Aggressive behavior in dogs can be caused by many different reasons. The cause behind the aggression needs to be identified and resolved as quickly as possible.

Aggressive behavior could be triggered by issues that were not identified and dealt with correctly while a puppy; these issues could have been a fight or attack by another dog.

Another possible issue could relate to a dominance issue between you and your dog. The results of aggression over a prolonged period can be dangerous as well as scary if it’s not resolved quickly.

What Causes Aggressive Behavior in Dogs?

Aggression in dogs can begin from a young age of just six weeks, this is a crucial age for puppies as they should be given the training necessary to stop them biting other people and socialized with other dogs.

The period of socialization normally lasts until the dog reaches fourteen weeks of age and can be prolonged even further if necessary.

One of the first things you must never do is remove a puppy from its litter before the age of eight weeks. Ensure that between the age of eight to ten weeks that the puppy is treated very gently and do not use harsh discipline.

Aggressive behavior can be breed in dogs over time if they are subjected to harsh punishments, hitting or yelling.

To avoid any issues of aggression in the future a puppy should have been correctly socialized with other dogs and people by the age of fourteen weeks.

There are a number of factors that can trigger aggression. Some dog breeds are more aggressive than others; this could be due to heredity and genetics which are certainly factors but is by no means a definite rule. A dog that has not been spayed or neutered is more prone to aggressive tendencies.

A dogs living environment is one of the biggest contributors to creating aggressive behavior. Dogs that have not been socialized, have harsh masters, have poor living conditions or have been attacked or frightened by another dog are much more likely to become aggressive with age.

Aggression can originate due to the need to establish a pack pecking order. Aggressive tendencies including posturing and biting are quite often due to a dog testing for dominance.

Dominance over your dog must be established from a young age and maintained throughout a dog’s adolescence to ensure that it does not have a chance of controlling the household.

Stop and Control Aggressive Behavior in Dogs

If a dog over the age of fourteen months shows any signs of aggressive behavior, then the problem must be addressed immediately, this is especially true for dogs that have been altered.

The first step is to ensure that you have established yourself as the leader of the pack. A dog should not be rewarded for aggressive behavior, especially if it is scared.

Your dog needs to be trained to react to your commands; you also need to take control of walking and feeding times to ensure that your dog has a strong leader in your home.

Do not defer to your dog or let it take liberties in your home or it will show more aggression towards others.

A dog that is defensive-aggressive could hit out at someone in fear. This could be due to the dogs not being correctly socialized.

They may see small children as a direct threat and should therefore be kept away from small children.

It is advised to attend training sessions or visit a behaviorist and gradually acclimatize your dog to a social atmosphere.

Many owners have the issue of aggressive behavior in their dog, but even as your dog gets older the aggression can be controlled.

It can be worthwhile hiring a professional to intervene if your dog’s aggression ever leads to violence to ensure that no one gets hurt.