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How to Socialize Your Aggressive Dog

LuesPinazo

Member
Most dogs born in the wild are brought up in packs. Through interacting with canines, learning body language and learning of the verbal cues a dog starts getting associated with humans. In cases of the domestic dogs, they begin the process of interaction from their litter and once they join the man’s family life interaction begins. Below are a few tricks that help in training your dog to socialize with humans.

Dog Separation from its Litter
When training your dog on interaction with humans, the very first step is separating the young puppy from its litter before it hits the age of 8 weeks. Before it gets to eight weeks of age, a puppy participates in fights, dog play, and also interacts with fellow siblings and the mother. A dog also adapts the art to live along with other dogs before the eight weeks so one can try and allow the puppy to live in humans’ environment for it helps it to develop socializing skills. The unsocialized dogs and puppies have a very high likelihood to be aggressive at some point in life as per a study carried out by a school of veterinary medicine known as the Cummings.

Visits to dog parks
In cases where you might have an adult of a dog above the age of 8 weeks but still not socialized, you should try other methods of socialization with leased parks being a perfect example. It can also apply in cases of already socialized dogs that need some refreshment. At the park, your dog shall have an opportunity to meet, dog play and fight with many types of dogs. You can also introduce your dog to other dog owners present at the park as a way of getting it more close to humans. A dog park majorly helps to befriend a dog because it meets people of different sizes, appearances, and shapes and hence won’t become alarmed if they get into encounters with more new people. This could be a very ideal place to socialize a dog.

Visits to the supply store with your dog
Most people might take this as a difficult task to take their dog with them to the pet supply stores. While at the store your dog shall be exposed to different smells, meet new dogs and their owners hence reducing its anxiety when it gets into environments with people as a result of previous exposure.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Perhaps I read this incorrectly. Are you suggesting that it's a good idea to remove the pup from the litter before 8 weeks? That's how I took this statement. "the very first step is separating the young puppy from its litter before it hits the age of 8 weeks" If I interpreted that correctly, that's a terrible suggestion. Puppies should remain with the litter at minimum until 8 weeks and 12 weeks is even better. Barring emergency situations of course. I also disagree with suggesting the use of a dog park. Strongly. Certainly not for dogs that need a "refresher."

There are much better ways to socialize. Here is an excellent article about socializing your dog so it grows up as well adjusted at is possible.

https://denisefenzi.com/2013/07/socialization/
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I just re-read the title of this post. It's about how to socialize your AGGRESSIVE dog. I think that the advice given in Lues Pinazo's post is very dangerous if applied to an aggressive dog. Any dog that is already displaying aggressive behavior should not be taken to a dog park or to a store and allowed to meet other dogs and people freely. You need an experienced handler for this, who has experience managing aggressive dogs, or you're putting not just other dogs and people at risk, but your own dog.
 

LuesPinazo

Member
Dog classes
Involvement in some few sessions of boot camp actions is worth it to help familiarize your dog with the outside world. You can inquire for some dog training sessions from your trusted and qualified veterinary of dog security firm personnel. While at the dog training classes your dog gets a perfect place to meet more dogs and people with a similar objective and in a well monitored and safe area in cases of any emergencies that might happen as a result of aggressiveness from the dogs.

Offer occasional Treats
Dogs are also animals with brains and so being useful to them helps them to remember the deeds. Any reasoning creature in this world can do anything for a treat, and so dogs do. Whenever your dog does a successful interaction act with another dog or a human, you should give it an encouragement treat in the form of an enticement meal or even actions such as rubbing its fur. Gifts encourage dogs at boosting their positive social behaviors.

Time or limits your dog’s socialization time
Just as humans get bored of having too much time together with fellow friends even dogs do and one should keenly monitor the tactics he or she uses to socialize a dog. Ensure that the periods of interaction are long but not to a point whereby the dog starts to learn the sensitive traits of the humans around it.

Introducing exercises to the dog
Once your dog starts getting friendly to human, you can try some bit of exercise sessions to the animal. Always ensure you do what is fit for it and do not overdo it. Be keen to know some signs of discomfort such as yawning, panting excessively, dropping its tail between its legs and sleeping resting its mouth on the ground. It is during these exercise lessons that the dog shall interact more with you as a human and hence feel more close and comfortable for it sees you as part of its life.

Stop dog tugging as you walk
When having a walk with your dog and you come across another dog you should try as much as you can not to jerk on the lead or even shouting/yelling at your dog. These acts create a very negative impression of the other dog towards your dog. Instead, try to draw away the attention of your dog from the other dog with something like a toy, another treat or even playing with it. You can train him a solid command “WATCH ME” and whenever he or she obeys give him a gift to make him learn the control quickly.
 

glen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Totally agree with boxergirl, i would never advise any of that to anyone whos got an aggressive dog and especially if theyve got no experience, big disaster waiting to happen may not be the first or second attempt but it im sure it would end bad.
 

Michele

Super Moderator
Staff member
This advise from the OP is terrible. You posted garbage on Pit Bull Chat forum too.
 

glen

Super Moderator
Staff member
We should change the thread title to
This is how not to socialise an aggressive dog
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Wow! Separation of a puppy before 8 weeks of age is terrible. My Diesel was separated before 8 weeks (like four weeks I thnk it was) and it took me so much more work and patience to socialize because he had no bite inhibition. Puppies learn bite inhibition from their mom and siblings in those formative weeks. Without that early training with mom and litter mates the new family has a lot more work on their hands. Granted I was up for it and my Diesel now has the softest mouth ever ... But, it was no easy job and it took a lot of training, a lot of time, and a lot of persistent patience.

And yes Boxergirl is also correct... you should never ever take a dog with aggressive tendencies to a dog park. I am very confused as to why the OP just copy pasted this advice here especially when it seems quite bad.
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
So much wrong with this...

Complete misunderstanding of dog psychology... mental and physical health would be put in GREAT PERIL following the OP's advice.

Sorry Lues, you might want to read up on what other's here recommend before you try "teaching" us stuff...

Suggesting you should take an 8 week old puppy to a dog park? seriously?? No. Just. No.
And I'm a fan of off-leash parks - for the right group of dogs at the right time in their lives.