Understanding & Correcting Dog Aggression with Strangers

By natural instinct, dogs are aggressive creatures. When in the wild, the instinct of an aggressive dog can be handy to hunt, defend themselves from predators, and defend their family and resources. Selective breeding over the centuries has eliminated dog aggression almost completely, but this trait is instinctual and physically capable of inflicting physical harm. However, this doesn’t mean that we as racing dog owners are completely helpless in training our dogs. There is actually many tricks and tools to help curb dog aggression efficiently and effectively.

Aside from aggression towards family members, dog aggression towards strangers can be a real issue. The source of dog aggression (towards family members vs. strangers) also requires different types of treatment. You can easily tell when your dog is nerved around strangers….he’s jumpy, more alert, fidgeting, pacing, and barking, fully focused on that strange person approaching.

Socializing Your Dog

Dog aggression occurs because he doesn’t like strange people, or better stated, he never had an opportunity yet to get used to the strangers. Your dog completely relies on you to expand his experiences in the outside world. Understandably, without consistent positive experiences, how can your dog be expected to relax in situations not familiar to him?

Giving your dog more “real world” experiences and all the strange people is known as socialization. Socializing your aggressive dog is critical, and requires you to expose him from a young age to a variety of new experiences, people, and animals.

How Does Socialization Prevent Dog Aggression?

When socializing your dog, he will learn that the experiences of new signs and sounds are not scary but fun. You must do more than just expose your adult dog to a big crowd of unfamiliar people and expect him to “settle down.” Your pooch must learn and be comfortable for himself. If possible, these lessons should begin as a puppy. Be sure to have your puppy or dog meet some of the following types of people in a fun and happy environment to get fully comfortable:

• Babies
• Toddlers
• Teenagers
• Elderly People
• Men and Women
• People in Uniforms
• People with Umbrellas
• People Wearing Motorcycle Helmets, etc.

Socializing Your Dog Without Fear of Strangers

Socializing your dog is more an effort in consistency rather than a specific training method. To curb dog aggression and maintain comfort with strangers, begin with puppy preschool. This is only a series of fun and easy group-training classes for puppies. Usually there are two or more trainers to help with basic obedience commands. Although the obedience training component is beneficial, the social skills your puppy gains is most valuable with many unfamiliar dogs at the training along with strange owners and trainers in an unfamiliar environment. This says to your dog subconsciously that strange dogs, strange people, and strange environments are safe and no need to create fear or dog aggression. Remember not to overwhelm your dog, but take it slow and increase the tolerance gradually.

CLICK HERE for more information on handling dog aggression and dominant behavior as well as tons of detailed information on other dog behavior issues.  Check out The Secrets to Dog Training Manual and put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog’s aggression problems.