In this dissertation, I’ll focus on dog aggression that is expressed toward strangers and other dogs, both of which can be really stressful for dog owners and cause real problems. At the bottom of the discussion, I will be including a quick-reference chart which you can print to refer to in social situations with your dog. I’d recommend bringing it along with you to Dog Park functions. See how many of the listed behaviors you can spot out in the Dog Park!
What you’ll find out is that aggressive behavior is just as stressful for your dog, and it’s actually your responsibility to teach him or her that the behavior is not only appropriate, but also totally unnecessary. Why is that exactly? I’ll tell you. But first let’s make sure we know what we’re dealing with when we see it.
Signs of Aggression
Most people, whether they are dog owners or not, do not recognize the signs of aggression until it is way too late – until a full-blown dog fight starts or a group of rowdy children are told in no uncertain terms by an annoyed animal that they have crossed the line.
The common signs of aggression are growling, snarling, barking, curled lips, lunging and an overall menacing posture, where the dog is tensed and ready to snap. (Note: there is also something known as a “submissive smile” exhibited by some dogs, whereby the animal actually shows its teeth as it approaches. I’ve seen this behavior confuse many owners, but it can be dismissed as such by the dog’s lowering its head as it “smiles,” and often wag its tail too). There are other indications, such as jumping or mounting or even standing in your way that are much less of a problem and often go ignored when not accompanied by the other more severe signs.
But all of these are also very obvious and advanced manifestations of aggression. Being able to recognize the behaviors that lead up to these signs will go a long way. For example, dogs unsure about meeting someone new (human or canine) will approach hesitantly and “circle” their opposite. You may likely even see distrust or suspicion in their eyes (with some of the whites showing).
Dogs also have two areas on their back, their “hackles,” where they are able to raise the hair on their coat. Located between the shoulders and just above the tail, raised hackles will be more obvious on some dogs than others depending on the coat, but it always means a very heightened state of awareness and excitement, and is the prelude to aggression. So, even though raised hackles do not automatically mean aggression, it means you should pay attention and do your part to ensure that there is no reason for the situation to escalate into an aggressive one. What is your part exactly?
Your Role
In most cases dogs become aggressive because they don’t know what else to do. The reason they don’t know what else to do is because there is no one else there to tell them or show them what to do, or even assure them that they should do NOTHING instead. In the absence of your guidance and leadership, they are forced to make all these decisions on their own. That’s not only a downright dangerous position to put them, it’s also unfair.
This is something that professional trainer Michael Ellis explains quite well in one of his Dog Training DVD Series that I own. He talks a lot about establishing your role as leader. Now everyone knows how very important it is to position yourself at the top of the “pack” in your hybrid family of humans and dogs. But Michael really makes sense of why it is in fact *more* stressful for a dog who is a dominant “Alpha” dog but really does not want to be.
When a dog’s role is not made clear by his owner, the pressure is on the dog to protect his owner, protect his territory, not to mention protect himself so his own role does not come into question. That’s a lot of work and a lot of worry. And the result is all too often an aggressive dog that really does not need to be that way. Punishing a dog who is ultimately trying to watch out for everyone inevitably makes things worse.
To give you some examples, now that you know what aggressive posturing looks like, if you see these signs in another dog, AVOID that dog on your walks. At the same time, keep your confidence and your nerves intact when you do: your dog is sensing every last bit of your anxiety, and perhaps even feeling it (how many times have you seen tense owners pull in their lead for dear life when you walk by with your dog? The Leash is effectively a “telegraph line” between you and the dog; if you are tense, the dog will sense it via the leash and your body language, and become tense, as well). Just tell your dog that you’ll be taking a wide berth, and walk calmly past. If there’s not enough space to do that even, have your dog on a “sit” command and place yourself (the leader of the group) in between yourself and the suspect dog as it walks past. If the owner does not keep their dog under control, you might even let them know about it.
The opposite applies: if you come across a dog that is exhibiting playful and friendly signs, TELL your dog that this is a “friend” and that a greeting is ok. If possible, I’ve found that it works well if you greet the dog first, then “ok” the mutual canine greeting second.
All in all, you need to communicate to your dog what is a genuine threat and what is not, and in reality, there is not all that much in this world that should be a genuine threat to your dog if you’re doing your job as the boss. More than that, you need to communicate in a calm yet assertive manner. It’s about body language remember. No matter what you SAY, if you ACT like you’re freaked out, your dog will do the same.
As Michael says, our world does not equal a dog’s world – our world is much bigger, much noisier, and indeed, much scarier. But it is our world that we’ve asked our dogs to live in. Not only that, we’ve asked them to behave in it too. All the more reason they need the right sort of guidance.
Socialization
A lesson on dog aggression would not be complete without at least a brief discussion about the cornerstone of dog obedience: SOCIALIZATION. Socialization just means letting your dog figure out how to behave in social situations by regularly putting him or her in social situations. This starts right from the puppy days. Your dog needs to interact with other dogs and other people absolutely as much as possible. Dogs that are not socialized with other people and other dogs are very often the same dogs that have aggression problems.
When your puppy has play sessions with other dogs, keep an eye out for dogs that will get along with yours, and make a point of seeing these dogs again. But also let your dog interact with other dogs – older and bigger dogs – who will keep your dog “in line” if he or she happens to be exhibiting dominant behavior. On the other extreme, do not let your dog hang out with other dogs that tend to roughhouse too much or bully yours around to the point where they are causing the dogs stress and stunting confidence. Dog socialization is a hugely important topic!
Remember, the more familiar a situation is to your dog, the more comfortable they will be – “human animals” are exactly the same! – and the less they will need your guidance and instruction. If your dog sees no one aside from you for most of the hours of most days, and sees very little outside the confines of your own backyard, can you blame them for acting a bit strange when they actually get out into the big wide world?

