How Your Own Actions Can Develop Aggressive Behavior in Your Dog

Dogs are pack animals by nature, and the role of leadership or being "top dog" is very important in the pack. Your dog thinks of your family as a pack with levels family members making up the order even though you are not a dog. By nature, dogs want to establish the role of the pack leader, but you will loose control of the dog's actions and behaviors even if you unintentionally allow your dog to be the alpha leader.

Many times, people unintentionally allow their dogs to become the leader of the pack, allowing the dog to display behaviors that can lead to major problems in and outside of your home, which eventually could lead to disaster for your dog. Everyday, your actions towards your dog and your dog's behavior may be creating a canine leader in your home. Alpha dogs can become very aggressive towards you, your family members, and even other animals.

Many dogs end up in humane societies or euthanized due to aggressive behavior towards people or other animals, if only their owners could have seen the early warning signs of their dog becoming the alpha pack leader due to their own behaviors and actions while interacting with their dog. Many people mistake affection and love towards their dogs as a positive action, but in reality too much of a good thing can actually make your dog think they are the leader of your family pack.

In the wild, wolves fuss and groom the alpha leader of the pack. Physical affection, such as licking is done to clean one particular pack member is normally a visible sign of who the leader is. We as humans love to shower our dog with physical affection through petting, cuddling, and even allowing them to sleep with us or sit on the sofa with us. Without realizing it, you are inviting your dog to join you at your higher level in the pack. Allowing them to sleep in your bed or sit on the sofa many times can lead to acceptance of a higher level in the pack. Alpha wolves have their own respected territory while sleeping, and dogs share this same territorial trait while spending time together with their packs.

Granted, there is definitely nothing wrong with showing your dog affection, but showing it at appropriate times is important in promoting positive behaviors, such as when the dog is calm and should be rewarded for this behavior.

Believe it or not, being the leader of a pack can be very stressful for a dog, and relieving them of this duty will not hurt their feelings, but in fact give them a less stressful and content life. Think about it, always having to show other humans and dogs that you are the leader by barking at them, growling, worrying if another dogs is going to steal your level of leadership, or even taking your food while your are eating form your own bowl would be very stressful day in and day out.

Once, you have established the leadership role for you and your family members, and have shown your dog what you expect from him or her by laying down rules and sticking to them, your dog can rely on the routine and expectations you have created for them.

Habits to Avoid

• Do not allow your dog to sleep you in your bed by inviting him or her to your level in the pack.

• Inviting your dog to your level of the pack by allowing them on the furniture is not a good reinforcement.

• Do not share your meals with your dog at the table. Again, you are inviting the dog onto your level of the pack.
Habits to Reinforce

• Obedience training is a must for every dog. One command you can work on now is focusing on having your dog "sit" as often as possible, which will reinforce your leadership role. When your dog learns to sit on command, you will be sending a consistent reminder to your dog of your pack role as the leader.

• All members of the family including babies need to be viewed by the dog as higher in the order of the pack than your dog. Setting simple boundaries for your dog like being allowed on the same territory as your newborn for instance is a good way to establish leadership. It is perfectly acceptable to train your dog to sit and stay outside of your newborn's nursery while you are spending time with the baby.

• Train your dog to sit and stay before you and your family enter or leave the front and back door of your home.

Combining consistent obedience training, setting boundaries, and frequent exercise for your dog, will help your dog be more content with himself and his role in your family pack. Then, rewarding him with affection for good behavior with further enforces positive behaviors in your dog, giving your entire family a more enjoyable experience when spending time inside and outside of the house together.