Dealing with Canine Aggression

If you are committed to working on your dog's aggressive problems, we can help. Some aggression behaviors are the result of "fresh" dogs testing their boundaries, these dogs typically respond quickly to our Behavioral Obedience Training. Other forms of aggression are more complicated and require regular training.  Dogs typically make slow progress over an extended period of time. The progress usually continues while the dogs attend weekly classes, dogs often relapse if classes are discontinued too early.

While good obedience skills are useful in the management of canine behavior our course strive to enhance a variety of relationship skills. Practice leadership & partnering skills Improve communication and understanding Impulse control exercises Arousal control exercises A variety of factors affect the length and type of training  needed to improve your dog's aggressive behaviors How long has your dog been displaying aggression ?  Generally the longer the dog has been displaying aggression the longer it will take to improve the behavior.   The severity and frequency of a dog's aggression is a factor in the length and type of training required to improve the behavior.   The number of aggression categories displayed by your dog will affect the length of training required to improve his behavior.   Family life style is a factor in the success of any training program.  A hectic life style that doesn't allow ample time to manage and work with the dog reduces training effectiveness.

1. Canine Aggression Management:

Canine aggression is initially "managed" while behavioral training helps your dog build life skills.  As your dog's life skills improve, management can gradually be reduced.

Management strategies must be complete enough to absolutely prevent injuries associated with the aggressive behavior.  Management strategies generally require restriction of the aggressive dog's activities to ensure the safety of people and animals.  Giving an aggressive dog the opportunity to fail, will cause injuries to others.  Management strategies always lean towards caution, not towards freedom.

Management strategies often create a false sense of security lulling people into believing that their dog's aggression is "cured".   Know that dogs with aggressive problems require diligent management and regular training sessions over an extended period of time.  They are not normal pets, they have issues and they require your consistent help.
 

2. Behavioral Training:

Regular, long term training is recommended to establish foundational life skills necessary to improve your dog's behavior.

In most cases it is not possible to simply teach a dog not to bite, a variety of skills must be created to overcome the contributing causes of the aggression.
 

3. Types and Causes of Aggression:

One must be cautious when labeling canine aggression.  A specific label may cause you to miss manage your dog's behavior.  An individual dog can be aggressive for a variety of different reasons.  All of your dog's aggressive episodes may not have the same cause.
 

Aggression Categories, dogs may exhibit more than one category

Common contributing factors to canine aggression include:

Lack of sociability / Fear Redirected Arousal  Status Issues Prey drive Possessiveness & Resource Guarding Territorial Tendencies  Causes of canine aggression include both genetic & environment contributing factors