These pheromones can help reduce anxiety in some dogs and are available in a few different forms. Taking your pup to a few behavioral classes could be the answer…. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. How do I deal with a dog being aggressive when cutting it's nails? What defines an aggressive dog? 1) Remain calm and still. Another way to stop aggressive dog behavior is to give him a �time out� punishment when he becomes aggressive. Because dogs can act aggressively due to underlying medical problems, we suggest that you rule out health issues. However, if your dog is very aggressive, you will want to consult with a professional dog trainer. Aggressive behavior is not permanent and there are many methods and approaches to change and calm your dog’s aggressive behavior. Make sure that there are no distractions in the time out place. This may be caused by a fear of other dogs, so make sure your dog feels safe. 02. Unfortunately, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Before you can address your dog’s aggression, you need to first understand what makes dogs aggressive, and what’s behind the anger. If your vet finds something medically behind your dog’s aggression, he or she might recommend treatment or medication to reduce, control, or eliminate negative behavior. However, the above signs could also indicate fear or anxiety. If he barks, ignore him. Never use punishment as this could exacerbate the problem. This “bribe” could send him the message that he’ll get rewarded if he acts aggressively. Use a slow petting method that is similar to massage or light scratching to calm a dog down. Be patient. You should distract the dog. Unless everyone in the house participates in addressing and training your dog’s behavior, all your efforts will be futile. Handle With Care: Adopting and Training Abused Dogs, #StoptheShock: Positive Dog Training Without Shock Collars, Recall Command: How to Teach a Dog to Come When Called, Becoming still and rigid (hair on the back raises). This article has been viewed 21,867 times. We've recognized certain triggers and are preventative in most cases, but once in a while, she'll latch onto her fur. If you have enrolled in behavioral classes use some commands or directives to relive your dog of tension. Consult your vet for recommendations for enrolling your dog in a socialization class. After all, no one wants to consider the possibility that their little bundle of fun has grown into a dog with a serious problem. After the attack, you may call the police if you feel that it's appropriate. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. One of the best aggressive dog training tips is to stay calm. When your dog is aggressive in public, keep plenty of space between him and his triggers. Dog appeasing pheromones are synthetic pheromones similar to the calming pheromones that female dogs give off while nursing puppies. Once they seem comfortable continue approaching at a steady rate and stop and wait once their aggression is triggered again. Exercise With Your Dog Inappropriate rewarding could backfire as well. The key to calming an aggressive dog is figuring out what is making your dog so aggressive. Alternatively, if your dog has had prior traumatic experiences, consider enrolling it in behavioral classes to give it the proper tools for handling aggression. What can we do? Aggression in dogs is characterized by warning signs that can include: Of course, not all dogs show aggression. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Have the individual slowly extend the back of their hand and offer it to your dog to smell. Exercise more often. It’s time to draw up a plan that probably should involve your vet and possibly a dog behaviorist. Try using a blockade, like a car or tree, when another dog is approaching. Petting should be calming and therapeutic for the dog to relax and take off its … What if your dog is the one displaying aggressive behavior? Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. Try to put something between you and the dog. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If your dog has a habit to be particularly withdrawn and fearful, offer them a safe space or a crate from your helper. This article was co-authored by Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD. A Dog Not Only Remains Sweet, Loving, And Loyal; But Also, At Times Aggressive. Dogs can display aggressive behavior for a number of reasons. 01. Take slow and short steps as you move away from the dog, and avoid running in any circumstance. Dogs have a lot of energy build up inside them, and without expressing it, it could result in combative behavior. Any time you see your dog behaving, provide praise and treats. This is a position of submission and an aggressive dog will resist this "challenge" vigorously. Have the right plan to soothe the aggression of your dog so as not to try techniques that may not work well, or may only worsen things. Also, be sure to keep safe yourself. Below are a number of ways that you can manage your dog’s hostile attitude and restore balanced behavior. He is 5 yrs old. If you see signs that indicate the dog may bite, do not approach. By always paying close attention to your dog’s body posture, you can’t get surprised by sudden aggressive outbursts. Send him to an isolated place or to his crate and this may calm him down. Dealing with aggressive behavior in a dog can be insanely frustrating, stressful, and scary. This is … Over time you can desensitize him by offering praise and treats as you gradually reduce the amount of space. This will help it to know that other dogs are not a threat and that it can be calm and doesn't need to get angry, defensive or aggressive. Make your dog's triggers known to any trainer should you enroll in a aggression training camp or behavioral course. Many dogs that demonstrate aggressive behavior benefit from extensive exercise regimens. But ultimately, aggressive behaviors like barking, growling, snapping, and lunging ARE serious problems. When you take of his harness, give him treats and praise and love. Avoid unnecessary exposure to triggers. Scents like lavender and vanilla can help calm your dog down, especially if you associate them with times when the dog is calm — like having a scented air freshener near her bed.Be sure that your dog doesn’t have any allergies to particular scents and ask your veterinarian for recommendations on the scents that work best at calming dogs down. I have an adult female Yorkie who attacks an adult female Poodle. References. Ensuring your dog receives adequate physical exercise, and mental stimulation can further help reduce your dog’s aggression. