Territorial aggression that has advanced to the point of lunging, snarling, and biting is more difficult to treat and positive results, though eminently possible, are not guaranteed. Initially, reward the dog every 10 seconds if he remains still, then every 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and so on. Avoid Punishment and Reassurance. Training an aggressive dog should not be done without the help of a professional, but these 6 best aggressive dog training tips can help you start. The next step is to countercondition the dog to people and situations that trigger aggression. Dogs are more likely to show aggression towards visitors who make them feel in some way confronted, which is why totally ignoring them is very important. “The territory” generally includes the house and yard, plus abutting areas (e.g. While the aggressive dog may have initially triggered a dog fight, your other dog might as well be the first to attack. There’s the constant concern of an incident happening despite your best efforts at prevention. All exercises should be performed on lead, preferably with a head halter, and basket muzzle, if necessary. Domestic dogs, however, seem to regard people as conspecifics and consequently may direct territorial aggression toward human visitors. In effect he must “earn” all valued resources by first obeying a command, such as SIT or DOWN. During the early stages of training, assistants should be advised not to make direct eye contact with the dog and not to approach the dog head on. By the end of the fifth day, the dog should be able to remain focused for 25-30 seconds no matter what the distraction. Some dogs are only a problem when people come into their perceived territory and so be especially careful at doorways, gates and even the doors to the car. A dog that has bitten a stranger coming onto the property should not be allowed to roam unsupervised while there is the faintest chance of a stranger entering his zone. Diet. Some owners find that their bundle of furry joy turns from Lassie to Cujo when confronted with visitors to the home, or when another dog crosses their path during walkies. Nothing in Life is Free. sidewalks) that the dog patrols, and family vehicles in which he rides. We currently do not have any events scheduled. After doing this several times, eventually the stranger should be able to stand a few feet from the dog while it remains calm and under control. Unlike humans, dogs have little sense of equality and will always aspire toward the highest possible rank within their social group. Then the dog should be required to remain in position as the owner exits the room, but remains nearby. Owners should keep doors secured to ensure that no one enters the property without warning. Building a dog's trust and respect for you helps a dog trust you to handle situations, and also deals with possessiveness that many aggressive dogs are displaying - where they basically view you as theirs and are trying to keep That may include feeding time, the arrival of visitors, or seeing other dogs. Territorial/fear aggressive dogs do not usually settle down completely while visitors are in the home and are prone to sudden outbursts of barking or lunging and may aggress toward visors who move suddenly, speak loudly, or get up to leave the house. The aggressive behavior is thus reinforced. It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable when a dog is rude or aggressive toward a visitor, but with consistent training, proper socialization and good techniques for coping with guests, every dog can have suitable company manners for greeting and interacting with visitors. There are so many drawbacks to living with and loving an aggressive dog. Aggressive behavior in a dog refers to any behavior connected with an attack or an impending attack. Forewarn guests about any possible poor manners from the dog, emphasizing that the animal is still being trained and isn't always used to visitors. If the dog can be distracted by food rewards or games, counterconditioning on its own may circumvent the brunt of the problems. When dealing with territorially aggressive dogs, it is essential that owners establish a leadership role with respect to the dog in order to safely manage the dog’s territorial tendencies. The goal is to teach the dog to associate visitors’ presence with pleasant experiences. In a way, the only distinguishing feature between territorial fear aggression and overt fear aggression is the level of confidence that the dogs possess. Introduce a mildly anxiety-inducing person at a distance. Counterconditioning interrupts unwanted behavior by training the dog to respond to a command or activity that is incompatible with continued performance of the aggressive behavior. Head halters send a biological signal of the owner’s leadership by exerting gentle pressure around the muzzle (“maternal point”) and at the nape of the neck (“leader point”). Dogs can have many different reactions to visitors, from excited piddling and jumping to fearful growling and anxiety to barking and aggression. If owners are consistent with this approach, the dog will learn that he must look to them to obtain anything he needs or wants, such as food, freedom, play, and social interaction. Needless to say, appropriate behavior modification therapy should be conducted simultaneously to take advantage of this therapeutic window. Serving Ask the dog to “sit and watch me” or remain in a “down-stay.”. Most medications take several weeks to achieve their peak effects. Consider testing the dog for medical conditions that might be contributing to increased anxiety, especially hypothyroidism. Head Halter. Be sure to check back often! It is important to practice this exercise on a periodic basis to ensure its effectiveness when it is needed. This will cause the dog to defer to his owners’ authority so that he can be introduced to people under pleasant circumstances and be rewarded for remaining calm. If the dog is sensitive to certain stimuli, let the guest know and request that they not contribute to the animal's anxiety. Employ a Gentle Leader® head halter to exert the optimal control of the dog in aggression-inducing situations. If the dog is sitting or lying down and appears relaxed in the visitor’s presence, the visitor could slide a small food treat toward the dog, if this will not startle him. Townsend, MA, Driven by And if this is ineffective in deterring the visitor, an attack may ensue. Punishment has the potential to increase the dog’s anxiety and worsen the situation. The barking is also intended