American Bulldog - Dealing With Dog Aggression

By Author: Ricardo Limbardo
Total Articles: 1131
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Dog aggression is an encompassing term that refers to a dog's propensity to behave more aggressively than is normal. Dog aggression as a problem can be developed as the dog is growing up. Although there are several problems that dogs may develop, dog aggression is one of the most significant problems that can affect your pet. Although all dogs will display aggression from time to time, it being a common behavior among canines, abnormal dog aggression is still a problem that needs to be treated. If not, your dog's aggressive behavior can be a huge disadvantage. The effects of dog aggression are varied, but all of them are nothing short of destructive.

What Causes Dog Aggression?

A lot of factors can cause dog aggression. Some cases of dog aggression can be hereditary, which brings to the fore the importance of looking into a dog's family history before adopting it as a pet. Also, you might want to get a dog of a breed that is less sensitive to dog aggression. There are three types of dog aggression, and some of these types may encompass other problems such as noise and thunderstorm phobias. The differentiation ...
... lies primarily on what triggers the aggressive behavior. The first type of dog aggression is when the dog displays aggressive behavior as a response to anger, or as a way to dominate over an unfamiliar person or event that it automatically interprets as a threat. Dog aggression as a result of fear can also occur in dogs when they are faced with something that is strange and scary for them. The third type of dog aggression is milder, and in some ways, positive, because it springs from a need to protect their surroundings. Other than these, dog aggression can also be caused by other factors such as a traumatic experience, a phobia, and even medical illnesses.

How Do You Deal with Dog Aggression?

Overly aggressive dogs are very hard to handle. If you are a first time dog owner, or you have a new puppy, it is important to prevent dog aggression before it develops by training your dog to socialize. However, since there are several possible causes of dog aggression, the problem may still arise when the dog is already grown up. In such cases, you have to manage dog aggression nonetheless. Treating dog aggression is dependent on determining the true cause of the dog's aggressive behavior. If your dog is displaying exccessive aggression, your first step should be to bring it to a veterinarian and have its condition diagnosed. Most cases of aggressive behavior in dogs can be corrected through behavioral modification. Professional dog trainers can also help you come up with a treatment for your aggressive dog. If your dog has dog aggression problems, your commitment to helping it overcome the behavioral problem is necessary.

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