October 12, 2021 Sharon No Comments

Dog aggression can come from a variety of causes. Most can be categorized into fear, discomfort, territorial, and frustration. To combat aggression, we first need to find out the cause and come up with ideas to desensitize your dog from their triggers. For this post, we’ll be focusing on fear aggression.

Fear Aggression

Fear is the number one cause of aggression in dogs. If your dog shows signs of fear and snaps when cornered, it’s a tell-tale sign that the aggression is fear-related. Oftentimes, the fearful animal will launch a quick bite without doing some serious harm and the good news is, a little consistent desensitization will most likely do the trick.

Training for Fear Aggression

Early socialization with other dogs and people is the key to prevent fear aggression. However, if your dog is past the puppy stage, the best way to train is to desensitize them and redirect their behavior by providing frequent encounters along with positive reinforcement.

Tips for Fear Aggression towards Other Animals

Step 1: Gently put a muzzle on your dog to prevent an attack. Have a friend walk towards your dog and stop mid-way. Make sure the other dog is visible but at a far enough distance so that your dog will still have personal space. As the dog is approaching you, keep your dog’s attention on you by providing treats. Make sure you are not tightening the leash because your dog is very aware of your anxiety and as a result, they can act out.

Step 2: Once your dog is no longer reactive towards the other dog, you may ask your friend to move a little bit closer. Once again, still keep a distance where your dog won’t feel cornered and give treats to keep their attention on you.

Step 3: Now that your dog is no longer reacting to the other dog, you may take a short walk together (at a safe distance). This will let your dog know that the other dog means no harm.

Fear Aggression towards People

Step 1: Gently leash and muzzle your dog.

Step 2: Have your dog sit by the door and get a friend to ring your doorbell. If your dog barks aggressively, stay calm and gently pull the leash down to make your dog sit again. Always reward them with a treat for staying still. Repeat this process until your dog is no longer reactive towards the doorbell.

Step 3: Have your friend ring the doorbell and open the door. As soon as your dog approaches the door, close the door and gently lead your dog back to his/her sitting spot. Repeat until your dog can sit still.

Step 4: Get your friend to ring the doorbell again and open the door to greet your friend. Make sure your dog sits still during the whole process.

Step 5: Have your friend sit without interacting with your dog and allow your dog to sniff your friend without petting.

Step 6: Let your friend give your dog a treat.

There you have it! Presenting your dog with triggers and offering a positive reward is a great way to change their mindset about their fears. It’s important to be consistent and continue to train until your dog is no longer reactive to the triggers.