and you still feel it is diet-related, try feeding him a raw diet.
According to a site dedicated to controlling aggression in dogs, " When you place a correction on the dog if it is being aggressive you need to be able to control your dog. If the dog does not respect your authority it will become more aggressive."
