Some breeds seem to be more prone to aggression. A strong-willed or intelligent breed can prove to be a challenge to train. You need to determine why your puppy is exhibiting aggressive behavior and take steps to stop his aggression. Keep reading to learn how to train an aggressive puppy if your little one is exhibiting this behavior.
Loneliness and boredom are the primary causes of some puppy’s aggressive tendencies. Lonely or bored puppies tend to be a little more nervous and a few will turn aggressive, cry, or possibly even howl all day long because they are bored.
One of the worst causes of aggression for a dog is isolation. When a dog is isolated, he has nothing to do except bark, and bark, and bark. Their barking often becomes a call to the owner, to come and rescue them. Wouldn’t you have to come and rescue a dog that is barking like crazy?
A lonely puppy will also finds himself fearful of the world outside his immediate family, which includes you and other animals. If you finds your puppy becoming aggressive, it may be because he thinks he has to protect his family from you! Your puppy may be either highly territorial, or fearful of a possible threat or danger. In some puppies, this fear is constant.
Consider making your lonely puppy’s life a bit more active by adding some games and exercise in his daily routine. Also, he may be lonely because he doesn’t get enough attention from you. So make it a point to share with him an activity that he likes every day! It could be playing games such as fetch or just a walk around the neighborhood with him.
A puppy that has had a traumatic past association will be very sensitive to any sort of change in the environment and will easily become aggressive in response to feeling threatened.
These puppies require a little more patience, loving care and more special attention. A puppy that has been chained up for long periods of time, may possibly resent strangers, and be skittish around them. Some will not only bark but also bite at anyone coming near to them.
3 Steps To Help A Puppy With An Aggressive Behavior
1. Help your puppy to become less threatened by providing him a den (or a crate) as a safe place to sleep.
2. Help your puppy to become familiar with everyday objects by allowing him to smell them.
3. You can also put your puppy in a routine that helps him to adjust.
If your puppy has anxiety issues, it is especially important to help him to relax and get used to his new environment. Spend more time with him, be extra loving and patience with him.
The attention that your puppy receives from you will provide him with emotional well-being. A puppy’s environment reflects his personality, and an unhappy puppy will tend to express his emotions by barking excessively, chewing, scratching, destroying, and showing other behavioral problems. Life with a destructive puppy isn’t all that pleasant.
One of the most important things to recognize is that puppies are pack animals; and each puppy is born to be a part of a Dog Pack. There is a hierarchy within a pack that determines pecking order within the pack.
The dominant alpha dog is considered the “alpha” of the pack. All of the other dogs in the pack will besides him; they will either be followers or subordinates. So, for your puppy to “take” order from you, you will have to be his “alpha dog” as the alpha dog rules the pack.
Just like with children, you will need to earn the trust and respect of your puppy. Once you accomplished that, you will have a very loyal and trustworthy companion.
Taking the time to learn about your puppy’s behavior. This will help you to take charge of your puppy and mange his behavior. As a dog owner, you will need to continuously make sure that your puppy does not become a nuisance to others, and that he is always well behaved. Take the time and patience to teach your dog to change his ways.
A rule of thumb to remember is this – If you want to train your dog to stop behaving aggressively, you need to change his perception of the world. Start looking at things from your dog’s point of view and gradually alter his behavior using obedient training approaches. A puppy that is well trained and properly socialized will be a happy companion for you!