Scott Cook, a professional K-9 Trainer of 45+ years, has been an avid Canine Enthusiast since childhood and it is worth mentioning that he successfully trained his first dog (a rescue dog with behavioral aggression issues) at the age of 11!

His passion, enthusiasm and love for the dog is evident in his many years of experience as well as his hunger to learn more and it is all this that has made him what he is today! He has had extensive training in the area of canine behavior and training! His studies have included 2 summers in the kennels of the New Skete Monestary, 1 year mentoring with Dr. Ian Dunbar, 1 year mentoring with Ed Frawley, and 2 years association with Michael Ellis!

He is a current Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and owns and operates his own dog training business with 45+ years of professional Canine Training experience in his kitty! You are in good hands with Scott!

Does your dog seem bored?  Check out the TOP 8 Fun Dog Toys to keep your dog intrigued while having fun:

You will find that dog toys are available in many different styles and sizes, however, all dogs have a favorite and my dogs prefer the interactive toys.

Enrichment dog toys or as we all know them, interactive dog toys, were designed to provide a particular purpose and also to offer a special task for dogs. Generally, these toys incorporate some truly exceptional characteristics to ensure that your dog remains interested, which includes:

• Uncommon contents – including dog snacks that emerge when rolled around or each time a puzzle is resolved
• Uncommon motions – such as toys that jump around automatically, have clinging parts, or several textures
• Rare sounds – such as squeakers, audio cards, or crinkled plastic within the tail of a stuffed dog toy

These types of characteristics are developed to ensure that your dog stays interested for longer time periods. Furthermore, you will see that you made a good investment in purchasing these toys as you will see your dog doesn’t quickly lose interest in them!

Top 8 Entertaining Dog Toys

In terms of chew toys, remember that dogs now have several choices for them. You will find that some dogs prefer these toys are either interactive or they may prefer soft chew toys that can be effortlessly carried, thrown about, pulled and in some cases your dog may prefer a chew toy that provides BOTH of these features.  However, sometimes it can be quite difficult to obtain one soft toy with all these preferences. Most of the time, you will have to obtain at least two chew toys to ensure that you satisfy your dog’s  intense chewing requirements. And do be sure to substitute them when they wear away (as chewing toys are prone to do).

So if you are planning on purchasing an enrichment dog toy for your dog for the first time, listed below is a list that you can select from:

• 1) Buster Cube

This is yet another treat-dispensing dog toy. It’s made from a hard plastic, such as the IQ Treat Ball dog toy — which is one more favorite choice in this group — however; it can’t disassemble in the course of playtime such as the IQ Treat Ball. The sole disadvantage to the Buster Cube is that the toy provides a loud noise while your dog plays with it across the floor. There are plenty of advantages: First, it is possible to modify the challenge level, causing it to be easier or more difficult for your dog to get hold of the treats. (Basically, you increase or reduce the size of the outlet that the snacks drop out of.)  Second, the inside capacity is truly large, in order to throw an adequate quantity of dry dog kibble inside ensuring that your dog remains active for hours. Third, it’s totally unbreakable. We’ve got the biggest size, and the possibility that a dog can get its mouth around it is zero. Regardless of whether he can, the hard plastic is very sturdy.

NOTE: The Buster Cube is best suited for hardwood and tile flooring. (One more that’s perfect for slick floors would be the Atomic Treat Ball. If your dog is going to be using carpeted floors mainly, then you would like to take into consideration the Kong Wobbler instead. Another good option for treat-dispensing dog toys such as these would be the Bob-A-Lot. It wobbles alone a little bit.

• 2) Talking Dog Toy

The majority of dog toys which features lights or voices aren’t super-durable. Thus, if you know that your dog is not a serious chewer, you will discover several talking toys that are great for these type of dogs. My personal favorites are the Animal Sounds X-Tire dog toy and the Talking Babble Ball dog toy, both toys are by PetQwerks. Please note that these toys are not sturdy enough and won’t survive strong powerful dog teeth. These toys were designed to be chewed on gently while your dog grows to be fascinated by the strange voices and sounds originating from inside. They are attention-getters, without a doubt!

