Training For Aggressive Dogs Can Curb Excessive Dominance

Another failure on my part was the fact that I refused to acknowledge Monty was overly dominant. I thought it was cute the way he bullied my other dogs that are two or three times his size. My other dogs are very laid-back, and they were always patient and gentle with Monty, basically letting him get away with murder.

When my husband complained about the fact that Monty “ran the house” and never listened to a word he said, I ignored him. Monty always listened to me, and hadn’t disobeyed a single order I’d given him since he was a baby. Monty knew I was in charge, and I was secretly amused by the fact that he believed himself to be second in charge (above my husband).

I knew better. Like anyone familiar with dogs can tell you, one of the main focuses of training for aggressive dogs is to rein in dominant behavior and teach them their proper place in the pack. I should never have let Monty think that he ranked higher than my husband. What I should have done was admit that his dominant behavior was a sign of aggression, and taken steps to learn how to help an aggressive dog,

You have to address and correct dominance issues before they become a serious problem. Click here to discover the best methods of training for aggressive dogs.

Training For Aggressive Dogs Is Necessary When You Become Your Dog’s “Territory”

I had failed miserably at recognizing the early signs of Monty’s aggression, which were pretty obvious in hindsight. Monty was extremely territorial, and I always joked about the fact that I never had to worry about an intruder in my home with Monty around. He was the ultimate guard dog, protecting me from visitors, neighborhood children, and squirrels.

What should have concerned me was the fact that Monty growled at my husband every time he got near me, and snapped at him whenever he tried to rescue one of his shoes from Monty’s possession. Foolishly, I found Monty’s behavior was charming, and teased my husband about his “rival.” I thought my sweet little 5-pound ball of fluff was just “being a loving little angel and protecting me.”

It never occurred to me that what he was really doing was displaying early signs of aggression. Instead of recognizing this and learning how to help an aggressive dog, I made the problem worse by praising Monty for his “devotion”.

Are your dog's territorial instincts out of control? Click here to discover the best methods of training for aggressive dogs.

Determining the Cause of Aggression Is The Key To Training For Aggressive Dogs

Immediately after Monty attacked my nephew, I began seeking out information on how to treat aggressive dog behavior. I quickly discovered that the first step in correcting aggressive behavior is to determine what is at the root of the aggression.

What usually causes aggressive behavior is a natural instinct that is stronger and more pronounced than normal. When a dog’s owner fails to address and properly manage these instincts, they can result in the dog behaving aggressively.

Apparently, some of Monty’s instincts were much stronger than those of my other dogs. By raising Monty exactly like I had raised my other dogs, I failed to acknowledge his special circumstances and provide him with the training for aggressive dogs that he needed.

Do you know what is causing your dog's aggression? Click here to discover the best methods of training for aggressive dogs.

All Owners Need To Know About Training For Aggressive Dogs

I’ve been lucky enough to have many wonderful canine companions over the years, so I’ve managed to acquire a great deal of knowledge on the subject of dogs. In fact, I probably considered myself to be somewhat of an expert dog owner. I was smug, comfortable in the knowledge that I knew exactly how to properly raise a dog. My dogs were all well-behaved little angels, and training for aggressive dogs was something I was sure I’d never have to worry about.

That all changed the day my little one year old Maltese, Monty, viciously attacked my young nephew.

I was completely in shock. I couldn’t believe that one of my little fur-babies was capable of hurting anyone. I couldn’t understand it, I had raised Monty no differently than I had my other dogs, with plenty of love, attention and positive reinforcement. So why had Monty attacked a child? What had I, as his owner, done wrong?

It's up to you to change your dog’s aggressive behavior. Click here to discover the best methods of training for aggressive dogs.