The reasons are many for which dogs may be have aggressive tendencies, which may cause you to need to stop dog aggression. It could be due to the fact that the dog feels that he is dominant over your, or it might be a trigger that was never properly dealt with from his puppy aged days – such as possibly he was attacked by another dog,  Whatever is causing your dog’s aggression, however, you need to get a plan right away to stop your dog’s aggression. The results of prolonged aggression can be not only dangerous, but scary if not quickly taken care of.

The Source of Aggressive Behavior in Dogs

Dog aggression can start as young as when a puppy is only six weeks of age, so this is a critical age when a puppy should be socialized with other dogs and given the necessary training. In the long run, this is what will keep them from biting other people. This time frame is typically up until a puppy is about 14 weeks old, but can extend longer than that.  It’s always a good to stop dog aggression before it gets started.

This means several things. First, always leave a puppy with it’s litter until it’s at least eight weeks old. Never use extreme discipline or scolding with the puppy between 8 and 10 weeks of age and make sure the dog is treated very gently in that time. Yelling, hitting or other harsh punishments at a young age can fuel aggressive behavior in dogs over time.

A dog needs to have been properly socialized with people and other dogs by the time he reached 14 weeks to avoid any future aggression issues.

There are a number of things that can trigger aggression. Genetics and heredity are certainly factors – however, some breeds can certainly be more aggressive than others. That is not a rule that is set in stone though. Also, dogs that have not been neutered or spayed are more prone to aggressive tendencies, so you will want to stop dog aggression before it get’s started if your pet has been neutered or spayed.

By far, however, the most important factor in creating aggressive behavior in dogs is the world they live in and their environment. A dog that has poor living conditions, harsh masters, no socialization, or that has been frightened or attacked by another dog is far more likely to be aggressive as it ages.

Aggression can grow from the need to establish a pack pecking order. Some signs of dogs trying to show dominance can be biting, posturing, and other aggressive tendencies. You will need to establish dominance (yours of course) during puppyhood and maintain that position throughout the dog’s adolescence to ensure it doesn’t get an opportunity to take control of the household.

How to Control and Stop Dog Aggression

If your dog exhibits aggressive behavior after 14 months of age, when it has reached sexual maturity, especially after it has been altered, you should address the problem immediately. First, make sure you have established yourself as the pack leader (remember – establish dominance). Whatever you do, do not reward your dog for its aggressive behavior, even if it is scared (especially in this case).

Start by training your dog to respond to your commands, control feeding and walking times, and make sure the dog has a strong leader in the house. If you defer to the dog or allow it to take liberties in your home, it will exhibit stronger aggression toward others.

If your dog is defensive-aggressive (meaning they are acting aggressive out of feeling they need to protect themselves), they may strike out at a person in fear. These dogs may not have been properly socialized as a puppy, as we mentioned earlier in this article. Keep them away from small children (as dogs can sometimes consider small children a threat) and attend a training session or behaviorist who can slowly acclimate the dog to a social atmosphere.

Aggressive behavior in dogs is a huge problem that many owners have, but know that you can stop dog aggression, even as your dog gets older. If your dog’s aggression ever advances to violence, consider hiring a professional to help you to stop dog aggression or getting a electric dog fence to try to contain your dog inside your house.