• 3) Everlasting Fun Ball

The everlasting fun ball is a spherical ball which can be stuffed with dog snacks. The reason why this interactive dog toy is so great is the fact that the snacks within the ball is difficult to get out. Furthermore, it’s a less noisy fun time experience compared to a number of the other treat-providing dog toys, since it is created from a soft, long lasting fabric — which means you don’t listen to it moving and bouncing on the floor. I wouldn’t recommend this toy for those extreme chewers, however. Determined dogs with powerful jaws can often cut through the plastic. You will discover a couple of unique types of Everlasting Fun Balls available, in addition to uniquely designed snacks for these toys.

• 4) Busy Buddy

This type of dog toys was created to refocus your dog’s harmful chewing tendencies into positive fun time instead. You can find many unique types of Busy Buddy dog toys that offer various gnawing experiences. My dog is crazy about the Tug a Jug. Our second choice would be The Premier Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble Dog Toy. However, all of them would be great choices, considering that they are designed with your dog’s safety under consideration. And as a result of their shape, each of them offers exceptional bounce patterns which ensures you keep your dog’s interest for longer.

• 5) Kong Toy

Kong toys are all extremely durable and multi-functional, irrespective of which type you decide on. You will find that rubber Kongs; all roll and jump in unpredicted ways, which keeps your dog’s attention. Furthermore, these enrichment toys can be filled with dog snacks. For a quick treat, it is possible to freely load a Kong using dry kibble while your dog gets treated just by running it over the floor while chewing up the goodies. For longer satisfaction, you can fill the Kong toy, using a variety of food products stuffed firmly inside. As a final task, freeze a loaded Kong before passing it on to the dog. Based on what you’ve placed inside, it may be a while before your dog a get the many doggie snacks hidden within the Kong toy. This is certainly an excellent option for minimizing boredom for times when you leave your dog at home alone!

• 6) Rag Rope Ball

This multi-functional dog toy includes a rope and ball combination. The one that I like best is the one by Pet Stages, due to the fact that it’s durable and it is specifically intended for puppies. Needless to say, if the ball is more round, it is going to roll more, thus this particular one does not roll too much. Once the toy drops from your dog’s mouth, it will only roll away a short distance, however, the toy will then be on a new side, and provides yet a different clinging part of the rope so that your dog may begin to gnaw on again. Furthermore, these hanging rope arms offer several possibilities for your dog to pick up, carry, and throw the toy for extra fun. Remember, it doesn’t need to be a rope on the opposite end in an effort to be an excellent enrichment dog toy. For instance, this Weazel Ball dog toy seems exciting! One more similar enrichment dog toy that appears to be exciting would be the Zany Ball Rope Twister.

• 7) Nina Ottosson Dog Puzzle Toys

This would be one of the most common interactive dog toys. My personal favorites would be Dog Brick and Dog Casino. The main purpose of this toy is to train your dog to wait (until informed to begin), locate (things behind the puzzle pieces), and take pleasure in (the goodies as instant rewards). You will also discover many other find & seek dog board games similar to this one including: Dog Treat Maze, Dog Spinny and Dog Twister.  And you will discover a couple of exciting interactive dog games & puzzles by Kyjen too. Despite the fact that plastic dog puzzles are less complicated to clean, if you would like a durable puzzle collection for your dog, choose a wooden puzzle board such as these: Nina Ottosson’s Wooden Dog Treat Fighter, Zanies Wood Interactive Puzzles Dog Toy and the Ethical Seek-A-Treat Dog Puzzle

• 8) Orka Chew

It is always fun to see that a dog toy has more than one feature. This is a personal favorite. The Orka chew can bounce includes a number of “arms” to draw in interest and chew on, and it provides treats! It’s made out of a long lasting, non-toxic artificial rubber, and considering that it’s designed similar to a “jack”, it results in plenty of possibilities for natural jump every time it’s launched from your dog’s mouth. Furthermore, it’s resilient enough for extreme chewers. You will discover a number of different types of long-lasting Orka dog toys available.

Now there is no reason for any dog not to have fun!  With so many interactive dog toys to choose from, I’m sure you will find one that your dog will be crazy about!

Judy Lowery is a professional breeder of the exquisite English Cream Golden Retrievers. Her undertaking, which is aptly named Montana Mist Goldens, is a bench mark when it comes to high quality and pedigree pups. Her knowledge base is profound and she goes above and beyond what is needed to keep tabs on all her puppies. Incidentally it was this dutiful follow up that exposed the problem: lack of great and comprehensive dog training modules in the market today. This gave birth to the Dog Training Depot and provides dog training and expert advice to fill the needs of not only her dog owners but also every dedicated loving dog parent out there!  Here is where success comes in ALL shapes and sizes!

Dr. Sarah is a veterinarian with 10 years of clinical experience in private practice and not-for-profit shelter medicine. She has extensive knowledge about small animals and spent her senior year at University of California, Davis tracking exclusively small animals. In addition to providing veterinary educational material to Life’s Abundance customers, she is a mom, proud dog owner, and helps one pet at a time working relief in local veterinary clinics.