The challenges of training an aggressive dog
Training an aggressive dog can be extremely difficult, even for experienced dog owners. Aggression in dogs usually stems from fear, anxiety, lack of proper socialization, abuse, or other factors. While aggressive behaviors like growling, snapping, and biting can seem scary, it’s important to understand that the dog is acting out of stress and emotion, not spite or ill intent. Successfully training an aggressive dog requires patience, consistency, an understanding of dog psychology and behavior, and in some cases the help of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. Attempting to train aggression out of a dog using punishment, dominance, or other confrontational methods will likely make the situation worse. The good news is that yes, many aggressive dogs can be turned around with time and dedication from their owner. But it’s not quick or easy.
Should I hire a professional dog trainer?
In many cases, the best thing an owner can do for an aggressive dog is to enlist the help of a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist. While it is possible for some owners to train an aggressive dog themselves, there are benefits to working with an expert. Professional trainers have years of experience dealing with aggression cases and are well-versed in dog behavior, psychology, and safe handling methods. They know how to accurately read dog body language, identify triggers, implement desensitization programs, utilize positive reinforcement, and manage the dog during the training process. A good trainer will develop a customized training plan for your unique dog. They may be able to make faster progress than an owner attempting it alone. They can ensure things are done correctly and safely. Working under the guidance of professional can greatly increase your chances of successfully training an aggressive dog.
When is professional help absolutely necessary?
In certain situations, it is essential to seek professional help right away when attempting to train an aggressive dog. These include cases where the dog is:
- Showing unprovoked aggression towards strangers
- Biting or attempting to bite family members, especially children
- Drawing blood when biting
- Aggressive on walks towards other dogs or people
- Showing territorial aggression around home
- Separation anxiety to the point of destructiveness
- So stressed that their quality of life is greatly diminished
Professional intervention is required immediately if the dog is a danger to others or themselves. Putting off treatment in these situations could worsen the problems. The dog needs expert assessment and management to keep everyone safe in the meantime. An experienced trainer can also ensure the root cause of the aggression is properly identified. This allows proper treatment tailored specifically to that dog. When severe aggression is present, an owner should never attempt to solve the issue entirely alone.
Signs I may be able to handle it myself
For less serious cases of dog aggression, it may be possible for a dedicated owner to train the dog themselves. Signs the aggression may be manageable without immediately hiring a professional include:
- Growling or inhibited bites without making contact
- Only shows aggression in certain predictable situations
- No bite history and has never injured a person
- Responds well to basic reward-based obedience
- No aggression towards family members living in home
- Warning signs like growls and snarls precede any aggression
- No signs of separation anxiety or neurotic behaviors
Even with these milder cases, it is wise to enroll the dog in a group obedience class or work privately with a trainer in a few sessions first to get professional guidance. An experienced trainer can evaluate your individual dog and give you their opinion if it may be possible for you to train the dog yourself using their methods. Having professional input first is always a smart move.
Important things to know before training an aggressive dog
If you are going to attempt training an aggressive dog on your own, there are some very important things to know beforehand:
Safety first
Any sort of aggressive dog training should be performed with extreme caution by their owner. Realize there is always the possibility of getting bitten when handling an aggressive dog. Have an emergency action plan in place in case the dog does bite. Avoid overly stimulating or challenging the dog during training. Have them wear a basket muzzle anytime bite risk may be high. Focus exercises in areas free of things the dog may direct aggression at. Safety must come before all else.
Proper identification of trigger and type of aggression is key
To effectively train against aggression, you must accurately pinpoint what is triggering your dog’s aggressive response, as well as what type of aggression they are displaying. Is it fear-based? Territorial? Possessive? Pain-induced? Maternal? Predatory? Does it happen most around other dogs? Men? When someone approaches their food or toys? When hugged or restrained? When startled or scared? Correctly reading the source and type of aggression allows proper training tailored for that dog.
Use reward-based training methods
Trying to train an aggressive dog using dominance, punishment, scolding, choke collars, shock collars, or other harsh methods will be ineffective at best and dangerous at worst. All training for aggression issues should rely on positive reinforcement and reward-based techniques. Aggression stems from emotion and reactivity. Harsh methods add more stress and negativity, worsening the problem. Keep training sessions happy, relaxed, and focused on building trust through rewards.
