Man’s Best Friend

DogThere has recently been a lot of talk about fighting or aggressive breed dogs and how they are fatal to humans and should be put down. Sounds like the same charade that’s been going on since the 60s. We as humans are supposedly intelligent but our behavior says something. A study done shows how dogs’ behavior has been misunderstood for generations. Using misplaced ideas about dog behavior and training is likely to cause, rather than cure unwanted behavior.

There are no “bad dog” breeds, just as there are no bad babies born. Contrary to popular believe “aggressive” dogs are not trying to declare their dominance over their canine or human ‘pack’.

Individual relationships between dogs and their owners are learnt through experience and motivation. Dogs, all breeds learn their place, and are motivated to stay in the pecking order of their pack from an early age.

If you desire a blood thirsty, gut busting guard dog, train and treat him as such that is exactly what you will get. That and a lot of court cases resulting in your pet being put down. Racers train to race, boxers to box it’s the same principle with the training of dogs. Many dog trainers will agree with this. Dr Rachel Casey, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Bristol University said: “The blanket assumption that every dog is motivated by some innate desire to control people and other dogs is frankly ridiculous.”

There are many kinds of aggressive behaviour among dogs, but the fact remains any dog growls and bares its teeth regardless of breed, size, age and sex. A Yorkshire can be just as fatal as a Pit bull. The good thing is that any type of aggressive behaviour can be controlled or altered.

Domestic dogs have an elaborate system of body language, facial expressions and vocalizations to communicate with each other as well as their owner and other humans. All of these signals are easy to understand, if you can interpret how a dog feels by making an obvious observation to his posture and facial expression you will be better equipped to face any problem or situation regarding your, or any dog.

Aggressive dogs have a staring/ challenging look in their eyes with the ears pulled close to their head. Following will be an open mouth exposing their teeth with possible jaw snapping. They will look puffy to seem bigger for the threat and will have a charging stand. It’s hard to miss an aggressive dog.

We as owners/humans constantly train and want our pets to guard us and our families against anything potentially dangerous. They only act and react in the certain way they were thought.

Keeping an eye out for certain characteristics could be the difference between the life and death of yourself as well as the animal.

We tend to forget all animals are wild at heart. Somewhere way back your friendly house pet could have part Wolf in him. Teach your child from an early age not to play with or touch animals that they encounter.

Acknowledging that there are more “aggressive” prone dogs than others, even the most loving of animals can react in an aggressive and guarding manner when scared, startled or simply when protecting that what they love.

At the end of the day, you are the one with the evolving mind, use it wisely.

Please feel free to comment and share with you friends.

Heinrich van den Worm

Head of Social and Media Strategist @AVATAR_ZA | Went barefoot for a year for charity | Not a guru | Compadre

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