One of the most common and dangerous behaviour problems is that of aggression.
Although aggressive behaviours may appear similar with biting and growling, aggression
toward other dogs and/or people can have different causes. Before aggression can be
successfully stopped, the specific cause must be identified. For example, if the aggression
is caused by fear, it is foolish to treat it as though it were caused by competition with other dogs.

One type of aggression is "punishment induced" or aggression that is caused by incorrect
punishment techniques. Dogs will become biters if you are using the wrong type of punishment
for your individual dog. The dog becomes a biter not because it is a "bad" dog but because
the owner has used improper punishment. "Punishment induced" aggression is started by spanking,
hitting, slapping and pinching the dog, as well as threatening the dog with a rolled up
newspaper, magazine or fly swatter. Objects such as these should never be used in punishment.
The dog will perceive the object as a weapon and threat and react accordingly. Depending upon
the dog's individual temperament, history and environmental situation, the dog will run away,
completely submit or bite.

A common and potentially catastrophic technique frequently recommended by morons is to
punish by jerking the dog's collar. The owner's action of reaching toward the dog fumbling for
the collar and then pulling and jerking can elicit aggressive responses. The dog soon associates
the reaching with the subsequent rough handling, and growls defensively when the owner makes
a gesture that resembles it. Reaching and grabbing at a dog is an ineffective means of punishment
and will encourage aggression. The collar is a tool to help train a dog, and should never be relied
on as the only means.

Under no circumstances chase after a dog to punish it. When you corner a dog and move in to punish,
the dog is almost certain to bite. You are placing it in a situation where it cannot run away, using
threatening body postures and voice tone that will further panic the dog. These actions are almost
certain to trigger "built in" patterns of defence. Dogs that growl when verbally reprimanded by their
owners may have been mishandled in this fashion.

Punishing the dog after the misbehaviour has been committed, is a dandy way of teaching the
dog to bite. Dragging the dog to the scene of the crime will NEVER teach the dog to stop the
chewing, digging, house soiling, etc. However, it WILL destroy the relationship, encourage aggression
and teach the dog you are an unpredictable and totally untrustworthy owner.

To be most effective, methods of punishment should be tailored to your dog's individual temperament.
An extremely dominant dog that growls at verbal reprimands, guards food and exhibits dominant body
postures CANNOT be punished in the same manner as the dog that is 55 lbs of whipped cream.
Putting a highly dominant dog in a submissive pin is a risk to your face, as well as other parts
of your anatomy you may value.

Here are some of the behavioural "rules" for punishing a dog:

1. Punishment happens AS the dog starts the misbehaviour, never after. Punish AS the dog gets
on the couch, not after he's turned around three times and drifted off to sleep.

2. Vary the methods of punishment. Don't use the same one exclusively, because it will lose its
effectiveness.

3. Make the punishment effective the first time. A correction should not put the dog into mental
traction, neither should a correction be a nag.

4. Reward the dog for doing the right thing. Continual punishment without reward for the right
behaviour will put the dog in a poor state of mind. Don't ignore the correct behaviour: actively reinforce it!

While punishments should be tailored to fit you and your dog, here are some GENERAL
guides for punishments. They should replace physical punishers, and will not encourage aggression.

I. Use a shake can to startle and distract the dog as it STARTS the misbehaviour. A few pennies
or nails in an empty can will startle the dog, but not elicit aggression.

2. Water dashed in a dog's face will effectively stop certain behaviours such as jumping on a
screen door or barking. Squirt guns or plant misters will not have the startling effect that a glassful will.

3. Ignore the poor behaviour. If the reward for good behaviour is attention, and you ignore it,
the behaviour will soon diminish. Here you must reward the right behaviour for this technique to work.

4. Use your voice effectively! A correction voice isn't loud, but it sure has a hard edge to it.
Remember not to use the dog's name, just a simple "Ah!" will do.

5. Shake the dog's muzzle as you stare at it. Or grab the cheeks in both hands, a cheek in each
hand, shake the dog, stare at it and raise your voice. If you have an extremely dominant dog,
these may be too dominant gestures for the dog to tolerate. For those of you who aren't living
with King Kong, give this a whirl.

Sue Myles, USA