Looking For A New Puppy? 4 Ways You Can Avoid Having An Aggressive Dog

Dog aggression is a huge problem. More than 4 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States. And there's no one type of dog that's always at fault. While it's true that some breeds have more aggressive tendencies than others, all types of dogs can have aggression issues. You can select any breed of dog and end up with an aggression problem if you don't take steps to avoid and/or correct the behavior early on. If you're getting a new puppy, you should watch out for signs of aggression and take steps to prevent your dog from becoming aggressive. Here's how:

Select Wisely

Pay very close attention to the personality and demeanor of any puppy you're thinking about adopting. You can learn a lot by watching your puppy interact with their litter-mates. Look for a puppy that's calm and laid back. Avoid individuals that are growling and playing overly rough with the other puppies. Avoid purchasing a puppy sight unseen as it will be very difficult to gauge their personality. 

Neuter Early

Neutering lowers aggressive tendencies in male dogs. This is because a lot of aggression is hormone driven. Dogs often fight one another when protecting their territory or trying to compete for mates; both of these instincts are testosterone driven. So when should you neuter your dog? You can neuter your puppy any time after they're 8 weeks old. Keep in mind that you want to neuter your puppy sooner rather than later so they won't learn aggressive behaviors in the first place. 

Teach Commands

From day one you should start teaching your dog commands, such as sit, stay, and come. If your dog knows these simple commands, you will be better able to control them. Plus, an obedient, well-trained dog will be more likely to pay attention to you in tense situations than a dog that's had no formal training. 

Socialize Well

From an early age you should socialize your dog well. Be sure to take them to dog parks regularly so they get used to meeting other dogs and people. Let children play with your puppy so your dog will get used to the way children interact with them. 

As you can see, there are several things you should do to make sure your puppy doesn't become aggressive. Select a calm puppy to begin with and make sure you have them neutered early on. Also, socialize and train your dog well. Your dog and your community will thank you for it. For more information, contact local professionals like Akaal Pet Hospital.