Anxiety/Aggressive Dog Training
Package designed for training dogs with behavioral problems, namely aggression and extreme anxiety.
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Anxiety and aggression are behaviors that can be learned or genetic.
Correcting anxiety and aggression in dogs requires specialized training that is compassionate, effective, and tailored to your dog’s unique needs. At The Art of Dog Training, we work closely with you to address your dog’s anxiety, fear, or aggression, helping them become calmer and more confident in a variety of environments.
Ask your TAODT trainer for more details or schedule a FREE in-home evaluation.
Understanding Anxiety and Aggression in Dogs
Anxiety and aggression in dogs can stem from a variety of causes—ranging from genetics and lack of early socialization to learned behaviors. When a dog feels threatened, they often respond with either flight or fight, and sometimes this results in aggressive behavior.
Common Causes of Anxiety and Aggression:
- Fear-based aggression: Dogs that are fearful of unfamiliar people, dogs, or situations may respond aggressively to protect themselves. Fear-based aggression is one of the most common forms of aggression we see in dogs. Often, dogs lash out because they feel threatened or unsure of their surroundings. Our approach focuses on gradually building your dog’s confidence through controlled exposure to these triggers, helping them feel safe and secure over time.
- Territorial behavior: Aggression towards visitors, mail carriers, or other perceived “intruders” is common among dogs that feel possessive of their home.
- Resource guarding: Some dogs exhibit aggression when they feel their food, toys, or sleeping areas are being threatened.
- Lack of socialization: A dog that hasn’t been properly socialized in their early months (3–16 weeks) may react aggressively when faced with new stimuli. Proper early socialization is critical in preventing aggressive behaviors in dogs. If your dog missed out on early socialization, it’s never too late to start. Our program helps reintroduce your dog to new environments, people, and other dogs at a pace that ensures positive outcomes.
Aggression could be an expression of frustration, competition, or possessiveness, and understanding these root causes is key to changing your dog’s behavior.
Behavioral Adjustment Training: Our Approach
Our Anxiety and Aggression Dog Training Program is designed to meet your dog’s specific behavioral challenges. Whether the issue is extreme anxiety or aggression, we help your dog understand that they don’t need to take control—you are the leader, and they can feel safe and confident knowing you have everything under control.
In our experience, most cases of aggression are caused by fear. We overcome that fear by teaching your dog that they are not in charge. Imagine being a dog in a confusing world where you feel responsible for controlling everything—this often leads to anxiety and aggressive behaviors. By taking that responsibility off their plate, they can relax more, knowing that you have potentially problematic events under control. This, paired with some basic commands can help teach your dog what it is and isn’t supposed to do. Dogs need to know clearly right from wrong, and we can help you communicate that to them.
Similarly, dogs with anxiety often feel like they are in charge (or sometimes that no one is) and are not comfortable in that role. We take the same approach, teaching your dog that it is not in charge and you are, and therefore relieving the anxiety. Some confidence-boosting activities can help go a long way as well.
Many dogs with anxiety or aggression often feel like they need to be in control of their surroundings. By removing this perceived responsibility, your dog can finally relax, knowing that you are in charge. This shift not only improves your dog’s behavior but also leads to a more peaceful and stress-free environment for you and your family.
What We Cover in Behavioral Adjustment Training
We tailor our training sessions to address the specific issues your dog faces, using a combination of positive reinforcement and leadership techniques to encourage calm, confident behavior.
Commands and Behavior Management
- Teaching Right from Wrong: Dogs need to know clearly what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t. We help you communicate this effectively to your dog.
- Basic Commands: We teach foundational commands like sit, stay, come, and place to help your dog learn structure and control.
- Behavioral Correction: Our training addresses problem behaviors such as aggression, fear-based reactions, excessive barking, and nervousness around unfamiliar situations or people.
Confidence-Building Exercises
Dogs that suffer from anxiety need confidence-boosting exercises to help them feel more secure in their surroundings. These exercises can include problem-solving activities, obstacle courses, and positive socialization with other dogs and people. By building their confidence, we help alleviate their anxiety and make them more comfortable in everyday situations.
The Behavioral Adjustment Process
Our specialized Anxiety and Aggression Dog Training Program is designed to meet your dog's specific behavioral challenges. We use compassionate, science-based methods to modify your dog’s aggressive or anxious responses and replace them with positive behaviors.
Phase 1: Behavior Assessment
We begin with a thorough assessment of your dog’s triggers and their environment, during a FREE in-home evaluation. This gives us insight into the root causes of your dog’s aggression or anxiety, whether it’s related to fear, possessiveness, or lack of socialization. We then create a personalized training plan to help manage and reduce these behaviors.
