Dog aggression can be very terrifying for everyone involved. From a slight show of anger or a snarl towards a full-on attack, it could be dangerous for people, other dogs, or even your pet.

Reactive and aggressive dogs can be trained. It requires patience and time. Find a dog trainer who employs positive reinforcement for the dogs and owners.

Find a trained instructor who is certified

A lot of dog owners suffer from issues with aggression. Unchecked aggression can cause serious injuries to both pets and humans. In severe cases an animal’s bite can cause the animal to be sent back to a shelter or even to the animal control department for euthanasia. There is good news that aggression can be treated. Fear and anxiety are frequently the reason for aggression, but it may also be caused by the genetics of a person or an experience that has been negative.

A good dog trainer will aid you to overcome the dog’s anxiety and fears by addressing these concerns. Find out about their methods of training and seek out references and certifications when looking for the best dog trainer in your region. While anyone is able to create business cards, it’s important to find a certified trainer who adheres to the ethical guidelines of the body that certifies them and doesn’t use any abrasive methods of training.

It is also essential to find a trainer who is familiar with working with dogs who exhibit aggression. As someone who has dealt with this type of behavior previously they’ll be able to provide you with some insights into what might be going on in your dog’s brain and the best method to teach him. They can provide you with some suggestions on whether your dog needs medication or could require a visit to a veterinary behavioral specialist (DACVB). DACVBs are essentially veterinarians who specialize in animal behavior and many owners of dog aggression regret not seeing one sooner because they see the huge changes these specialists can make on their dog’s behavior.

Search for online dog training

Some trainers rely on methods of training based on dominance that include imposing “corrections” like putting your dog’s back in an alpha roll, grabbing the collar to keep them from barking or biting and using electronic static or vibrating collars. These methods may initially increase the obedience of your dog however they can also cause anxiety and fear, which in turn can increase aggression.

A dog’s training program that is online and aggressive that works will assist you in building an even stronger bond with your pet, to ensure that they obey when they’re scared, excited, or stressed. This is especially important for dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior because they tend to get angry and lash out in response to these triggers.

Many people find that their aggressive dogs are afraid or feel they are required to guard their home or family, this can be handled by a skilled trainer. Enrolling in a class for obedience or working one-on-one with a trained trainer can assist your dog in becoming more confident and decrease their aggression towards other dogs.

Urban K9 is a highly-rated NYC training program that offers obedience and behavior modification to address leash reactivity, aggression toward other dogs or humans, resource guarding separation anxiety, and more serious behavior issues. Stephen Baum, the owner, has extensive training and certification expertise. He has also been a part of Rescue Dogs Rock, NYC where he worked with rescue dogs who were difficult to place.