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How to Train an Aggressive Dog Explore this Article parts 1 Taking First Steps 2 Using Behavioral and Counter Conditioning Training 3 Identifying the Cause of Aggression Other Sections Expert Q&A Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Ty Brown

Last Updated: October 9, 2025 References

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This article was co-authored by Ty Brown. Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 15,486 times.

Aggression is one of the most common behavioral issues in dogs and it can be dangerous for people and other animals. There are many reasons why a dog may be aggressive, so it is hard to diagnose aggressive behavior. It can be hard to treat as well.[1] The best way to treat aggressive behavior is to seek the help of a certified professional dog trainer and learn how to use behavioral and counter-conditioning training. Training a dog not to be aggressive takes lots of time, patience, and hard work, but it is possible.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Taking First Steps

1. 1 Protect yourself and others. The first thing you should do when training an aggressive dog is to ensure the safety of all humans and animals that will be in contact with the aggressive dog.[2] This may mean that the aggressive dog has to wear a muzzle or head halter to keep him from attacking people or animals.
   • You will also want to make sure that you supervise the dog at all times. Never leave an aggressive dog alone with a child or another animal.
2. 2 Spay or neuter the dog. Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered tend to be more aggressive than those that have been spayed or neutered.[3] If your dog is not spayed or neutered, then make an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss if this is appropriate for your dog's type of aggression. In rare cases of aggression in male dogs due to lack of confidence, and neutering can worsen the problem.
   • If you cannot afford the procedure, contact your veterinarian or local animal shelter. Veterinarians often offer payment plans for the procedure and many shelters offer financial assistance for people who cannot afford the procedure for their pets.
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3. 3 Seek treatment for any underlying causes. Sometimes an illness or medical condition may cause aggressive behavior. If the aggression is new and your dog is displaying signs of pain or acting in an unusual way, then take him to the veterinarian for a check-up. It is possible that your dog is sick or injured and that the aggression may be due to pain and discomfort.[4]
   • Even if your dog is healthy, it is a good idea to take your dog for a check-up and make sure that there are no underlying causes to your dog’s aggression. Your veterinarian can also help you find trainers in your area.
4. 4 Enroll in obedience training classes with your dog. Aggressive dogs often need to have consistent and strict obedience training in order to change. Obedience training courses can help you to establish a routine with your dog and get some targeted help from a professional dog trainer.[5]
   • Check out the training techniques used by the trainer, and only select a trainer who uses reward-based training, as punitive training based on punishment can in some cases make the problem worse.
   • Check with your local pet store, veterinarian, or shelter to find out about obedience courses in your area.
   • Keep in mind that for some aggressive dogs, it may be necessary to have private lessons with a dog trainer.
5. 5 Change the way people interact with your dog. Making small changes in the way that you and other members of your household interact with your dog may also improve his behavior. For example, if your dog’s aggression seems to be related to anxiety, then doing what you can to keep your dog calm may help. However, avoid speaking in a reassuring manner to a dog when they are fearful, as this can inadvertently tell the dog they are right to be afraid, which reinforces the behavior.
6. 6 Modify your dog’s environment. In some cases, the dog’s environment may need to be modified to deal with aggression. If your dog is aggressive towards people and animals in your household, then you can use baby gates to keep him confined to an area of the house. Just make sure that he cannot break through or jump over the gates.
   • If your dog is destructive when you leave the house, then crate training your dog may help to deal with his aggression.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Using Behavioral and Counter Conditioning Training