to alert other pack members who can join in defense of the pack’s territory. Territorial/fear aggressive dogs frequently show ambivalent body language similar to that of purely fear aggressive dogs. Rather, they should be asked to avert their gaze and advance slowly in a circuitous path (as this is less threatening to most dogs). While not every technique will be effective with every dog, using several tactics to help them get used to guests will help the dog develop better manners for every stranger they interact with. If the dog prefers, visitors can present the dog with a tennis ball or other preferred toy. X Research source If someone wants to pet your dog… The dog knows where his territorial boundaries are – but visitors do not, and they may unwittingly cross the line. If your dog is likely to be aggressive if being pet by strangers, tell others that your dog does not like to be petted. Wait for quiet Under no circumstances should you let your dog our while Owners can start by having the guest slowly stand up and then sit down. Avoid Confrontations. Dogs can have many different reactions to visitors, from excited piddling and jumping to fearful growling and anxiety to barking and aggression. 5 Put your dog on a … If these exercises are performed frequently enough, and with an assortment of strangers, starting with the least threatening and working up to the most threatening, the dog will learn that their presence is associated with positive experiences. The dog will quickly learn that if he breaks the stay, he will be put back on the mat, but if he holds the “down-stay,” he will be rewarded. anticipates the owner), the owner should issue an alternative command, before giving the dog the desired resource. Pet Store Websites. Medical Rule-outs. All Rights Reserved. Your ultimate goal will be to have your dog sit at the door while you answer it. If the dog cannot maintain the required posture and affect, and remains tense, barking and lunging at the stranger, the owner needs to return to an earlier phase of training. Once the dog remains relaxed when people are quietly sitting in the home, he can be taught to accept them moving about. Let the guest reward the dog's good behavior with a few kibbles or treats to share with the dog. Territorial aggression, when confined to barking at the sound of approaching strangers can be a bane or a blessing, depending on the circumstances and the owner’s control of the situation. In either case, it’s important to teach your dog what you want him to do when visitors come to the door. This includes becoming still and rigid, growling, snarling, baring teeth, lunging, and nipping or biting . ©Copyright 1999 - 2021. If the dog responds by paying attention in a relaxed and focused manner, reward him with a small food treat or praise him lavishly. The key point to remember is not to suddenly expose the dog to the full intensity of the stimulus but to very gradually “up the ante.” At no point should the dog be allowed to become aggressive during training. There are times when a guest's behavior can cause a dog even greater anxiety or may send mixed signals to the animal. Allow sufficient slack for the dog to leave your side and interact with other dogs, but ensure that you can physically restrain him if necessary should he become aggressive. This technique is most effective when owners can identify and predict the situations that trigger the dog’s territorial response. Arranging group training sessions, taking walks through busy areas, visiting dog parks, arranging puppy play dates and occasional doggie day care can all help dogs become more socialized and accepting of others. All dogs that have shown aggression to visitors in the past should be trained to wear a basket-style muzzle. Typically, these treatments are applied for at least four to six months, and possibly for as long as a year or two. For example, strong perfumes or aftershaves can heighten anxiety in dogs, and asking a visitor not to wear any can help minimize bad behavior. First, train a “down-stay” on a mat or dog bed. Assistants and visitors should be asked to engage in a variety of different activities so the dog learns that they are not threatening. If a dog is allowed to threaten, and the subject then retreats, the dog is rewarded for showing aggression. Show the guest what verbal commands or hand signals should be used so the dog gets consistent clues about how to behave. One thought on “ How to Introduce Your Dog to Visiting Dogs ” C Hays January 2, 2015 at 11:17 am I usually go out and meet the new dog first, only talking with the client while the new dog decides I'm okay. Where owners have some control, they can usually reassure the dog that the person is, in fact, welcome, at which point the dog will settle down. I get calls every week because people want help with dogs who react badly to anyone who comes to the house. Counterconditioning. Effective options include…. By definition, territorial aggression should be expressed toward members of the same species. This concept will replace the prior aversion and need to repel borders. Uniformed visitors, like the mail carriers, are prime targets for this learned type of aggression. Safety Precautions. The mail carrier comes, the dog barks, the mail carrier leaves, and the dog takes credit. If your dog is aggressive to visitors to the home, make sure you secure your dog in the garden or in a secure room before you open the door or greet guests. Although alarm barking can sometimes be aggravating for dog owners, neighbors, and visitors, lunging and biting are far more serious problems. The main one has to be the question “Why would two dogs who have lived together, often for If the dog is resistant to remaining still, an alternative strategy is to have the person stand still and walk the dog around the person in progressively decreasing circles. When you invite your guests in, he should not jump on them and, ideally, should greet them calmly. Every dog owner should take steps to train their canine companion to react appropriately when guests arrive, and there are several ways to help dogs have better "company manners" when greeting guests. Management of an Aggressive Dog in the Home by Humane Society of Missouri Owners of aggressive dogs have a serious responsibility to keep other people and animals safe. For dogs that are aggressive when people enter the house, it is best to isolate the dog at first and then, once everyone is seated, the dog can be brought into the room on a lead and head halter, if he remains relaxed. The head halter gently, but