Our dog was very unfriendly towards other dogs and would growl as she passed them and one day actually chased one and nipped it on the rear end. I was shocked and horrified, but knew that this could not continue.
My vet advised me that Saffy was protecting me and that I had to teach her that I was the boss and she did not need to protect me.
I did this by making Saffy walk behind me at all times. She could not pass through a gate or doorway before me and must stay behind me even if we were walking with other dogs and could never lead "the pack." We both found this hard going at first, but now I have a very happy, friendly dog, who wags her tail on meeting all dogs and never gives the slightest sign of aggression.
She was 10 years old when I started this training and although I am no longer quite so strict, I still let her know that I am in charge. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Source: Advice from my vet and other dog owners
By Margaret from Fleet, England
Dog on people aggression is a very serious situation. Training a dog to eliminate aggressive behavior is important for having a safe, positive pet and owner relationship.
Many pet owners look to neutering their dog as a way to reduce aggression. It may help to some extent, but it is not a cure for aggressive behavior. This is a page about, "Does neutering a dog reduce aggression?".
No matter the breed, if you have an aggressive dog, it can be difficult for you and your family. This is a page about aggressive poodle.
This is a page about dealing with a protective dog at home. Dogs can offer a sense of protection to their owners. However, some pets are overly protective and can be a challenge to handle in daily situations when someone comes by.
This is a page about dog has become aggressive with owner. Determining the cause of sudden dog on owner aggression is the first step in reestablishing a good pet and owner relationship.
How can I get my 8 year old Pomeranian to stop being so aggressive with other dogs?
By Denise H. from Tacoma, WA
My Shih Tzu cross had pups almost a year ago and she is driving me nuts. She is still very aggressive. She hates other dogs, barks all the time, and goes after other dogs. She doesn't like people coming near the house. She does not listen at all anymore, and has been doing her business in my house, even minutes after being let outside. How do I stop this?
By Jennifer
I have 2 dogs. The first is an Australian Shepherd mix (female: 2 1/2 years) and the other is a Pit Bull (male: 4 months). They get along for the most part, but the older dog gets somewhat aggressive when it comes to sharing toys. They will play good together for about 5-10 minutes, and then she wants to play by herself. We have actually had to pull her off of the puppy twice. How can I stop this behavior? She is normally a very well behaved dog. Please help me!
By Kimiko
I have a 3 year old Ridgeback who has always been a fun friendly dog. He has lived with our family and an older German Shepherd. We had to have our Shepherd put to sleep. Since then the Ridgeback just shakes all the time and growls if any of us go near him. It's bad enough grieving over the loss of my dog, let alone the upset of the one we have left turning nasty. I have two kids that love the dog to bits. They have always been really close so it is upsetting them, too.
By a glt
I have a Basenji and she is mixed with something else. She does bark and she is light brown, but she is now getting some white on her head and feet.
We would like to know how stop the fighting between our dogs. We have a Jack Russel and our Basenji always wants to fight with her and she is always growling at everything. We are also afraid she is going to bite us. She has tried so we are kind of her.
By Cindy
I am the owner of a 2 year old pit bull. She is the sweetest and most loving dog I have ever owned, until recently. She has never bitten a person, and is very loving toward people. Then we moved to a new home and since then she has bitten four different dogs. I really do not want to give away my dog. I don't have children and she is like a daughter to me. Why did her aggression start all of a sudden, and how could I work to fix it?
By meghan from New Orleans, LA
Go to leerburg.com/pdf/dealingwithaggressivedog.pdf and also invest in a muzzle until the training is complete.
Good Luck!
Have you had her checked by a vet lately? Sometimes dogs become mean or aggressive when they aren't feeling well. If her health is okay, then you need to find a trainer to help you work through the problems.
My boyfriend has a 3 year old Pit Bull that barely listens, has no discipline, and jumps on everyone when entering a room. He bum rushes our cats and then attacks them when they defend themselves and on top of it he shows aggressive behavior when animals approach his food bowl. He eats out of everybody's food bowls, but if they go and eat out of his he shows aggressive behaviors.
I'm at my last straw especially when coming home one night to see he got out of his room and we found our cat near death. The cat actually died in my arms. I have not been able to look at his Pit Bull the same since the incident. I have now had to shuffle animals around to accommodate this dog and I feel at 3 years old and only having one owner since a puppy his training should be top notch. Please I need help any ideas?
You are correct. Having had only one owner, the dog should be very well behaved by now.
Training for large breed dogs such as pit bulls, mastiffs and rottweilers should start in puppy hood and continue on through adulthood. The dog should be trained not to jump up on people and not to take things that aren't his. He should sit before receiving his food dish. He should walk on a leash next to the owner and not pull, lunge, or crisscross in front. the needs to be socialized to people, other dogs and smaller pets.
Unfortunately, the dog is now an adult and has not been trained. It is certainly past your boyfriend's capabilities to rehabilitate a pit bull that needs all training and has already killed. It is also completely unfair to this energetic animal to have to keep it fenced in or behind closed doors, but you are having to do this because not only are your own cats in danger, but others' pets are as well. I guarantee your boyfriend can't control this animal on a walk and it will eventually get out of his control and kill somebody's little dog.
The only real hope for the dog is rehabilitation at a pit bull rescue with knowledgeable and dedicated staff.
Winston is a male 3 yr old short haired red Dachshund. He loves everyone. He's good with other animals and all people. His issue is that if we're in bed or on the couch and someone walks into the room or walks by the door (family or not) he freaks out. He will start barking and grab onto the blanket with his teeth and "kill it"! If there is no blanket, he will do this with whatever is close. A piece of furniture or a stack of folded clothes.
This behavior is getting worse. He jumps down and runs toward the moving person barking and acts like he's going to bite them. He is extremely affectionate. His best friend is our female Lab and we dubbed him the cleaner. He licks and cleans her face, ears, nose, and mouth daily. He is a sweet, loving dog except for this one issue. I fear that he is going to eventually bite someone and I do not want that to happen. I do believe it is a protection issue just not sure how to address it. Help!
