How To Prevent Dog Aggression Towards Strangers
Does your dog growl at strangers? Does he show aggression to people who are unfamiliar? If so, there are some things you can do to help solve the problem. But first, it’s important to understand why your dog is acting this way.
Your dog’s ancestors were aggressive by nature. Living in the wild meant having to hunt for food, and defend themselves from other animals. It was instinct to protect their resources like food, mate and territory.
Fortunately, selective breeding over the centuries has minimized and refined this trait significantly. Even so, it’s important to understand that by nature, all dogs are physically capable of inflicting serious harm. One look at those teeth and you know this is true!
The good thing is, there is a lot we can do as dog owners to prevent this aggression from surfacing. And if it does surface – for whatever reason – there are things you can do to deal with it.
Although aggression in dogs comes in different forms, aggression towards strangers is one that is quite common. This type of aggression is stems from nervousness. If he becomes nervous around strangers, his instinct is to protect himself (and you) from the percieved threat.
Its pretty easy to tell when a dogs nervous around strange people. He’ll be jumpy and on the alert. You’ll see this in one of two ways… either he can’t sit still (constantly fidgeting, jumping at the smallest sound, and pacing around barking and whining) or he’s completely still, sitting in one place, staring hard at the person he’s suspicious of. This could be anyone – a visitor, the mailman, or someone approaching him on the street.
The reason a dog acts agressively towards strangers is because he hasn’t been exposed to a wide variety of people and places. As a dog owner, it’s your job to be sure he learns that strangers aren’t a threat. He relies on you to take him on outings where he can meet new people and learn about the world around him.
We call this process “socialization” – and it is, without a doubt, one of the most important things you should do with your dog. Socialization is best started as a puppy, and it should be done continually through your dog’s life. It helps your dog learn about the world around him. He learns that new people, places, or other animals are not a threat. Exposing your dog to as many different experiences is vital to raising a relaxed and stable dog.
It’s not enough to expose an adult dog to a crowd of new, unfamiliar people and just say, “Settle down, Roxy, it’s OK”… your dog has to learn that it’s okay on his own. That’s what socializing does… it lets your dog learn this by exposing him to all types of people and animals: from babies and toddlers to teens and elderly, from people in uniform to people carrying umbrellas or riding bikes.
By starting as a puppy, these new experiences become “common place” to your dog. He learns that new people are friendly and fun which makes him more relaxed and at ease when he encounters strangers in the future.
One of the easiest ways to start socializing your puppy is by signing up for a puppy class. These are sometimes called puppy kindergarten or puppy preschool. It is a series of classes specifically for puppies. Most are held at a vet clinic or another controlled indoor environment.
The typical puppy class has about a dozen puppies and owners. They are run by a qualified dog trainer who is usually joined by one or two assistants. By having more than one instructor, you and your puppy will have more one-on-one time with one of the trainers. During class, you will learn about your puppy’s developmental stages and even some basic obedience commands.
It’s fun to learn how to teach your puppy to “come” but the biggest benefit of joining a puppy class is the socialization. Until you’ve finished your puppy shots, many vets will discourage you from taking your puppy out in public. The main concern is parvo, which is highly contagous and very dangerous to puppies. Puppy classes provide a safe environment to start socializing your puppy at an earlier age. There are usually several “play sessions” per class to let the puppies run around and play together off-leash. This group play helps them learn how to interact with other dogs. It also gives them a chance to meet new people and start learning that they don’t have to be afraid of strangers.
As good as puppy school is, socialization doesn’t stop there. It should be an ongoing experience throughout the life of your growing puppy and adult dog. Take him to as many new places and environments as you can. Just be careful not to overwhelm him. Start off slow, and build his confidence gradually. If you’re consistent with socializing your dog, he will grow into a friendly and confident dog – with no reason to fear strangers.
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Tagged with: dog • dog aggression • dog behaviour problems • dog obedience training • dog training • Dogs • obedience training • pets • puppies • puppy • puppy obedience training • puppy training
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