How do you deal with a territorial dog? Here’s the Answer

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What to Do About Territorial and Aggressive Behaviors

Once you acknowledge that your pal may be aggressive, you can work together to manage these behaviors and improve your relationship. Before you begin developing these skills by working with your dog, its important to understand that dog training is a long process and it can be frustrating at times. It is best to take a slow and steady approach and to manage your expectations. That said, here are few tips for toning down the aggressive territorial behavior:

Start with basic obedience. Teaching your pal some basic obedience skills can be useful during tense situations and they serve as a building block for future training.

Develop strong recall skills. Simply put, this is training your dog to come when they are called. It is one of the most important skills they can develop. You should train them to come when called in all environments, but start working on this behavior indoors. As your pal progresses with their recall skills, you can take the training into the yard using a long leash.

Teach them that “Nothing in Life Is Free.” After youve put in the time and feel comfortable that your dog has a solid grasp on the basic behaviors, you can move on to something called “Nothing in Life Is Free” training. This means teaching your pooch that all resources come from you. Its reward-based training that requires your dog to work for the resources (food, treats, etc.) they desire. This helps teach territorial dogs, who tend to feel entitled to treats and food, that they must earn their resources.

Help them learn to be quiet. Many territorial dogs back up and make noise when they perceive a threat to their territory. Teaching your dog to be quiet requires the use of a command word that tells them that they need to be calm. Start the training indoors and then introduce additional distractions as they progress.

Reduce their overall anxiety. As much as training can help – and it can help a lot – theres a good chance that, if your dog is territorial, theyre probably experiencing a high level of anxiety. There are several items you can purchase to help address your pals anxiety: These items include: puzzle toys, calming collars, compression shirts, and long-lasting chew toys. Medicine is also available for dogs with anxiety, but you will need to discuss this with your veterinarian to determine whether or not this approach is right for your dog.

Another territorial behavior that dogs practice is urine and fecal marking (though fecal marking is considerably less common). This is the classic example of a dog marking their territory and should not be confused with potty training issues. There are several reasons a dog may mark their territory. Your pooch may be inclined to do some urine marking if:

They identify the scent of another dog on a certain object

Theres a new item brought into the home

They are clashing with other pets within the home

They are reestablishing their territory

They have not been spayed or neutered and are in heat

There are, of course, other reasons a dog might urine mark, but these are among the more common culprits behind urine marking. It is also important to make sure that an underlying medical condition isnt causing the urination. If you suspect that there may be a medical problem, its important to have a veterinarian evaluate your pooch for any health-related issues.

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While its certainly not fun to think about, there are a few ways you can address the behavior of urine marking. Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered, if you havent already. This may stop the behavior entirely. Here a few other tips for addressing territorial marking:

Clean up immediately after your dog urine marks

Keep your pal away from areas they previously urine marked

Use positive reinforcement when introducing new items, people, or pets into the home

Watch for the signs your dog displays prior to urine marking and dissuade the behavior

Its important not to punish your dog for urine marking. They wont understand what theyre doing wrong or why theyre being punished. Working with them to change the behavior is a more effective approach to discouraging urine marking.

Owning a territorial dog, especially one that exhibits aggressive behaviors, can be stressful for any pet parent. It is also stressful for your dog. Thats why its important to work with your pal on developing healthy behaviors and alternatives to aggressive territorial behavior. Please remember that training your dog is a long-term process that requires a lot of work, but the end result can be well worth your time.

The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.

Why are territorial behaviors ongoing and perhaps even increasing?

For many dogs, territorial displays are a normal part of their behavioral repertoire. While any dog may show territorial responses, certain breeds of dogs have been bred for guarding and watchful behaviors. Without appropriate supervision, owner interaction and training of appropriate responses, these dogs may engage in territorial displays that vary in intensity from mild barking to intense displays that might include growling, snarling, lunging, piloerection and even biting a person or animal entering the territory. Opportunity and environmental access to the stimulus will influence whether the behavior will take place. Without proper owner supervision and training, these behaviors may become excessive. Dogs that are tied may show extreme territorial behaviors and aggressive responses. Dogs that are left outside all day without owner supervision are also at risk for developing escalating territorial responses. Many dogs that show territorial responses are often fearful and anxious and just want the intruder to leave.

The longer the person stays within the territory, the more aggressively aroused the dog may become. The goal of the territorial display is to get the “intruder” to leave. If the pet is frustrated from chasing the stimulus away because it is tied, penned, or behind a closed door or window, then the longer the stimulus remains in place within sight or hearing of the pet, the greater the anxiety. Although dogs with mild fears might habituate with continued exposure, dogs that are constantly exposed (flooded) by an anxiety-evoking stimulus will have their fear heightened until the stimulus leaves. The removal (retreat) of the individual then further reinforces the strength of the response.

HOW TO TRAIN A TERRITORIAL DOG