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Does your otherwise well-tempered pooch turn into Cujo when he is leashed and spy's another dog? If you're shaking your head, "Yes" right now, you are not alone. Through the years, our dog trainers have met countless individuals who go to extraordinary measures to avoid other dogs during the walk. Avoidance techniques allow you to walk your dog with less stress but it doesn't get to the root of the problem. Left unattended, aggressive on-leash behaviors quickly transition to off-leash environments.

Virtually all aggression stems from fear. Dogs that show aggressive tendencies are neither bad nor hopeless dogs. Instead, they are victims that have been traumatized by a past experience or have been unintentionally rewarded for displaying low-level aggressive behaviors such as barking or staring.

Most frequent Causes

• The dog shows low-level aggression signals such as growling, staring or pulling and the owner tries to soothe by petting or cooing to him. While unintentional, this is praise to the dog and reinforces the behavior. On his next dog encounter, he most probably will escalate quicker and show more aggressive behaviors, which are also unintentionally rewarded.
• The dog has learned that he can get his way, or go in the direction of his choice if he pulls, barks, growls or otherwise acts aggressively.
• At some time when leashed, another dog attacked him or scared him beyond his ability to cope. When dogs have a negative experience like this, they often adapt an offensive position to guard themselves against another attack or fright.
• The dog has been subjected to painful corrections from choke or pinch collars in the presence of other dogs. Since he gets hurt every time he sees another dog he will also adopt an offensive strategy, but this time in anger, as every time he sees another dog, he gets hurt.
• The dog senses the owners fear and tension. A leash is similar to an electric current. Every emotion you feel is transferred right down the leash to the dog. If you tense up or get nervous every time you see another dog, your dog will do the same. If you're holding the leash so tight that your knuckles are white, your dog also feels that tension and responds accordingly. He doesn't know what the problem is, but he knows that something is scaring you and will mentally prepare for battle to protect himself and his human.

Aggression, demonstrated in any format, requires professional assistance as soon as possible. Once aggression is learned and becomes a habit, it is extremely challenging to eliminate. Many people however, don't seek the help their dog needs because they don't want to be labeled as an aggressive dog owner. Education is critical on this point. Aggression is not an ugly word and it does not mean that the pet or pet owner is bad. For the emotional well-being of you and your pet, seek the guidance of a professional dog trainer who is experienced in aggression and you will never be afraid to share a walk with your furry friend.

The goal of all dog training is to find peaceable solutions to everyday problems so that pets and their owners live harmoniously. Paws in Training offers dog training, dog behavior evaluations, consultations and educational services in Raleigh, Durham and Cary N.C.

Ó Paws in Training, Inc. 2009

http://www.pawsintraining.com