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,867 times. Try giving him so much exercise he's too tired to be aggressive. Nevertheless, listed below are some of the methods that you rely on to keep your dog calm around people. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 The more energy your dog burns the better their state of mind and the less likely they are to exhibit aggression. As the dog approaches, slowly back away as you press the button on the device a few times to get the animal’s attention. If your dog reacts negatively toward a specific neighbor, walk in the other direction or take your pet to a nearby park to walk. If you adopted an adult dog with behavioral issues, or missed the symptoms of aggression in your pet’s puppyhood, there are still ways to stop aggression even when it becomes a serious problem.. Dog exercise burns the dog’s excess energy and helps maintain the dog’s healthy state of mind. Pay attention to all of his behaviors, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Don't reward bad behavior. Thoughtful measures will help you better address dog aggression. Problematic behavior should ensue some precautionary steps. You should also consider using equipment such as a muzzle to assure that your dog will not hurt another person or dog when it becomes aggressive all of a sudden. If the dog retreats, calmly walk away. Calming your aggressive dog starts with noticing the warning signs we have talked about above. Leash Training. Introduce your dog to other dogs in neutral territory, this way neither of them should be dominant. Never punish aggressive behavior. It can also help your efforts to keep the following tips in mind: Above all else, be realistic. As he is biting or fighting the object, you can take the opportunity to get away safely. If you’re trying to calm down aggressive behavior in dogs that don’t belong to you, say you encounter one on a walk or jog, this is where the BarxBuddy can come in handy. Instead, calmly lead your dog away from approaching dogs or if they are already displaying aggressive behavior. An aggressive dog is one that tends to growl, snap, bite and otherwise dominate other dogs, people and maybe even you. To calm an aggressive dog, try exercising it at least twice a day to allow it to burn off extra energy and be more calm in general. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. How to Calm An Aggressive Dog By Yourselves Got a Frustating DOG PROBLEM and about to give up? The signs of a dominant and aggressive dog include staring; excessive low-range barking, snarling, growling and snapping, standing tall, holding ears erect; and/or carrying tail high and moving it stiffly from side to side. Get knowledge in some ways which will … Calming your dog’s angry temperament all comes down to you being vigilant and noticing when he is showing warning signs and then knowing what your next step is going to be. Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. This is important because, in order to talk to the mind, you need to remove the energy from the body. Immediately report any violent aggression to your local humane society to appropriately treat the situation. Learning how to calm an aggressive dog is something no pet owner wants to be tasked with. Avoid pulling back on the leash when pulling your dog away from other dogs. This includes yelling; don’t yell at an aggressive dog. No matter. Prevention and understanding are the best ways to keep an aggressive dog calm. Stay the course. Take notes with you and share your notes with the vet staff about your dog’s behavior. How to calm an aggressive dog? To establish yourself as the alpha dog in your home, you may have to use a leash inside your home. If you’re full of anger and hostility, he will be too. Ensure everyone in the household is on the same page. 2 Move slowly and calmly away from the dog. Take note of your pet’s triggers. Given the “right” circumstances, any dog can show aggression to humans or other animals. If your dog gets uncomfortable and walks away from you or another person, give him space and don’t make him feel cornered. The idea is that your dog will learn to associate his triggers with something positive. Exercise your dog . Check Out The Techniques To Immediately Calm And Control Aggression In Dogs. It’s difficult to admit that you have an aggressive dog because people start to assume that you’re not doing the best you can. If he gains your trust that nothing bad will happen to him, then he might stop. Exercise your dog daily. Take your dog to the park to let them burn off excess energy. This ultrasonic hand-held training device emits a high-frequency sound that dogs can hear, but humans can’t. Many shelters have a euthanasia policy in place for aggressive animals. This is most likely because of trust issues. Aggressive behavior is not permanent and there are many methods and approaches to change and calm your dog’s aggressive behavior. It’s either things will become worse, or the aggression may slow down or stop dog aggression. You must keep your emotions in check because your pet feeds off your energy. How to Calm an Aggressive Dog Be calm. Consistency is crucial. However, beware, often a dominant aggressive dog will give no sign before biting. What should I do? Don't run. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. How to Calm an Aggressive Dog. Method 1: Desensitize; Step 1. Our toy poodle gets aggressive when we remove his coat and harness and snaps and growls. Speak in a normal tone and control your body language. Bring your dog's triggers to the attention of your vet to see if their behavior can be treated with medication. This ultrasonic hand-held training device emits a … While there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to aggressive dogs, there are several things you can do to learn how to calm an aggressive dog. Knowing what your dog’s triggers are, as well as exposing them other dogs and individuals, will help curb their aggressive behavior. Reward good behavior every chance you get. How to Calm an Aggressive Dog. Make sure the muzzle, gentle leader, or harness fits properly! However, if medical troubles are ruled out, ask your vet for some dog behaviorist recommendations. Identifying what provokes your dog will help you determine the best approach to calming aggressive dogs. Stay as calm as possible and stay facing the dog, but start moving away slowly. The very first step to training an aggressive dog is making sure that everyone is safe. He has given me a superficial bite, which turned my hand black for a week. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. When dealing with aggressive dogs, focus on positive reinforcement approaches, as they tend to be most effective. 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