Socializing Aggressive Dogs

Agressive dogs are dangerous dogs.

No one wants to encounter an aggressive dog and animal control laws in the past few decades have steadily become stricter, forcing pet owners to control their animals. Sometimes, however, a dog gets out of his fence or house and confronts a human or another dog. The best time to socialize a dog is when he is a puppy to prevent aggression, but if an adult dog becomes aggressive, there are steps you can take to help him adjust.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Prong collar
• Secure leash

1. Use a prong collar to control an aggressive dog during training. Despite its scary appearance, a prong collar uses many metal bars that pinch the dog’s neck when you pull on the leash, allowing you to exert less pressure when controlling a large or unruly dog. A prong collar must not be left on your dog after the training is over as it can easily catch on a fence or furniture and choke the dog.

2. Expose your dog to the very thing that triggers his aggression. Dogs that bark at strangers do not know how to introduce themselves or get to know strangers and they view them as a threat. This can become a dangerous situation if the dog is not socialized. Daily walks with your dog will allow him to see strangers. Put the prong collar on before you go.

3. Move to the side of the sidewalk when a stranger approaches, putting yourself closest to the person and your dog on the other side. Hold the leash close to the prong collar but do not exert pressure until your dog shows the first signs of aggression.

4. Immediately correct aggressive behavior. Don’t wait for your dog to bark at the stranger, a low growl or pulling forward on the leash is sufficient. Lower your voice, tighten your grip on the leash and move directly between your dog and the stranger, blocking his view. Issue a single command of “No” and tell your dog to sit.

5. Remain in this position, blocking your dog from the stranger until he passes. Do this every time a stranger approaches. Eventually, your dog will understand that a growl or lunging is the wrong thing to do.

6. Enroll your dog in obedience class. Tell the instructor your dog is aggressive before attending. He may require your dog to wear a muzzle or he may want to start with private obedience lessons and progress into group lessons.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog is large and frightening, take your walks in a park where you can put extra distance between you and strangers but follow the same procedure. As your dog progresses, you can move a little closer to the stranger.

• Don’t wait until your dog erupts into a barking fury before calling him down. Dogs show signs of aggression with a direct long stare, fur standing up on the back of their necks, a low growl or a lunge on the leash. Correct your dog at the first sign of aggression, even if it isn’t a bark.

• Don’t pull upward and backward on your dog when he is acting aggressively. Dogs relate to body language and a tall position with chest exposed means “let’s fight” in the dog world. Hold the leash close to the collar and pull downward and backward.

• Take the prong collar off after a walk or training.

• Under no circumstances should you allow an aggressive dog to run loose or greet strangers in your home. If your dog bites, you will be legally responsible.

Resources

• Fit a prong collar correctly.