Tips To Help Fear Aggression

August 21, 2017 | We Care | Tips from Ashley McLeod
Helping your dog with their fear aggression takes a lot of time and effort on your part. It’s possible to manage their behaviors, but there is no real “cure” for any aggression. But here are some things you can do to help.

1. Understand why your dog is aggressive. You may never know your dog’s story before he came to you, but with most dogs it shouldn’t be too hard to fill in the gaps. Even if you do know your dog’s story, it’s important to observe your dog. It’s important to be sure of what makes them fearful.

2. Know what motivates your dog. Most dogs are food motivated. And even if they’re not food motivated, most dogs will respond to treats. Treats are great for fear aggressive dogs, as rewards like affection and play may be too much for them to handle just yet. But if you find something else that motivates your dog better, go for it!

3. Create a “safe space” for your dog. For most dogs, a crate is fine for this, or a closed off room away from what’s making them fearful. No matter what it is, they need a place to go if it becomes too much for them to handle. This makes them feel secure and more confident

“This makes them feel secure and more confident.”

4. Positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement doesn’t work well with fearful dogs, and oftentimes make their anxieties worse. You can’t fight fear with more fear. You need to be patient with your fearful dog and gentle when correcting their behavior.

5. Be consistent. This means that everyone actively involved with your dog needs to be on the same page with you and follow the rules you make for your dog. This is extremely important, because inconsistent training can completely undermine what you’re trying to do.

Pixabay via Parafly

If you enjoyed this post, you should read How Clean Is Your Dog's Mouth? here.

What are some ways you deal with fear aggressive dogs? Share below!

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