Preventing Dog Aggressive Behavior: Fun & Easy Tips & Tricks

For this Omaha dog training session we shared some tips to stop dog aggressive behavior. 3 year old Akita, Senshi is extremely reactive at the sight of other dogs.

What does Dog Aggressive Behavior Look Like?

When a dog barks and lunges at other dogs, it’s typically because they’re trying to get the other dog to move away. A dog might react this way for several reasons. These include fear, excitement, frustration, territoriality, or not enough socialization.

Fear often occurs when a dog hasn’t been properly socialized and sees other dogs as threats. Excitement can trigger barking and pulling, especially in playful breeds that want to interact but can’t due to the leash. Territorial dogs may react aggressively, seeing other dogs as intruders in their space.

Frustration also arises when a dog is on a leash and unable to approach or interact freely with another dog. Lastly, dogs that haven’t been trained properly may not know how to behave calmly when encountering other dogs.

A significant issue with this dog behavior problem is it appears to work for the dog. Senshi barks and the other dog goes away. He doesn’t understand that dog was on a walk, only briefly passing by his home.

How to Stop a Dog from Lunging and Barking

To stop a dog from lunging or acting aggressively towards other dogs, it’s best to make your furry friend feel more comfortable. Create a positive association with the other dog. I pulled out my camera to film a tip on how to prevent dog aggression. We call this the engage disengage game, and it serves as a great way to stop dog reactivity.

The engage disengage game is a useful technique to stop dog reactivity, whether it’s out of fear or excitement.

The goal is to teach your dog to see the trigger, like another dog. Then, you want them to quickly turn their attention back to you in a calm way. Before starting, I recommend your dog has burned off some energy and is in a calm state.

Keep in mind, the distance between you and the trigger is important. Your dog should be close enough to see the other dog, but far enough away that they don’t react. If your dog starts barking or lunging, you’re too close, so take a few steps back.

To begin, have someone walk past you and your dog while you wait for your dog to look at the trigger. As soon as they look, click your clicker or use a marker word and reward with a treat. The key is to reward your dog for looking at the trigger calmly and then looking back at you.

Repeat this several times, and over time, your dog will learn to look at you as soon as they hear the click or word.

If your dog starts freezing or acting uncomfortable, you may be too close, so increase the distance and try again. Only move to the next stage when your dog is consistently looking back at you within a few seconds of seeing the trigger.

In the second stage, the goal is for your dog to turn away from the trigger and focus on you without needing a click or treat. This may take several practice sessions. Once your dog is disengaging easily, try practicing from different angles and gradually increase the speed of the trigger.

Additional Tips for Training a Dog to Stop Barking

Anyone can do this simple dog training exercise. You don’t need to be a professional Akita trainer to succeed.

Keep training sessions short—about five minutes at a time. If your dog seems frustrated, end the session on a positive note by rewarding them for something simple like sitting. Afterward, give your dog some fun time, like a walk or play, to keep things positive.

Training a dog to stop barking at other dogs is easy. Just keep the right distance and avoid moving too fast. When correcting any unwanted dog behavior, you always want to work at the dog’s pace. I would like to see the guardian practice this simple technique daily, or as often as possible.

Be patient and consistent. If your dog struggles, it’s okay to go back to earlier steps. The goal is to help your dog stay calm and focused when they see things that used to cause a reaction.

I recommend that Senshi’s guardian take note of the days and times when people are walking their dogs. This will help her identify good opportunities for practice. Another option is to ask friends or neighbors with dogs for help, using the steps I shared in the free positive dog training video above.

With plenty of high-value treats and consistent practice, I’m confident that Senshi and his dedicated guardian can overcome his dog aggression and help him become more relaxed and well-behaved around other dogs.