Aggression in dogs transcends bites, it also involves frequent snaps, nipping, snarling, barking, lunging, and growling especially at strangers.
If you have a dog that regularly exhibits any or all these behaviors, your dog has an aggression problem.
These problems are not peculiar to any breed of dog or the dangerous breeds of dog, any breed of dog including the smallest breeds of dog can be aggressive, especially towards strangers.
But do not over-worry, Your dog’s aggressive nature around strangers can be resolved if you follow the ways outlined below on “How To Stop My Dog from Being Aggressive towards Strangers.”
Causes Of Aggressions in Dogs:
How do you solve a problem you do not know the cause is a popular saying.
There are diverse reasons why a dog might suddenly show aggressive behaviors, especially at strangers.
Understanding the root causes is key to solving the problem.
Here are some reasons why a dog will likely show aggression towards strangers.
1. Fear:
Fear is the most common and compound reason for aggression in most dogs including and most especially puppies.
When a dog feels startled, threatened, or scared, their first instinct is to be aggressive and it is easier and faster for them to feel threatened around familiar faces or objects.
They will likely exhibit aggressive behaviors such as growling, barking, and in some cases biting to either scare away the situation or persons or confront them.
This can be a result of past experiences or new and unfamiliar faces, objects, and situations.
If your dog is easily fearful, they will likely require the help of a dog psychologist or a professional dog trainer.
Any rush attempt to correct this behavior by yelling, shouting, or hitting you down will only lead to more negative effects.
Dogs are lovely creatures that do not have the inherent abilities as humans to tell right or wrong easily.
Any attempt to correct them should be done with love, patience, and understanding.
2. Protectiveness:
Dogs are the most protective pet animals to mankind.
They are protective of not just their family but their human family, their home, possession, and territory.
Most dogs see every unfamiliar face and object as a threat since they do not have the inherent abilities to be discerning.
Some dogs will likely lash out at strangers thinking they are intruding in their territory or perceive them as a threat to their loved ones and possessions.
3. Socialization:
A dog that has not been properly socialized, especially during their puppy and young age, will likely show aggression when suddenly exposed to other animals. humans and places.
This aggression might be induced by fear or great discomfort.
4. Health Issues:
Health issues are one of the major causes of sudden aggressions in most dogs.
A dog that is experiencing pain, discomfort, injuries, or arthritis will most likely not be friendly, especially to strangers.
When touched at their painting point, they will likely go for a pound of flesh to express their discomfort and displeasure.
Also, other chronic diseases such as dental problems, brain disorders ( seizures tumors, encephalitis), infections, gastrointestinal issues, dementia, hormonal imbalances such as thyroid problems and sexual changes in hormones, rabies, obesity, and altered sensory perception can elicit aggressions in varying forms in dogs.
5. Resource Guarding:
Most dogs especially the ones that have had to live in scarcity, view their resources such as food, water, toys, space, and companionship from other dogs and humans as scarce.
Their instinct whenever they feel these resources are being threatened, is to be aggressive.
Resource guarding in dogs is also a result of their instinctive behavior in the wild that has not been fully domesticated.
In the wild, they have to fight for survival and compete for limited resources which has led to resources.
Also, other domesticated dogs that have had to compete with other dogs or pet animals for resources, experienced trauma or negative experiences, or have lacked socialization, will likely be involved in resource guarding by showing aggression.
6. Lack Of training:
Lack of proper home training in dogs has led to inconsistencies in behaviors, lack of social skills, etc which has led to disobedience, confusion, frustration, anxiety, and aggression.
When a dog is not trained to perceive and understand threats, unnecessary aggression especially to strangers should be expected.
How To Stop my Dog from being Aggressive towards Strangers:
Having identified the causes of aggression in your dog, it will be much easier to be able to eradicate or reduce the behavior.
You can consult with a professional or follow these steps to reduce their aggression and improve their general well-being.
Consult With a Vet:
First and foremost, you have to rule out if it’s a health problem, and only a vet can do that.
You should visit a vet to discuss your behavioral issues and see if it’s related to an underlying health problem that can be diagnosed using blood and urine tests, radiography, and physical examinations.
Train Your Dog:
It is your responsibility to either train your dog yourself or seek the help of professional trainers.
Training should include socialization, and basic commands such as “STOP’, “DON’T”, etc.
Socialization helps to expose your dog to different people, other dogs, and situations which helps to interact with strangers positively thereby reducing aggression.
While teaching basic commands to solidify your authority which is needed to control, manage, and redirect any form of aggression.
Avoid Punishment and Enforce Positivity:
It is common to be tempted to shout or yell at your dog when they display aggressive behaviors towards strangers especially when there are no visible threats.
But do not let your temptations get the best of you. Rather, reinforce basic commands in such situations, and when they get things right, reward them for good behaviors.
The use of their favorite meals as a treat, toys, praise, and anything your dog loves should be used to encourage their good behaviors.
By addressing the cause of aggressive behaviors towards strangers, you will be able to eradicate or reduce their aggressiveness by following the steps and strategies above.