Gradual desensitization is required
Simply rewarding a dog and expecting the aggression to stop will not work. A proper desensitization and counterconditioning program must be developed. This means gradually and systematically exposing the dog to their triggers in a controlled, non-threatening way, while simultaneously rewarding desired behavior. Very minor triggers are presented at first. With repeated, controlled exposure and reward, the dog builds up a more positive association. The difficulty is gradually increased over many sessions until the dog has desensitized to the full intensity of the trigger. This process takes immense patience.
Management between sessions is critical
During the desensitization and training process, it is imperative the dog be managed to prevent opportunities for aggressive episodes. This includes leashing, proper confinement when alone, removing triggers, and setting the dog up for success. If aggression is allowed to happen and be reinforced regularly outside of sessions, training progress will greatly suffer. Proper management denies the dog opportunities to act aggressively in day-to-day life.
Consult a veterinary behaviorist if needed
For serious cases that do not improve, a veterinary behaviorist should be the next step. Veterinary behaviorists are licensed vets who have undergone additional specialized training in animal behavior and psychotherapy. They can prescribe medications to take the edge off while the dog undergoes behavior modification training. These medications (typically antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs) can be an important aid in treating difficult aggression cases. They help raise the dog’s tolerance thresholds so they are more receptive to training.
Be realistic about improvement timelines
Finally, be realistic with expectations. A proper desensitization and counterconditioning program takes many months to years. There will be setbacks and some lifelong management may be required even after formal training ends. While great improvement is often possible, rarely will a previously aggressive dog become as trustworthy around triggers as a dog who was never aggressive to start. Be patient, take it slowly, lean on professionals when needed, and do not give up.
Step-by-step instructions for training an aggressive dog
Here is an overview of the general process and timeline for owner-led training of an aggressive dog:
Get veterinary health checks
First, schedule a complete veterinary exam to rule out any medical conditions contributing to aggression. Have the vet check thyroid levels, for pain, and vaccine/drug reactions.
Consult a professional
Have at least an evaluation session with a reputable trainer/behaviorist. Get their input on whether your dog may be safely trainable solely by you. Have them give you initial recommendations.
Identify triggers, thresholds, and warning signs
Take notes on your dog’s specific aggression triggers and warning signs (freezing, hair standing up, whale eye, stiffening, etc). Note at what distances/intensities aggression happens.
Gather proper equipment
Obtain necessary equipment like a basket muzzle, secure leash/harness, long lead, and high-value rewards like real meat and cheese.
Implement strict management
Set up the dog’s environment and routine to prevent exposure to triggers and rehearsal of aggression. Prevent opportunities for aggressive episodes.
Start basic reward-based training
Teach the dog happy engagement with you using reward-based methods. Perform basic obedience like sit, down, stay, look at me, etc in non-trigger areas.
Develop a desensitization plan
With professional guidance, design a detailed counterconditioning program that gradually exposes the dog to milder versions of its triggers while providing positive rewards for calm behavior.
Begin desensitization
Begin carrying out the program initially under a trainer’s supervision if possible. Work in controlled areas or with stimuli that can be easily removed/reduced in intensity. Keep sessions short, happy, and ending on a good note.
Very gradually increase difficulty
In tiny increments over many sessions spanning weeks to months, expose the dog to slightly more challenging trigger presentations, but only if they are succeeding and staying under threshold. Two steps forward, one step back.
If progress plateaus, reassess
Troubleshoot and consider modifications if progress stalls. Session length/difficulty may need adjusting or medication may need to be pursued. Never force the issue.
Generalize training to real world situations
Once the dog can handle trigger stimulus in training settings, begin exposing them to similar circumstances in real life contexts using the same reward methods.
Long term management and maintenance
Continue lifelong management measures and training booster sessions with triggers to maintain conditioning. Never become complacent.
This type of training requires an immense amount of patience and consistency over many months before improvement in the dog’s aggression is noticed. Progress happens in small increments. Working closely with an experienced professional trainer is advised for best results.
Case studies of owners successfully training aggressive dogs
To give a better idea of what DIY aggressive dog training can look like in action, here are some real life case studies:
Case study 1: German shepherd with food aggression
Sam adopted Koda, a 2 year old German shepherd mix from a local shelter. The staff there warned Sam that Koda had shown moderate food aggression when feeding time approached, likely due to past experiences of irregular meals. Sam was committed to working with Koda, so she consulted with a trainer who specialized in aggression cases. The trainer helped Sam read Koda’s body language and determine her warning signs and tolerance thresholds. Together they designed a program to reward Koda for obeying cues like “sit” and “down” when around her food bowl. Over weeks, they had Koda obey for longer periods before meals were set down. Eventually guests could approach at meal time and Koda stayed relaxed. The process took 4 months before Koda’s mealtime behavior became trustworthy.
