Article Title: Possible Origins Of Aggression Within Dogs
Author: John Mailer
Aggressive temperaments in canines are usually the result of
both genetics and the environment. A dog's environment can
trigger aggressive behavior, particularly if he has a
propensity toward aggression.
For instance, people often blame a dog's aggression on being
abused or teased by children. Fortunately,
training a dog's environment can be modified to protect him
from abuse and teasing.
You can and should insulate the dog's space from negative
interactions and incidents that might prompt aggression you
cannot control. A chain link fence does not adequately protect
the dog when the owner is at work or away because individuals
or poorly supervised children may have access to him through
the fence.
Leaving the dog inside the house or constructing a double fence
or a run far from the street fence are safer solutions.
Protecting a dog from the environment is his owner's
responsibility.
Aggression may also be the result of an injury. An injured dog
may not understand the origin of the pain. As a result, he may
snap at any object, including a helpful hand, that approaches
the injured site.
In cases of extreme pain, the dog may even lunge at anyone
walking close. No matter how gentle a dog's temperament is
under normal circumstances, take precautions such as using
professional handling gloves, a muzzle, or at the least, wrap
cloth around your hands before touching an injured dog.
Females with litters will often exhibit aggressive behavior
around their puppies. Aggression associated with protecting the
young is a natural behavior, so during basics dog training it is
necessary to learn to understand your dogs natural instinctive
behaviour,and understand that correcting the bitch may produce
unnecessary negative interactions.
The majority of bitches will allow trusted individuals to
handle their puppies. Take time to gain the trust of the bitch
before attempting to handle her puppies.
Many bites are the result of an unsuspecting passerby or
visitor invading the dog's perceived territory. No one should
walk into another person's (dog's) yard or house uninvited, and
certainly the house or yard should not be left open for people
to enter.
High fences can prevent children from scaling them to retrieve
lost balls, and security locks on gates are good deterrents for
the average person. Even the mildest mannered dog may feel
threatened by people walking in or invading his territory,
especially when no one is home.
Then again, there may be no apparent provocation for the dog to
bite. This type of attack is known as rage syndrome or
idiopathic aggression, and it is very dangerous. When a dog
bites for no apparent reason, the victim is least able to avoid
the bite. There may be no cues to indicate an impending attack.
This type of aggression has been associated with a few specific
breeds, but there have been reports of unprovoked attacks in
many breeds.
About The Author: John Mailer writes articles about dogs and
the basics of dog training. http://www.basicsdo
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