Aggression
Dog aggression: handled with experience, not excuses
Growling, snapping, guarding or biting toward people or dogs. Aggression is the most serious behavior problem a family can face, and the one our team is most often called for.
Sound familiar?
- Growls or snaps when approached on the couch, the bed or over food
- Has bitten or attempted to bite a person or another dog
- Guards a family member from others
- Goes after dogs on walks with real intent, not just noise
- Trainers or daycares have declined to work with your dog
What’s really going on
Aggression almost always has a reason: fear, resource guarding, frustration, pain, a history of rehearsal, or a dog who has never had clear leadership and has appointed themselves. The label matters less than the cause.
It also gets worse with time. Every incident where aggression “works” (the person backs away, the dog leaves) reinforces it. Waiting rarely helps.
How we handle it
The approach.
Our team assesses the dog in person, safely, and identifies what is driving the behavior. Then they build a structure the dog can succeed in: clear rules, a place command, a structured heel, and consistent consequences that are fair and understood.
Behavior modification is layered on top: controlled exposure to the triggers, at the right distance and intensity, so the dog learns a calm alternative and practices it hundreds of times in a home environment, not a kennel.
The go-home session is essential with aggression cases. Our trainers show you exactly how to hold the structure, manage the risk and keep building. Platinum includes unlimited private lessons afterwards; VIP includes unlimited in-home lessons and lifetime support directly with our team.
Recommended
Programs that fix aggression.
Questions
About aggression.
Can aggression really be fixed?
Aggression can be dramatically reduced and reliably managed in the large majority of dogs, with a structured program and consistent follow-through at home. Our team is honest on the free call about what is realistic for your dog.
Is my dog too dangerous for board and train?
Our team has worked with dogs that other trainers declined. Tell us the full history on the free call, including bites. Safety for your dog, the household and other dogs is the first thing we plan for.
Do you use e-collars for aggressive dogs?
Our trainers use a balanced approach and choose tools for the dog in front of them. The Mini-Educator e-collar is included in the VIP program for reliable communication on and off leash. Every tool is introduced properly, and you are taught how to use it in the handover session.
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Tell our team what’s going on.
The call is free. We’ll ask the right questions, tell you what we’re seeing and recommend the program that actually fits.