We all like to think our dogs are perfect. But the truth is, they're not. And you have a difficult dog, either one you've raised from puppyhood or one you've adopted, it takes a lot of work to keep then under control and from ultimately doing something you'll regret.
Michael Chill, owner of Animal Services Dog Training and Behavior, has four tips for keeping your challenging canine out of trouble.
1. First and foremost, owners can't be in denial.
"If you adopt a dog with an aggressive history or the dog reveals aggressive tendencies," warns Chill, "be practical, pragmatic and realistic. Are you responsible enough to keep that dog out of trouble and keep other pets and people safe?"
2. Don't let breeds with assertive or aggressive tendencies play games like tug of war. Tug of war allows a dog to challenge and win. Also, don't let your dog sit at a fence and get involved in "fence fighting" -- being teased and taunted by other dogs walking by.
3. Understand that you might not be able to change your dog's aggressive tendencies, but you can mitigate them with environment. If your dog instigated an altercation, don't take it to a dog park, ever. If your dog isn't good with strangers, confine it when strangers are around. Don't put the dog in circumstances where it can repeat the behavior. You're just asking for trouble.
4. Get your dog checked by a vet. Certain physical problems can cause aggression. If you cure the underlying problem, you might be able to cure the behavior.
If a dog's aggressive behavior comes from a learned situation, says Chill, you have a better chance of lessening or even possibly eradicating the tendencies. If it's innate to the breed, you'll have to handle it environmentally to keep both the public and other animals safe. And that means no off leash parks - no matter how sweet your dog seems to be.
