Are You Conditioning Your Puppy to be an Aggressive Adult?
The way puppies are treated in their young years has a massive impact on the adults they become. Something small and annoying can grow into something large and difficult. For the happiness of all, is important to carefully monitor how you’re treating your young dog. The following are some behaviors that could cement aggressive behavior in a dog.
1. Lack of research into the right type of dog for you
We all have dog breeds that we love, and it is easy to rush into owning that dog you’ve always wanted. However, in order to avoid disliking your once-favorite breed, it is very important to take the time to do research into your beloved breed’s heritage and characteristics. Though each dog is a unique individual, these macro-aspects will play a large role in your furry friend’s behavior and the nature of your friendship later. Some dogs need more attention and guidance than others, and if your schedule has you out of the house all the time, you will likely end up with chewed furniture and worse. On the other hand, some dogs are more independent and could rather boring compared to your expectations. Research will save you years of headache!
2. Playing roughly with incorrect context
When it comes to playing roughly with your puppy, the issue is not how roughly you play; it’s your relationship with it. Does your puppy obey you? Does it understand that you are playing? If your puppy is not clear, playing roughly with it can make it feel allowed to act with less inhibition toward you in non-playing situations. Additionally, rough play can be confusing for humans, too. Making rough treatment a norm between you and your pup can lead to improper physical disciplinary methods on your part, which introduces aggression in some dogs. To avoid this, always be working to make sure your puppy (and you) understand the difference between play time and everything else.
3. Lack of proper socialization
Keeping your puppy isolated from humans and other dogs is a crucial mistake. It may not even be yours – your puppy may have been born to an owner who kept it in a crate or some other isolated situation. That is why it is so important to visit the source of your puppy and make sure it is happy and well cared-for. After that, it is up to you to introduce your curious, energetic friend to things it will encounter in the wide world, including children and other dogs. If this does not happen for your young dog, it will not know how to handle new situations, and will likely become aggressive as a coping mechanism. We at Sit Means Sit-Madison understand that dogs are not perfect, and a canine heart of gold can come with damage from earlier experiences. That is why we are here. If your canine buddy is exhibiting behaviors that make life difficult for you both, our dog trainers are ready to be the answer. Take your furred friendship to the next level with Sit Means Sit!
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