About Territorial Dog Behavior
Dogs can become territorial for a variety of reasons, but there are ways to prevent your dog from misbehaving. It's best to socialize and train your dog when it's a puppy, but you can also stop the aggression when your dog is an adult. Patience, time and safety precautions are three important things to keep in mind when dealing with a territorial dog.
Types
Dogs can become territorial if they were abused and inhumanely treated as a puppies or adults. It's also possible for dogs to learn this behavior from their owners. Smaller dogs often suffer from small dog syndrome, which is when they think they are the pack leader. Puppies can also become territorial if they were not properly socialized at a young age. The presence of foreign dogs, people or other animals can create enough stress to make the dog resort to aggression.
Identification
A territorial dog can become possessive of toys, places, people and animals depending on the situation. Often you will notice physical signs first. The dog will most likely growl, bark, show its teeth, hunch down and tilt its ears forward. Their entire posture will change from relaxed to tense. If the dog is provoked, it will probably resort to biting and maybe even spraying a surface with urine if it's a male that has not been neutered.
Misconceptions
Hitting and yelling at a territorial dog will not improve the situation. If you instill fear in the dog, you will make the dog more aggressive. Another misconception is that all territorial or aggressive dogs are bad. Usually there is a reason why the dog has become this way, but dogs are naturally peaceful creatures unless they are trained to be mean.
Prevention/Solution
In order for a dog to stop being territorial, you need to step up and prove that you're the pack leader. Temporarily put a harness as well as a muzzle on the dog until you notice changes. Muzzles are now more comfortably designed. Make sure to walk ahead of the dog. If the dog is territorial around other people or dogs, put the dog behind a gate until it settles down and take the dog out for short amounts of time with its harness, lease and muzzle on to get to know the new guests. If you get the dog when it's a puppy, make sure to socialize the dog with as many people and other animals as you can, because this can prevent territorial behavior in the future. If you're dog is spraying certain areas of your home, purchase a repellent to keep the dog away from these spots.
Considerations
If you seek a veterinarian's advice and are told that medication is the best way to stop your dog's territorial behavior, think through this thoroughly and try an alternative first. Mood enhancing drugs can affect your dog's liver in the future and potentially cause other health issues. Try using flower essences to help calm your dog because these are non-toxic and safe.
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