A common type of aggression in dogs is aggression caused by fear. Most people are familiar with the term “fear biter.” Many dogs, particularly small dogs, that bite are aggressive and snap out of fear. These dogs are a result of poor breeding. They have poor nerves and are extremely nervous which regretfully results in aggression toward people much of the time. Also, small dogs can be easily intimidated by larger dogs or by people. They seem to develop a mentality that they must “attack before they get attacked.” They tend to wait until the other dog, adult, or child’s back is turned, then they will pounce. They see attacking in this manner as less of a threat to them, and as a way of protecting themselves from supposed harm. In their mind, when they bite, they are simply trying to survive, and they do not understand that most of the time there really is no threat.
Poor breeding primarily manifests itself through lack of socialization as a puppy. If you have a puppy that is showing the early signs of excessive nervousness, you will want to start immediately in the heavy socialization of your puppy. There are several ways to go about this. When you have friends over to your house, you will want to make sure your puppy is around so they can become accustomed to strangers. If you pup looks particularly nervous, set them in your lap or kneel down next to them and comfort them by talking softly and stroking them rhythmically from their head to their tail. You may even want to ask your friends to give the puppy some doggie treats to show that they are friendly and mean no harm. This may take a while, but it could mean the difference between keeping your dog and having to give it away, or maybe even putting it down.
If you have an older dog that shows signs of fear aggression, the best thing to do is attempt to socialize your dog further. A good way to go about this is to invite your friends over and put your dog in the crate. Allow them to feed the dog canine treats through the bars of the cage. If they are wary of getting too close to the dog, use meat treats and stick them onto the end of a long toothpick. This will slowly show your dog that they do not need to be afraid of strangers, and they don’t need to growl or bite. Also, when you walk your dog, ask a friend if they can meet you up and join you on the walk. They can come ready with treats to assure your dog they mean no harm. This way, your dog will also get used to meeting people and other dogs while out walking, and they will learn this is not a threat either.
Socializing your nervous dog may take time, but it is well worth your time and effort. It would be much better for all involved to work at helping this dog be comfortable, so that you and him can live happier, healthier lives.
Article provided by Pet Super Store a site featuring: dog gates, pet urns and dog car seats.
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