Have you ever wished you could cure your dog of aggression and get your dog to stop being aggressive once and for all? Whether it is dog on dog aggression or an aggressive dog towards other people and children, it is important to take dog aggression training very seriously.

Luckily, as with all dog behavior problems, there is a solution for aggressive dogs with the right training and patience. The following is my formula for fixing aggressive dog behavior and ensuring that you no longer have to put up with aggressive dogs.

1- A high level of obedience training. This is step one and the most important part of fixing dog aggression. If your dog is obedient to you it makes aggression much more manageable. For example, your dog can't be aggressive to another dog if he comes when called. He can't bite someone who comes through the door if he reliably lies down and stays. There are many things that are made more simple if your dog is obedient.
More important than the functionality of obedience, though, is what obedience training does for your relationship with your dog. Obedience puts you in the leadership role. It is critical for you to be the leader if you are the owner of an aggressive dog.

2- Control the environment around your dog. I can't tell you how many times I have spoken with the owner of a dog that suffers from dog on dog aggression who repeatedly takes their dog to a dog park for 'socialization'. Every time the dog goes to the park he gets into a fight! It is important to use common sense and be more careful of your dog's surroundings and environment.
Don't get me wrong. That doesn't mean your dog has to live in a bubble. It just means that you need to be more aware of your surroundings if you have an aggressive dog and take extra precautions.

3- You need to correct your dog the next time he shows aggressive behavior. This isn't done by shouting at your dog, swatting him, or any other means like that. The best way to correct aggressive dog behavior is by doing leash training. As your dog starts to show aggression, give a few firm corrections as you go the opposite direction. By going the opposite direction you prevent your dog from forming an association with the object of his aggression.

By following these steps you can fix dog aggression and get your dog to be much less of a liability.

[Piti Longstalking]

Originally Posted by Mikinoyo

The following is my formula for fixing aggressive dog behavior and ensuring that you no longer have to put up with aggressive dogs.

What certifications does the creator of this formula have?

1- A high level of obedience training. This is step one and the most important part of fixing dog aggression.

Umm, no, this isn't the first step. Operant behaviors aren't going to help you if you haven't addressed the dog's emotions driving the behavior. The first step is working on impulse control and eye contact. Behaviors that are requisite for desensitization and counter conditioning.

If your dog is obedient to you it makes aggression much more manageable. For example, your dog can't be aggressive to another dog if he comes when called. He can't bite someone who comes through the door if he reliably lies down and stays. There are many things that are made more simple if your dog is obedient.

If a dog is aggressing he is over threshold, and obedience isn't going to help you one lick. Why? The dog's behavior isn't voluntary. Obedience is voluntary behavior. You're completely over looking the actual cause of aggression...fear. The dog must learn not to be fearful before he can volunteer behaviors you request.

More important than the functionality of obedience, though, is what obedience training does for your relationship with your dog. Obedience puts you in the leadership role. It is critical for you to be the leader if you are the owner of an aggressive dog.

Baloney. Leadership is a human made concept. So too our preference of behavior. Obedience teaches the dog which behaviors are preferred over others...which behaviors are more rewarding than others. Dogs are meant to maximize reinforcement, and none of it is dependent on how the dog views you.

3- You need to correct your dog the next time he shows aggressive behavior. This isn't done by shouting at your dog, swatting him, or any other means like that. The best way to correct aggressive dog behavior is by doing leash training. As your dog starts to show aggression, give a few firm corrections as you go the opposite direction. By going the opposite direction you prevent your dog from forming an association with the object of his aggression.

This is really bad advise. You've completely forgotten about classical conditioning. A prudent trainer would take the time to form an association...an association with a predictive value for something pleasurable. You're advice does the exact opposite. Dog = correction. How is the dog to overcome his aggression to other dogs if dog = correction? Because you're his leader? Laughable.

The most important step to prevent aggressive dog behavior is early intervention. When your dog is just a puppy, you should begin socializing and training him to nip dog aggression in the bud.

[chevy & karen]

All of your post's are good one's but there is one thing that was'nt covered.

I have/had an aggressive dog and we had all the training (private and class training) among other thing's. NOTHING HELPED..

The cause of chevy's aggression was his puppy shot's, he had vaccine damage and the only thing that corrected it was Homeopathic treatment and diet change...

We have been asked to leave vet office's and groomer's would not groom him. I did'nt find help for him till he was 5 year's old and at first did not believe it was the vaccine's, but because of the progress that was started with treatment and the stupid mistake I made of having him re-vaccinated when they were due, I seen the proof....

So many pup's are PTS because aggressive behavior and the owner's never really no why... This is only one reason but one that need's to be heard...