Free Tips on How to Tame an Aggressive Dog

By: David Codr

Published Date: September 3, 2024

how to tame an aggressive shih tzu

In this Omaha dog behavior training session, we focused on how to tame an aggressive dog, working with Jack, a 7-year-old Shih Tzu who occasionally shows aggression towards one of his family members.

How to Tame an Aggressive Dog

After using gentle body language and tasty treats, Jack warmed up to me quickly. His guardians said this was typical, as Jack generally enjoys meeting people. However, there were three instances where Jack acted aggressively toward his guardian’s partner, which is why we held this in-home training session.

After covering the basics of dog behavior, I wanted to give the guardian some tips to help Jack feel more comfortable around people he’s unsure of. The word “aggressive” may be too strong, as Jack’s actions occurred when he was in a new place without his main caregiver.

I think the dog’s behavior was a rare occurrence, possibly because he was having a bad day or something unusual happened. This dog is not typically aggressive towards people.

Why Do Dogs Sometimes Act Aggressive?

Dogs can exhibit aggression for various reasons, including feelings of fear, anxiety, or pain. Dogs may become aggressive when they feel scared or threatened, like when they are trapped with no way out. Fear is a common cause of this behavior.

Anxiety can cause dogs to behave aggressively, especially if they are easily frightened or nervous. Dogs may act aggressively when they feel the need to protect themselves. Additionally, pain can make dogs defensive or scared, which might result in aggressive actions.

Recently, Jack has shown aggression when trying to protect his parent from his guardian’s partner. This behavior probably comes from Jack feeling that his new human roommate wasn’t giving him enough attention. Since they hadn’t had a chance to bond, Jack likely felt anxious around him, which led to his unusual and aggressive behavior.

Jack’s behavior can be described as resource guarding. This is a common behavior in dogs where they become possessive over things they value, such as food, toys, or their favorite resting spots. This instinct can lead to aggressive behavior if a dog perceives someone as a threat to these prized possessions.

For example, if a dog believes that a person is trying to take away their food bowl or invade their cherished sleeping area, they might act aggressively to protect what they see as rightfully theirs. Dogs act this way because they want to protect their things, which they see as important for their happiness and safety.

Jack has a strong bond with his guardian, so it is natural for him to be afraid of a new human showing them affection. Since he does not know his guardian’s partner very well, his instinct is to view them as a threat and try to protect his parent.

How to Help a Dog Feel Good Around People

The easiest way to overcome this issue is to create a positive association. Participating in bonding activities with Jack, such as walks, will make him feel more comfortable.

Another easy bonding activity is just taking a few minutes to practice some cues that Jack already knows. During this in-home training session, we taught Jack the hand-targeting exercise. He also knows common cues, like “sit.” This allows Jack to work on listening to both guardians, while also rewarding him with some tasty treats.

I gave the guardian my camera to show them some tips on how to train a dog to stop being aggressive towards people. I also gave them some suggestions in case it happens again. Check out the free positive dog training video below for tips and secrets on how to help a dog feel good around people.

As you saw in the video above, Jack is a sweet, treat-motivated dog. We think that Jack’s spurts of aggressive behavior will disappear if his guardians consistently follow these positive training tips.

Stopping Aggressive Dog Behavior

Jack has only been aggressive towards people about three times. I believe that following positive dog behavior tips will help prevent any future incidents. Building a strong bond between the guardian’s partner and Jack takes effort, but it can be done easily. The great thing about it is anyone can do it, even if they’re not a professional Shih Tzu dog trainer.

We made a video to help Jack’s guardians remember these dog behavior tips. Check out the roadmap to success video below.

Want to Learn How to Tame an Aggressive Dog? Click Here to Book a Session
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This post was written by: David Codr