Did you know that nearly 1 million people each year in the United States need medical attention for a dog bite? As you might guess, many of these incidents involve an aggressive dog. The good news is that aggressive dog training can help prevent these from occurring in the future. However, there are aggressive dog training mistakes that you need to keep in mind.

We've put together a list of some of the most notable. Let's take a look.

1. Not Starting Early Enough

Many people make the mistake of waiting too long to start training their aggressive dogs. The sooner you start, the better. This will allow your dog to get used to the idea of training and make it more likely to respond positively. To put this in perspective, it's much easier to train a dog that is a few months old compared to a dog that is two or three years old. Even a few months in age can make a significant difference when it comes to how responsive they are to training.

2. Trying to Do Too Much at Once

When you first start training your aggressive dog, it's important to take things slowly. Trying to do too much at once will only overwhelm your dog and make it less likely to respond positively to the training. Instead, you should break your training into smaller segments. For example, you might start with basic commands and reinforce these until your dog has learned them. Then, you can move on to more complex commands afterward.

3. Not Being Consistent

One of the most important things when training an aggressive dog is to be consistent. If you're not consistent, your dog will quickly become confused and the training will be less effective. This should come as a surprise, as this also occurs in humans. For example, consider the last time you tried to pick up a hobby but didn't consistently make the time for it. You likely forgot most of the information that you learned.

4. Not Using Positive Reinforcement

When training an aggressive dog, it's important to use positive reinforcement. This means rewarding your dog when it does something you want it to do. This will help teach your dog that the behavior is something that you want it to continue doing. Dogs are animals that respond very well to praise and reward systems. This is true even for dogs that are more aggressive than others.

5. Using Too Much Negative Reinforcement

Just as it's important to use positive reinforcement, it's also important to avoid using too much negative reinforcement. This means punishing your dog when it does something you don't want it to do. This can actually make the problem worse and cause your dog to become more aggressive. Be sure that you keep this in mind during your training sessions. It can sometimes be easy to become frustrated when an aggressive dog doesn't seem to be learning as it should. If you feel yourself getting irritated, take a break for a moment and then come back when you have calmed down. This will go a long way toward improving the effectiveness of your training sessions.

6. Not Providing Enough Exercise

One of the most common reasons for aggression in dogs is a lack of exercise. Dogs that don't get enough exercise are often more likely to act aggressively. Provide your dog with plenty of opportunities to burn off energy through exercises, such as taking them for frequent walks or even allowing them to run outside. Of course, you should only allow your dog to run outside if it is within an enclosed space, such as a fenced-in backyard. The last thing you want is for your dog to attack another animal or a human.

7. Not Socializing Enough

Another common reason for aggression in dogs is a lack of socialization. Dogs that don't have enough contact with other people and animals could actually exhibit worse behavior as time goes on.

So, it’s important to expose your dog to different people and animals in a variety of situations so that it can learn how to properly interact with them. As previously mentioned, starting this at a younger age will be much better in the long run.

8. Not Seeking Professional Help

If you're struggling to train your aggressive dog on your own, it's important to seek professional help. There are a number of different professionals who specialize in helping people train their aggressive dogs. These professionals can provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to successfully train your dog. When searching for a dog trainer, be sure that you consider their past reputation. This will provide insight into the type of experience they will be able to provide you. You should also ensure that you are comfortable working with them. If you do not trust them around your animal, you likely won't get the results you're looking for.

As long as you consider the above information, you are unlikely to encounter any issues.

Training an Aggressive Dog Is Easier Than It Seems

By avoiding these mistakes, you'll be well on your way to training your aggressive dog successfully. Just remember to be patient and consistent, and use positive reinforcement. With the right approach, you can train your aggressive dog and help keep yourself and others safe.

Want to learn more about what we can do? Be sure to reach out to us today and see how we can help you.

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