Preventing Aggression in Dogs

As is the case in any service profession, I tend to see cycles pertaining to certain dog behavior problems. For whatever reason, there seems to be a large number of calls recently seeking help with various aggression issues. Whenever I receive a call for help with an aggressive dog, I typically speak with the owner a few minutes to gather some details. I want to know what exact problem they are having, how long it has been a problem, and what they would expect in terms of help or solutions.

One common theme I find with aggression cases is there were generally precursors or warning signs that were missed. In other words, dogs don't just wake up one morning and decide they're going to start using their teeth. I believe most aggression is learned, and view it as an aberrant behavior unless a dog is intentionally trained to behave aggressively for certain work (police, military, etc.).

With this in mind, I would offer a few items that can be greatly beneficial in preventing aggression in dogs.

1) Early work with a certified trainer when your dog is 2-3 months old can provide education on socializing your pet to items that will be commonplace in its life. Dog's lacking early, favorable experiences with people, places and things often become fearful as they mature. Fear or anxiety is a huge motivator for many dogs to use their teeth. Stack the odds in your favor by learning how to help your puppy grow into a calm and confident dog.

2) Many puppies use their teeth early to explore and play. While this is normal, owners should work with a professional who can help teach a "no teeth on people" rule! Puppy classes that simply advise "time outs" or "avoidance" are setting owners and their dogs up for future problems. Puppies who fail to learn a "no teeth" rule may instead learn biting provides control of their environment. Early remediation is much easier than teaching this lesson to an adult dog who may be larger than the owner(s).

3) Training early can establish a respectful relationship with rules and obedience - this pays large dividends. Dogs who understand their role in a family, and who are respectful of their owners, are rarely problematic. Starting before problems arise will always result in better outcomes.

4) Trainers rarely have problems dogs, partly due to #3 above, but also because they recognize and read behaviors in dogs with an eye toward the future. Properly addressing incipient behaviors that can escalate into severe problems is beyond the knowledge of most owners. Again, working early with a good trainer to develop "reading and teaching skills" provides a tremendous asset in moving any dog toward their full potential.

Certainly there are some dogs that aren't wired properly, or aren't well suited behaviorally for their particular environment or family. But there is a frequent thread in many of the aggression calls I receive, and that's a rather long history of a problem behavior that was never addressed early. The sooner you learn good communication skills with your pet, the less likely you will have problems. The sooner you address a problem behavior, the more likely things can be improved.