If you have a dog that growls or acts aggressively towards strangers, it's not too late to do something about it. But first, you should understand why your dog's acting this way.
Your dog's ancestors were aggressive by nature. Living in the wild meant having to hunt for food, and defend themselves from other animals. It was instinct to protect their resources like food, mate and territory.
While selective breeding over the last few centuries has definitely minimized this natural trait, all dogs are still capable of causing serious injury.
The good thing is, there is a lot we can do as dog owners to prevent this aggression from surfacing. And if it does surface - for whatever reason - there are things you can do to deal with it.
There are several different types of aggression, and one of the more common forms is aggression towards strangers. It stems from nervousness. When your dog becomes nervous around strangers, he will naturally want to protect himself (and you) because he feels this unfamiliar person may be a threat.
Dogs that are nervous around strangers are pretty easy to spot. When someone unfamiliar approaches (a visitor, delivery person, or someone walking down the street) they will usually act one of two ways... Either they will sit completely still, staring hard at the new person, or they'll become agitated. They'll be fidgety, pace back and forth and bark or whine.
Why does it happen? The main reason a dog doesn't like strange people is that he's never had the chance to get used to them. Remember, your dog depends 100% on you to broaden his horizons for him. The only way he will learn to relax is by experience. He needs to go on lots of outings - have many positive experiences to realize that the "unknown" isn't something he needs to be afraid of.
We call this process "socialization" - and it is, without a doubt, one of the most important things you should do with your dog. Socialization is best started as a puppy, and it should be done continually through your dog's life. It helps your dog learn about the world around him. He learns that new people, places, or other animals are not a threat. Exposing your dog to as many different experiences is vital to raising a relaxed and stable dog.
You can't just bring an adult dog into a crowd of new people and expect him to stay calm and relaxed. Saying "It's okay, Trixie. Settle down" doesn't work. Your dog needs to learn that it's okay on his own. Socializing your dog helps him learn this. You want to expose him to all sorts of people -- small children, teens and old people, kids on skateboards, delivery people in uniforms -- anything that's different from what he's use to seeing at home.
If you start this socialization as a puppy, your dog grows up knowing that people who are "different" aren't bad. Instead of being fearful, he'll be confident and friendly with strangers.
One of the easiest ways to start socializing your puppy is by signing up for a puppy class. These are sometimes called puppy kindergarten or puppy preschool. It is a series of classes specifically for puppies. Most are held at a vet clinic or another controlled indoor environment.
Puppy classes are usually taught by a qualified dog trainer. Many times the instructor will bring one or two assistants, which lets you have more one-on-one time with a trainer during class. You'll learn about your puppy's developmental stages, how to crate train and potty train your puppy, and even a few basic obedience commands.
Learning about your puppy and how he will develop is important. It's also fun to start some basic commands like "come". But the most important part of puppy classes is the chance to meet and play with other dogs. During each class session, there are usually several short "play breaks" where the puppies are allowed to run around off-leash and play. This gives them the chance to learn how to interact around other dogs. They also get a chance to play with the dog owners, which helps them begin to learn that "strangers" aren't bad.
As good as puppy school is, socialization doesn't stop there. It should be an ongoing experience throughout the life of your growing puppy and adult dog. Take him to as many new places and environments as you can. Just be careful not to overwhelm him. Start off slow, and build his confidence gradually. If you're consistent with socializing your dog, he will grow into a friendly and confident dog - with no reason to fear strangers.
Your dog's ancestors were aggressive by nature. Living in the wild meant having to hunt for food, and defend themselves from other animals. It was instinct to protect their resources like food, mate and territory.
While selective breeding over the last few centuries has definitely minimized this natural trait, all dogs are still capable of causing serious injury.
The good thing is, there is a lot we can do as dog owners to prevent this aggression from surfacing. And if it does surface - for whatever reason - there are things you can do to deal with it.
There are several different types of aggression, and one of the more common forms is aggression towards strangers. It stems from nervousness. When your dog becomes nervous around strangers, he will naturally want to protect himself (and you) because he feels this unfamiliar person may be a threat.
Dogs that are nervous around strangers are pretty easy to spot. When someone unfamiliar approaches (a visitor, delivery person, or someone walking down the street) they will usually act one of two ways... Either they will sit completely still, staring hard at the new person, or they'll become agitated. They'll be fidgety, pace back and forth and bark or whine.
Why does it happen? The main reason a dog doesn't like strange people is that he's never had the chance to get used to them. Remember, your dog depends 100% on you to broaden his horizons for him. The only way he will learn to relax is by experience. He needs to go on lots of outings - have many positive experiences to realize that the "unknown" isn't something he needs to be afraid of.
We call this process "socialization" - and it is, without a doubt, one of the most important things you should do with your dog. Socialization is best started as a puppy, and it should be done continually through your dog's life. It helps your dog learn about the world around him. He learns that new people, places, or other animals are not a threat. Exposing your dog to as many different experiences is vital to raising a relaxed and stable dog.
You can't just bring an adult dog into a crowd of new people and expect him to stay calm and relaxed. Saying "It's okay, Trixie. Settle down" doesn't work. Your dog needs to learn that it's okay on his own. Socializing your dog helps him learn this. You want to expose him to all sorts of people -- small children, teens and old people, kids on skateboards, delivery people in uniforms -- anything that's different from what he's use to seeing at home.
If you start this socialization as a puppy, your dog grows up knowing that people who are "different" aren't bad. Instead of being fearful, he'll be confident and friendly with strangers.
One of the easiest ways to start socializing your puppy is by signing up for a puppy class. These are sometimes called puppy kindergarten or puppy preschool. It is a series of classes specifically for puppies. Most are held at a vet clinic or another controlled indoor environment.
Puppy classes are usually taught by a qualified dog trainer. Many times the instructor will bring one or two assistants, which lets you have more one-on-one time with a trainer during class. You'll learn about your puppy's developmental stages, how to crate train and potty train your puppy, and even a few basic obedience commands.
Learning about your puppy and how he will develop is important. It's also fun to start some basic commands like "come". But the most important part of puppy classes is the chance to meet and play with other dogs. During each class session, there are usually several short "play breaks" where the puppies are allowed to run around off-leash and play. This gives them the chance to learn how to interact around other dogs. They also get a chance to play with the dog owners, which helps them begin to learn that "strangers" aren't bad.
As good as puppy school is, socialization doesn't stop there. It should be an ongoing experience throughout the life of your growing puppy and adult dog. Take him to as many new places and environments as you can. Just be careful not to overwhelm him. Start off slow, and build his confidence gradually. If you're consistent with socializing your dog, he will grow into a friendly and confident dog - with no reason to fear strangers.
About the Author:
Raising a friendly, well-behaved dog doesn't have to be hard. Get your free 6-Day Dog Training and Behavior course at www.TheSmartDogOwner.com. You'll get 6 days of valuable tips and techniques to help you overcome some of the most common dog behavior problems. You'll also discover the most complete guide available on owning, raising, and training your dog - a "must-read" for any dog-owner..
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