Learning to cope with dog behavioral issues is never simple, but having an aggressive dog makes it even more difficult. It frequently goes beyond merely being concerned about returning home to a shattered living room or having an abnormally yappy dog.

It’s certainly stressful to always wonder if your dog would attack someone, whether another pet or a stranger. An aggressive dog can endanger not only its owners but also other people and animals.

In this article, we’ll go through some tips on how to deal with an aggressive dog so that you can keep everyone safe in your home.

Tips on How to Deal With An Aggressive Dog

Before we begin, it’s important to keep in mind that fixing your dog’s behavior will take time. Even with these tips, you’ll have to exert some effort and patience in order to see results.

Identify the Underlying Cause

Dogs don’t become aggressive out of nowhere.

Aggressive behavior is frequently triggered by something, from fear or anxiety to a lack of socialization. In order to fix the problem, you have to find out first where it’s coming from.

If your dog has been trained properly and socialized, pay close attention to what happens before or during his moments of aggression. If you observe any indicators of hostility, take action right away to moderate the situation.

Teach Your Dog to Stay Calm

You can use some techniques to help your dog stay calm and relaxed, like making him practice staying in a sit or down position. Whenever he gets too excited or agitated, you can ask him to stay in the position until he calms down. This will help him learn that it’s possible to stay in even when he’s feeling excited.

If you’re outside and he absolutely can’t settle down, you may have to take him home. Doing this will teach him that his behavior won’t be tolerated.

Provide Regular Exercise

Dogs have a lot of energy that they need to burn off, so they must receive enough exercise to keep them intellectually and physically occupied. Dogs who receive enough exercise are less prone to become irritated and lash out.

You can do activities like playing fetch, playing tug-of-war, and run-biking together. This will keep your pup healthy and give him an outlet for his energy.

Choose a Less Stressful Environment

Young, energetic dogs can easily stress out older dogs who simply don’t have the energy to keep up.

If your dog plays too harshly in these conditions, the only thing you can do is remove him from the area and select quieter, less stressful places for him.

Give Him Calming Supplements

Calm dogs are more receptive to new learning, which is why it can be hard to train an aggressive dog. Luckily, many calming supplements on the market can help keep your dog’s stress levels down, lower his aggression, and make it easier for you to train him.

Supplements that are safe for most dogs include chamomile, theanine, and valerian root. Talk to your vet and choose one that works best for your dog.

Seek Professional Help

If the dog’s hostility is serious, it may be best to seek professional assistance. A skilled dog trainer or behaviorist may examine the problem and offer suggestions on handling the dog’s behavior.

According to the Animal Humane Society, damage to certain parts of the brain caused by disorders like hydrocephalus, tumors, thyroid abnormalities, or trauma can also result in aggressiveness issues.

A consultation with your vet can identify these diseases and recommend the best course of action.

Conclusion

Dealing with an aggressive dog can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be a futile effort. With the proper approach and enough time, even the most hostile dogs can become loyal companions.

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