firmly, establishes owners’ leadership and control of their dog, as well as providing for visitors’ safety. Click & treat training may facilitate training endeavors. Trouble when visitors arrive is a common concern of many guardians. Whenever the dog is behaving in an aggressive manner he should be ignored or controlled. If the guest is frightened of dogs or has severe pet allergies, it may be best to crate the dog or keep them in a different room or outside while the visitor is present. Dominant dogs have a responsibility to warn other pack members of a stranger’s approach and they do this with confidence and authority. We find these muzzles to be effective and more humane than standard muzzles. At this point, the stranger should be asked to toss one of the dog’s favorite food treats toward him. A basket muzzle allows the dog to pant, drink and accept small treats, but prevents biting. Obedience Training. First say, “watch me,” and move a finger toward your face. For example, it may be possible to cue the dog to lie down in a relaxed posture, or sit and watch his owner, while a stranger walks by the end of the drive, rewarding the dog with a food treat for remaining relaxed, calm, and in position. Perhaps they do possess a low level of dominance and would bark anyway, but some are also insecure, anxious, or even frankly fearful. Annoying though it may be, it’s actually quite normal for dogs to do this. Some dogs, notoriously those of the herding breeds, show a variation of the territorial aggression theme. The bite is usually of a hit-and-run nature â a cheap shot. Something unfamiliar appears -- be it an object, person, or other animal -- and your dog sees it as threatening. toward the person’s buttocks, thighs, or calves) … or they may simply nip, ripping clothing. Bear in mind that the territorially aggressive dog is reacting because he wants the intruder to depart. If the dog does not respond aggressively, visitors can be asked to try taking a few steps before returning to their seat. In general, dogs tend to be more territorially aggressive when they are behind a fence, because a fence allows the dog to know exactly where the boundary lies, and he will patrol and protect it. This can cause the unwanted behavior to increase in frequency and intensity. Does your dog like to bark at everyone who comes to your home? Stop dog-on-dog aggression at home Dog aggression between dogs living in the same home is an interesting topic for a number of reasons. Despite all of the publicity involved with dog bites These exercises should be repeated with a variety of different people. Once the dog has learned the basic obedience commands, he can be trained to perform long down-stays while the owner moves progressively further away. The objective is to have the dog follow the owner’s directives as and when issued. Territorial/fear aggressive dogs have a lower level of confidence that permits the expression of fear aggression only on the home territory or from within the safety of the owner’s vehicle. There are two primary motivations for territorial behavior, dominance or fear/anxiety. But what about our pets... © 2021 Farmer's Exchange Townsend. When temperatures drop, we layer up in warm clothes, turn up the furnace, enjoy hot drinks, and take other steps to stay warm and safe. Perform this relaxation exercise daily for 5 days. The bites of territorial fear aggressive dogs are usually directed towards the “nether regions” of the offender (e.g. No stranger should reach toward the dog at this stage. Once a dog performs a reliable “down-stay” when his owner is in the room, the owner should ask for this behavior as she moves progressively further from the dog. Engage the dog in regular daily obedience training sessions to sharpen his response to one-word voice commands and increase owner leadership. If the dog sits automatically before the owner issues the command (i.e. Limiting interaction can smooth over very awkward situations with ease. One to two 5-minute sessions per day are usually sufficient. Aggression toward people is born from anxiety and fear. Territorial/fear aggressive dogs do not usually settle down completely while visitors are in the home and are prone to sudden outbursts of barking or lunging and may aggress toward visors who move suddenly, speak loudly, or get up to leave the house. Keep in mind that it’s never your dog’s fault, some dogs just Once trained to the muzzle, the territorially aggressive dog can be required to wear the muzzle in any particularly challenging situation. The approach to controlling fear-based territorial aggression is more problematic. Leash the dog. More often than not, these dogs are afraid, but people rarely call to say that they have a fearful dog. Every dog owner should take steps to train their canine companion to react appropriately when guests arrive, and there are several ways to help dogs have better "company manners" when greeting guests. Feed a healthy non-performance diet. Dog aggression stems from the dog’s frustration and dominance. Bear in mind that dogs with fear-related aggressive behavior have a tendency to snap at people when they move away, for example, when they are preparing to leave. Out on the street, these same dogs may not have the courage to intimidate their adversaries, although they might wish they had. Once the dog understands the concept of the long “down-stay,” the owner can switch to supplying rewards intermittently. The efficacy of such treatments will vary from case to case but price, side effects, and other logistical concerns will determine the order in which these treatments are tried. In most cases, once a stranger has been welcomed inside the home, the dominant-territorial dog will relax and enjoy the visitor’s company. We are constantly adding new specials to our site. Fear aggressive dogs generally have enough confidence to be aggressive to strangers on or off their own territory. Ideally, during the training process, no one should come close enough to the dog to trigger an aggressive response. The owner can then ask the person to quietly retreat to a distance at which it was previously comfortable and resume training (as long as the dog is not too aroused). Next, the dog can be trained to rest on a training mat or sit while focused on the owner when a visitor approaches the door. Territorial aggression is a potentially dangerous behavior problem. Under non-stressful conditions, owners should teach the dog to sit and watch them in order to receive praise or a food treat. 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