1. 1 Figure out what triggers aggression in your dog. Before you can begin to train your dog to stop responding to certain people and situations with aggression, you will need to identify the sources of your dog’s aggression. Make a list of all of the things that trigger your dog’s aggression.[6]
   • For example, maybe your dog’s aggression is triggered when someone knocks at the door, when strangers walk by the yard, or when he hears the sound of the vacuum. Write down everything that causes your dog to become aggressive.
2. 2 Find a lower intensity version of one of these triggers. After you have your list, identify something that you want to work on and think about how you could lower the intensity of this trigger. What would make this trigger less likely to upset your dog?[7]
   • For example, if your dog is triggered by strangers walking past the yard, then you could have a friend (who is a stranger to your dog) walk past the yard on the opposite side of the street.
3. 3 Identify a reward that will motivate your dog.[8] In order for reconditioning to work, you will need to give your dog a reward when he responds the way that you want him to respond. Choose something that will motivate your dog, such as a favorite treat or toy.[9]
   • Make sure that you have the reward nearby, but not in your hand. Otherwise, the dog may not notice the trigger at all and will just be focused on the treat.
4. 4 Expose your dog to the low intensity trigger. When you are ready to begin, expose your dog to the low-intensity trigger and observe his response. The ideal outcome is for your dog to have a neutral response to the trigger. For example, if our dog’s trigger is a stranger walking past the yard and you have a friend walk by the yard on the other side of the street, then a neutral response would be if your dog just watched the person walk by without barking or growling.[10]
   • Remember to put the safety of yourself and others first. If your dog is aggressive, then he should wear a muzzle and you should keep him on a leash at all times.
5. 5 Reward your dog or readjust the trigger. If your dog responds to the trigger without aggression, then give him his reward and offer him some praise right away. If your dog responds with aggression, then you will need to distract him and readjust the trigger.[11]
   • To readjust the trigger, think about how you can make the trigger even less intense. For example, if a stranger walking past the yard on the other side of the street cause your dog to respond with aggression, then have your friend walk by a cross street instead. Make sure that your dog will still be able to see your friend, but from a greater distance.
   • After you have readjusted the trigger, try to expose your dog again and see what happens. Again, reward him if he responds without aggression and distract him if he responds with aggression.
   • If your dog responds with aggression regardless of the intensity of the trigger, then you might want to try exposing your dog to a different trigger.
6. 6 Increase intensity as your dog becomes more comfortable. As you continue to expose your dog to his trigger and reward him for not responding with aggression, you can increase the intensity of the trigger. Just make sure that you make small adjustments and that you go slow. Moving too quickly may result in an aggressive response, which may undo some of your dog’s progress.[12]
7. 7 Repeat this training for each of your dog’s triggers. Training your dog not to respond with aggression will be a long, slow process because you will need to use this method for each of your dog’s triggers. Try to be patient as you train your dog. Some basic training strategies to keep in mind include:
   • Keep sessions short. Dogs don’t have long attention spans, so it is a good idea to keep sessions between five to 10 minutes long.
   • Be consistent. You will need to make training a part of your dog’s daily routine in order to see any significant changes. Set aside a couple of times per day to work on training your dog.
   • End on a positive note. If your dog starts to lose interest or keeps responding with aggression, distract him and give him a command that he has mastered, such as “sit.” Then, offer him a reward and some praise and end the session.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Identifying the Cause of Aggression

1. 1 Learn what causes dogs to be aggressive. An aggressive dog will often bare her teeth, growl, snarl, snap, bite, lunge, and/or chase the person or animal to whom she is showing aggression.[13] Some of the reasons why dogs may display aggression include:
   • Age
   • Poor socialization to humans and other dogs
   • Sex of the dog
   • Genetics
   • Hormones
   • Reproductive status (neutered vs. intact males, spayed vs. unspayed females)
   • Medical conditions
   • Previous life experiences
2. 2 Determine if your dog is displaying dominance. Some dogs may display aggression because they are trying to establish dominance.[14] This type of aggression is often displayed towards household members that your dog sees as competition, such as other dogs in your household.
3. 3 Consider whether your dog may be possessive and/or territorial. Possessive and territorial dogs are aggressive when they are guarding something they feel is theirs. This might include food, toys, homes, and yards. Most dogs have this behavior, but some dogs take it to the extreme and may even become dangerous.[15]
4. 4 See if the behavior is protective. Sometimes aggression is directed towards people or animals that a dog sees as threats to its family or pack. This behavior is also normal, but some dogs may become too aggressive towards people or animals that they think are threatening their loved ones.
5. 5 Rule out pain and/or illness. Some dogs may behave aggressively due to pain or illness. For example, a dog that is in pain from arthritis, broken bones, a painful back or neck, or any other painful injury or illness may become aggressive to protect itself from further pain.[16]
   • Aggression due to pain may also be the result of improper use of training aids such as a prong or shock collars.
6. 6 Identify potential sources of fear. Sometimes fear causes dogs to become aggressive.[17] Fear related aggression is when dogs are fearful of people (often strangers) or animals. Many fearful dogs will run away from what is scaring them, but some may bite or attack whatever it is scaring them.
7. 7 Consider whether maternal instincts may be to blame. Maternal instincts can also cause aggression in some female dogs.[18] Female dogs that have had puppies may have aggression related to the release of a hormone called prolactin, which is released by the body to stimulate milk production.
   • With this form of aggression, the mother dog may be aggressive if her puppies are touched or even if her food or nest is approached.
8. 8 Think about any sources of interference that may cause the dog to redirect aggression. Sometimes dogs may turn on their handlers when they are being stopped, restrained, or interrupted from going after the true source of their aggression. Instead of the aggression being taken out on the target, it is redirected towards the person who is restraining the dog.[19]
   • For example, if a dog is restrained by his owner while attempting to attack another dog, then the dog may bite her owner.
9. 9 Determine if your dog’s aggression may be due to rough play.[20] Some dogs may display aggressive behavior when they are playing and may become so excited that they cannot settle down. Play between two dogs may even escalate into a fight and both dogs involved can become hurt if it is not stopped.
   • Watch for signs of play, such as a play bow. A play bow is when a dog lowers the front of his body slightly (as if bowing) while keeping the back of his body up. This is a sign that dogs use to communicate that they are just playing.
   • If either dog starts to growl or give other signs that the play is not welcome, then the game may escalate into fighting. Distract the dogs and separate them for a while if the play becomes too rough.
10. 10 Keep in mind that it may not always be possible to identify a cause. The term “idiopathic aggression” is used to describe aggression that has no known cause. If you cannot figure out why your dog is behaving with aggression, keep in mind that there are still things that you can do to change your dog’s behavior. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