Phase 2: Confidence Building and Desensitization
For anxious or fearful dogs, the focus is on building their confidence and gradually exposing them to the stimuli that trigger their anxiety. We work on desensitizing them to these triggers so they feel less threatened and more secure over time.
Phase 3: Addressing Aggression
For overly aggressive dogs, we help establish the owner as the pack leader while working on obedience and controlled exposure to the dog’s triggers. We will use tools like muzzles to ensure safety while your dog is integrated back into social environments.
Phase 4: Reinforcement and Group Integration
Once your dog has achieved a level of confidence and control at home, we transition them into controlled group settings to further reinforce positive behavior. This phase is essential for dogs that may have been aggressive toward other dogs or people, as they learn to manage their responses in a social setting.
Each dog is different, which is why we customize our training programs to fit your dog’s specific needs.
Inquire TodayBenefits of Behavioral Adjustment Training
- Reduced Aggression: Help your dog learn to manage and reduce aggressive behaviors caused by fear or uncertainty.
- Improved Socialization: Teach your dog how to interact calmly with other animals and people, reducing anxiety in social situations.
- Clear Leadership: By teaching your dog that they are not in charge, you can relieve their anxiety and help them feel more secure.
- Confidence Building: Our training includes exercises that build your dog’s confidence, helping them feel more comfortable in their environment.
- Long-Term Behavior Change: Address the root causes of your dog’s behavior issues for lasting results.
Why Choose The Art of Dog Training for Anxiety and Aggression?
Compassionate Training
We use a lot of positive reinforcement methods to help your dog overcome aggression and anxiety. A firm but gentle approach tends to work best.
Personalized Plans
No two dogs are alike. Some dogs respond quickly, while others may need more time and patience. We customize our training plans based on your dog’s unique personality, ensuring that they progress at a pace that works for them.
Focus on Owner Empowerment
We don’t just train your dog—we teach you how to maintain the progress long after the sessions are over. By strengthening your bond with your dog and ensuring you’re equipped with the tools and knowledge you need, we help you confidently manage your dog’s behavior in any situation.
Results That Last: We believe in long-term results, not quick fixes
After your dog completes our training program, we’ll provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to maintain their progress. Should any issues arise, we are here to offer ongoing support to ensure your dog continues to thrive.
Pricing for Behavioral Adjustment Training
$1,995
For dogs with aggression or extreme anxiety
6 in-home sessions, 16 group sessions
Everything included in the obedience package
Extra sessions included to focus on aggression or confidence building
Related Services
Explore our additional services that complement puppy training and ensure lifelong success:
How to Get Started
If your dog struggles with aggression or anxiety, schedule a free in-home evaluation today. We’ll discuss your dog’s specific needs and create a customized training plan to address their behavior issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common triggers for dog aggression?
Aggression in dogs can be triggered by several factors, including fear, territorial instincts, resource guarding, and lack of proper socialization. It’s important to identify the root cause so we can address the behavior effectively.
Can anxiety in dogs lead to aggression?
Yes, many dogs respond to anxiety-inducing situations with aggression. Fear-based aggression is one of the most common forms we see, where a dog feels threatened by new people, places, or other animals and responds by lashing out.
How long does it take to correct aggressive behavior?
The time it takes depends on the severity of your dog’s behavior and their progress during training. Our programs range from short-term behavior modification plans to longer, more intensive programs designed to address complex cases of aggression.
Can in-home training help with aggressive dogs?
Yes, in-home training is especially effective for aggressive dogs, as it allows us to address behaviors in the environment where they most commonly occur. Whether your dog shows aggression toward visitors or reacts to other dogs on walks, we can create a plan to correct these behaviors at home before introducing your dog to more social environments.
Is my dog’s aggression too severe to fix?
We are happy to make an assessment after meeting your dog in person. Many dog owners worry that their dog is “too far gone” to be helped, but most aggressive behaviors can be modified with the right approach. Our trainers have extensive experience working with dogs that have shown severe aggression, and we have seen great success in helping them become calmer and more social. The older your dog gets, the more difficult it gets to fix, so don’t wait, schedule your FREE in-home evaluation now!
How do you ensure the safety of other dogs in group settings?
When introducing an aggressive dog to a group setting, we require tools like muzzles to ensure the safety of all participants. Our trainers carefully monitor group interactions, ensuring that each dog’s progress is respected, and no one is pushed beyond their comfort zone.