Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Dog Aggression. Can It Be Fixed?

Many dog owners are seeking a cure for their
aggressive dogs. Their questions usually focus
around these three questions: Can you fix it?
What do I have to do? How long will it take?
Let's take these questions one by one.

Can you fix it?

As much as everyone wants their dog to be
friendly towards all other dogs, the reality is
that not every dog that is reactive with
aggressive tendencies can be rehabilitated. Here
are a range of results.

Complete rehabilitation from dog aggression and a
resumed and relaxed ease around dogs. A
controlled, on leash tolerance to a certain
proximity to other dogs on walks allowing you to
be in public places with your dog confidently
under control without aggressing. No
rehabilitation requiring management for the life
of your dog.

What do I have to do?

As you consider treatment or rehabilitating your
aggressive dog you must also commit to 100%
management of your dog during treatment. This
means the physical or mechanical control needed
to prevent your aggressive dog from being
confronted with something he can't handle at that
point in time. Obtain the services of a
professional trainer or behaviorist to assist in
rehabilitating your dog. Even if you are
prepared, it can be very frightening and
intimidating on your end of the leash. If you
find that your dog aggression is not treatable,
you must commit to managing your dog for the life
of your dog. When working with your aggressive
dog, understand that results can vary widely.

How long will it take?

That's the $64,000 question! While some
aggressive dogs rehabilitate quickly, it can take
18 months or longer for other aggressive dogs and
results will vary depend on a number of factors.
How successful you were at establishing a solid
foundation for leadership. How well and
methodically you performed your obedience
commands without distractions at first and then
gradually adding relevant distractions within the
scope of your specific recommended behavior
modification exercises. How you performed your
recommended behavior modification exercises to
set your aggressive dog up to succeed. Your
handling skills, timing, demeanor and confidence

Some owners, however, are not successful working
with their aggressive dog. Every owner knows what
they want - a happy dog that will get along well
with dogs. Not every dog comes like this. And,
some dogs never got the chance to socialize. Not
particularly their fault but it's what a dog
owner has to work with.

Let's take a look at some of the more common
reasons owners are not successful working with
their dog's aggressiveness on leash.

Lack of confidence in handling their aggressive
dog, it can be very frightening! Lack of money
to train. It takes money to do obedience
training. Lack of time to commit to working on
this difficult challenge and the lack of
resources - friends with dogs or a source of dogs
(preferably non-reactive) to do a sufficient
number of set ups to accomplish this tedious task
of getting their dog used to the things that
cause their aggression.

For these reasons and many more is why I
reiterate again - employ a professional trainer
to assist you in your work. A good trainer can be
a big help in many of these areas.

Owners should stay actively involved in the
rehabilitation of their aggressive dog. Do not
send your dog off to be rehabilitated. Many dogs
have become reactive because of previous training
received causing the dog to associate physical
leash corrections (with choke chains, pinch
collars or shock collars) to the very thing you
are trying to get them to like - other dogs! But
every time they react to a dog, a correction is
given and the association is made: other dogs
cause pain.

Rehabilitating your reactive or aggressive dog is
not an easy task. It takes time, patience,
expertise and a written program that takes you
through very sequential steps to finally bring
you and your dog to, hopefully, a successful
outcome. If you have an aggressive dog, get the
help of a professional. Your dog needs this help
sooner than later.

----------------------------------------------------
Jim Burwell has been training dogs professionally
for 25 years. Texas Magazine refers to him as
Houston's Dog Whisperer. Whatever your dog
problem, Jim Burwell can help. His award winning
blog on http://www.petiquettedog.com has
outstanding information on different dog
behaviors. It's THE place to go for dog behavior
advice.

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