End Canine Aggression Towards Unknown People

In dog training terms I really like to call this “Stranger Aggression”.  If your dog gets scared by strangers; jumpy and always on alert, pacing and frightened by the smallest movements or if he is very still with laser like concentrate on his target (the mailman, a visitor approaching).  Then your dog is showing warning signs that he could get assertive toward strangers.  

Reasons why

The one reason dogs show “stranger aggression” is that they haven’t been correctly socialized around strangers.  They haven’t spent sufficient time around strangers to get used to them.  Your dog looks to you for all of his worldly experiences.  It is your decision to expose him to new folk, places and things in a positive demeanor with positive experiences so that he’ll realize for himself that not all new places and faces are something that should be terrified of.  

What do you do now?  

Socialization: A method of getting your dog accustom to the world around him and all the strange people, animals and things in it.  I won’t stress enough the seriousness of socialization is to your dogs upbringing.  Socialization should start as soon as your puppy has his vaccinations and continue throw out his life.  

What about an older dog.  

It is never really too late to socialize your dog.  Though it could take a bit longer and you need to take certain precautions so that you, your dog or the stranger can avoid a bad experience or worse an injury.  

Take it slow and never force a highly anxious dog into a strange situation.  Try to keep any training in short lessons or exposures of not more than 15 minutes.  Expose your dog to new folks and places constantly.  You can expect your dog to get over his fears if you only work on his socialization once every week.  Try 2 to 3 times per week and go from there with longer sessions.

For much more info about STOP DOG BARKING AT NIGHT, go to doberman training.