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• Question Can an aggressive dog that bites be cured? Ty Brown Dog Trainer Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Ty Brown Dog Trainer Expert Answer If we're going to train a dog not to bite, we first need to look at the dog's motives for biting. Generally, we're going to find that there are three motives, including play, herding, and trying to create space. Ultimately, we have to help the dog realize that it's unacceptable behavior to bite, and there are a few ways to address the behavior once you understand their motives. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
• Question How do you stop a dog from biting? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Try to figure out in what situations the dog bites. As a remedial measure, avoid putting the dog in these situations (for example, don't give a bone if the dog would bite to protect it). Seek the guidance of a certified pet behaviorist, because the wrong advice can make matters much worse and be dangerous. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
• Question Which is the most aggressive dog? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Any dog breed has the potential for aggression if they aren't socialized properly as a puppy. Some breeds are more protective than others, which can enhance natural guarding aggression. Typically, we think of Rottweilers and Dobermans as aggressive, but don't forget the little dogs such as Chihuahua or Jack Russells. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1

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Tips

• Prior to bringing a puppy or an adult dog home, spend plenty of time with her (hours) and see how she interacts with humans, dogs, and other animals. If you have any doubts as to her temperament, consult an animal behavioral specialist for advice. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Always start with a veterinary medical examination when a puppy or dog acts aggressively, to rule out any possible medical causes of aggression. Once these are treated the aggression may stop. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Different treatments or combination of treatments will need to be tried to find the best treatment for the dog’s aggression. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Warnings

• Never leave children, the elderly, or disabled alone with an aggressive dog without a responsible adult capable of restraining the dog. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Professional treatment needs to be sought when diagnosing and treating an aggressive dog. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Safety has to be the priority when dealing with an aggressive dog. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

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References

1. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression
2. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression
3. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet
4. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression
5. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression
6. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/counter-conditioning-and-desensitization
7. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/counter-conditioning-and-desensitization
8. ↑ Ty Brown. Dog Trainer. Expert Interview
9. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/counter-conditioning-and-desensitization

More References (11)

10. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/counter-conditioning-and-desensitization
11. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/counter-conditioning-and-desensitization
12. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/training/counter-conditioning-and-desensitization
13. ↑ Ty Brown. Dog Trainer. Expert Interview
14. ↑ Morgan, R, (2010), Small Animal Practice Client Handouts, ISBN 9781437708509
15. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/behavioral/c_dg_aggression_territorial
16. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/aggression-dogs
17. ↑ https://www.msu.edu/~silvar/fear.htm
18. ↑ Bowen, J, (2001) Behaviour Problems in Small Animals: Practical Advice for the Veterinary Team, ISBN 978-0702027673
19. ↑ https://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/behavior/normal_social_behavior_and_behavioral_problems_of_domestic_animals/behavioral_problems_of_dogs.html#v3297283
20. ↑ Ty Brown. Dog Trainer. Expert Interview

About this article

Co-authored by: Ty Brown Dog Trainer This article was co-authored by Ty Brown. Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. This article has been viewed 15,486 times. 23 votes - 83% Co-authors: 6 Updated: October 9, 2025 Views: 15,486 Article SummaryX

To train an aggressive dog, start by making a list of things that trigger your dog’s aggression, such as a neighbor walking by. Next, work with your dog to neutralize its behavior. In this case, try having a friend walk by your house, but on the opposite side of the street. Then, offer your dog a treat or a favorite toy if it remains calm in response to the trigger. Once your dog becomes accustomed to this scenario, have your friend walk closer to your house. Aim to work with your dog daily for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, taking each step slowly so your dog doesn't regress. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to change the way people interact with your dog to lessen its aggression, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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  Elena Williams

  Jun 26, 2016

  "Several things were helpful. How to use treats, and watching his behavior. "

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Ty Brown Dog Trainer Co-authors: 6 Updated: October 9, 2025 Views: 15,486 83% of readers found this article helpful. 23 votes - 83% Click a star to add your vote 83% of people told us that this article helped them.

Elena Williams

Jun 26, 2016

"Several things were helpful. How to use treats, and watching his behavior. "

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