When going for a walk with your dog, one of the most common problems is that your dog attacks others. It is very common to see owners pulling strongly on their dog’s leash, constantly scolding them and, on some occasions, they stop walking them because of the effort involved. If this is your problem, here are some guidelines so that this does not happen to you again.
Why is my dog drinking violently?
The reason that dogs behave in this way is usually due to their owners and veterinarians.
There is a stage, called the Socialization Stage, which occurs between 2 and 4 months of age of the dog that coincides with the dates of vaccinations. Regarding this, veterinarians usually recommend that the dog not be taken for a walk until he has all the vaccinations, and this warning influences the dog not properly developing the Socialization Stage.
During the time that this stage lasts, the dog must relate to its entire environment, which includes the internal domain of the house with its respective smells, noises and people that make it up; but, in addition, they must go out and feel the outside world, relate to other people, dogs, noises, smells… so that, in this way, he can integrate all the components of the world in a balanced way. On the other hand, if during those two months the puppy is confined inside the house, they will not have integrated optimally in the Socialization Stage and will develop aggressive or fearful behaviors to a greater extent.
Can my dog go outside even if he doesn’t have all the vaccinations?
The answer to this question is yes, but under close surveillance. You can let it run freely as long as you supervise that it does not eat or lick anything off the ground, that it does not associate with wild or abandoned dogs and, instead, that it associates with healthy dogs and that they are vaccinated.
What happens if my dog did not pass the Socialization Stage correctly?
If your dog passed this stage without going outside because he did not have all his vaccinations and has developed unwanted behaviors such as violence, aggressiveness or fear of other dogs and people, you can follow these guidelines:
Instructions to prevent my dog from attacking others
- The first thing to do is that your dog has correctly integrated that you are his owner and that he has to listen to you. If this is not the case, you should start training it little by little, day by day. For example, for the “sit” command, you must say the word and reward him with food only when he sits. It’s very important that you don’t give him the treat if he hasn’t sat down, as this way he will never understand what he has to do. You should only do this procedure for 5 minutes a day.
- In the beginning, when you go for a walk with your dog, you always have to keep it on a leash and, if it is extremely dangerous, you should put a muzzle on it. When you notice your dog focusing his attention on another dog and starting to get nervous and trying to attack you, give him a firm command. A “shah” or the word “no” will suffice, as long as you do it with determination. Then command him to sit like you do at home. Insist until he does and reward him when he sits
- Try to expose your dog to other dogs you know or are used to. It is recommended that he carry out pleasant activities with the other dogs so that he associates them in a positive way and thus, little by little, loses undesirable behaviors towards them.
- It is very important that your dog feels at all times that you are his owner.
What should I do if my dog has had a fight with another dog?
If your dog has had a fight with another dog, you should carry out first aid:
- The first thing you have to do is move your dog away from the conflict situation and examine his skin for wounds. If he has wounds, you should wash them with water, soap and hydrogen peroxide. If the wound is very bad you should take him to a veterinarian.
- Don’t forget to look at your eyes and wash them with warm water. Go immediately to the vet.
Finally, here are some tips that may be useful to you:
Tips to prevent my dog from attacking others
- During the walks do not forget that it is you who leads your dog, not your dog who pulls you.
- Never forget to reward good behavior with food and scold bad behavior with a “shah” or “quiet” attention signal.
- It is more important that you focus more on good behaviors than on bad ones and that, when you scold him, you teach him what behaviors you expect from him.
- Change the places you usually go to if they have a particular dog with which they don’t get along, especially at the beginning of training. When your dog has adopted satisfactory behaviors and does not start fights or become aggressive in the presence of other dogs, you can go back to the old places where you used to go.
