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Dog Training for AggressionWhile many dog owners are interested in dog training for obedience, others are forced to consider dog training for much more serious matters that involve behavioral concerns. Aggression is one of these concerns, and is in fact one of the top cited problems related to behavior in dogs.
You might be wondering if your dog is in fact aggressive. Aggressive behavior in a dog is more than just “overeager playing.” It is primarily exhibited by loud, incessant barking, growling, baring teeth, snapping, biting, and jumping or lunging.
Dogs act aggressively for all kinds of reasons, but there are several ways to correct this behavioral problem. You can try specific behavior-altering drugs, using physical restraints, such as a muzzle, leash, or halter, or spaying or neutering, but probably the most effective—and most rewarding—“treatment” is dog training—simply training your dog to become less aggressive.
Dog training to reduce aggression requires behavior modification. It sounds complicated, but once you understand it, you can easily train your dog yourself to become less aggressive. Behavior medication can involve positive (giving) and negative (taking away) reinforcement (for good behavior), and positive and negative punishment (for bad behavior).
It’s as simple as giving your dog his favorite treat when he sits and stays, without barking, in the presence of another dog (an example of positive reinforcement). Or, you could take away his favorite toy when he starts snapping and biting—this is negative punishment.
There are other effective behavior medication techniques you can use in dog training to help your dog to become less aggressive. One such technique is called habituation, which essentially means helping your dog to “get used to” a certain stimulus in order to stop responding to it. A good example here is making a recording of barking noises, and then exposing your pet to it by playing it in the background until your dog stops barking back and gets used to it.
You can also try using counter conditioning coupled with desensitization as a part of your dog training for less aggression. With counter conditioning, you help teach your dog a new and desired response to a stimulus that normally triggers an undesired aggressive behavior, and desensitization involves using that same stimulus and gradually exposing your dog to it to minimize his aggressive response.
Although it may be somewhat challenging and time-consuming—as you will have to exhibit a great deal of patience—dog training for less aggression in your dog’s behavior can be well worth it, as it will likely help your beloved pet to become more happy, friendly, and much safer to be around.
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