Case study 2: Fearful rescue dog with stranger aggression
Callie adopted a very shy 1 year old terrier mix named Bindi from a local rescue. The poor dog was very fearful around unfamiliar people, often reacting by barking and lunging when strangers approached on walks. Callie worked closely with a veterinary behaviorist, who prescribed anti-anxiety medication to take the edge off as they worked on behavior modification training. After evaluating Bindi’s specific body language and thresholds, Callie began exposing Bindi to strangers at a distance, rewarding her with special treats when she chose to look at a stranger then back at Callie instead of reacting. After Bindi became comfortable observing strangers from a distance, they very gradually decreased the distance over many sessions. It took nearly 6 months, but Bindi learned to stay relaxed and look to Callie when strangers approached instead of feeling threatened enough to react aggressively.
Case study 3: Aggression towards dogs during leashed walks
Winston was a 5 year old mutt rescued from a neglect case. He was comfortable around the 3 dogs in his foster home, but became very aggressive towards unknown dogs when on walks, lunging and snapping. Foster dad Dan worked with a trainer on reading Winston’s body language and identifying his tolerance threshold where he would start to react. The trainer helped Dan develop a conditioning program for walks where they would change direction to create more distance anytime Winston started to notice an oncoming dog. At a “safe” threshold distance, Dan would reward Winston with treats and praise for staying calm and looking at Dan instead of the other dog. Over many weeks, Winston’s threshold distance was slowly decreased as he started feeling more comfortable around unknown dogs while leashed next to Dan. It took about 5 months for Winston’s on-leash dog reactivity to be resolved through counterconditioning.
Common myths and mistakes when training an aggressive dog
It’s important to avoid these common misconceptions and errors when working with aggressive dogs:
Myth: Aggression cannot be treated
This is false. While deeply ingrained aggression takes significant work, nearly any dog is treatable with proper training. Aggression is based in emotion and learned associations that can be changed over time through conditioning. Even serious cases often do respond well to customized behavior modification training programs.
Myth: Dominance and punishment are effective
This myth needs to die already. Confrontational methods like alpha rolls, prong collars, electric shock, and other punishments do nothing to address the source of aggression in dogs. They also erode trust between dog and handler. Positive reinforcement training is the safest and most successful way to reduce aggressive behaviors.
Myth: Aggressive dogs should be euthanized
Putting down an aggressive dog should only be a very last resort considered in the most extreme human- or dog-aggressive cases where quality of life is so impaired intensive rehabilitation is not an option. The vast majority of aggressive dogs can learn to safely coexist with proper training and management. Dogs should not be punished for behaving according to their experiences and genetics.
Mistake: Punishing unwanted behavior
Aggressive responses are triggered by internal emotions, not spite. Punishing a dog for growling, lunging, biting, etc does not address the root cause and will not teach the dog a better alternative behavior. At best, it will temporarily suppress warning signs, which is dangerous. Only reward desired behavior.
Mistake: Skipping veterinary consult
Aggression issues can sometimes stem from an underlying medical condition. Starting behavior modification training without first ruling out potential health factors will waste time and delay access to necessary treatment. Always have the dog vet-checked thoroughly before assuming the issue is behavioral.
Mistake: Moving too quickly in training
One of the biggest mistakes owners make is ramping up difficulty or trigger intensity before the dog is truly ready. This overwhelms the dog and leads to setbacks. Progress must be made at the dog’s pace in tiny increments. Rushing will sabotage the desensitization process.
Mistake: Poor trigger avoidance/management between sessions
Dogs need to be set up for success by preventing rehearsal of aggression during daily life. Allowing aggressive responses to be continually reinforced outside of training makes modifying the behavior nearly impossible. Strict management between sessions is mandatory.
Conclusion
While not quick or easy, many dogs with milder cases of aggression can be successfully trained by dedicated owners who invest ample time and energy into reward-based behavior modification. However, it is critical to have realistic expectations about the intensity and duration of the process. Close guidance from a professional for planning the conditioning program is strongly advised. Attempting to train severe aggression without expert intervention is unsafe and unlikely to succeed. With proper counterconditioning technique, management, patience, and at times medication, numerous dogs can overcome aggressive tendencies through training guided by a caring, committed owner. The human-canine bond is powerful, and does not need to be broken by treatable behavior problems like aggression given the right training approach.