Did you know that more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States every year? If you are a new dog owner and your fur baby is having trouble adapting to your home because you have an aggressive dog on your hands, you are in the right place. We have put together this short guide about how to train an aggressive dog to be a better companion and better pet.

Keep reading for our top dog training tips.

1. Identify Why They Are Aggressive

Pinpointing why your dog is aggressive is one of the best ways to help them. There are quite a few reasons why dogs might show aggression such as being protective, fearful, defensive, territorial, unsocialized, or they are experiencing pain.

If you adopted your dog from a shelter they might have been abused before and they might have certain triggers that set him or her off. In order to train them, you will need to create a safe environment for them so that they can feel the love and start trusting that you won’t hurt them also.

A dog that is aggressive because they are being territorial you will have to train them that protection is not necessary. You will also have to train them to respect boundaries when others come around.

2. One-On-One

After you identify what is causing your pet’s aggression it is time to find a professional dog trainer to help you. You can contact your veterinarian to see if they have any local recommendations. A professional with experience will understand specific things about certain breeds, such as a Presa Canario temperament, and will know how to work with him or her.

Keep in mind that if you ever find that your pet is being aggressive because of a medical condition then they more than likely will not need a professional trainer, they are better off with a visit to the vet to help you identify what is their underlying health condition causing their bad mood.

Do Not Ignore Aggression

Some dog owners think that aggression will just go away if they ignore it, but this can’t be further from the truth. If you ignore it, this can lead to someone else getting hurt, another animal, or possibly your own dog getting hurt.

You also do not want to punish your dog because they do not understand punishment and they might get more aggressive when you do this. It is best to train aggressive behavior away by rewarding their good behavior.

Now You Know How to Train an Aggressive Dog

We hope that with our tips above you are feeling more confident about how to train an aggressive dog. Thankfully aggressive dog breeds can still be a great pet and a companion for life with the right training.

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