• Spite
• Dominance
• Anger
• Mad at their person for being left alone

Common, Unprovable Explanation
Aggressive dog is alpha or dominant

My Assessment and Training Strategy
Identify triggers that cause the aggression and practice desensitization and counter conditioning.

Behavior Issue: Aggression Towards People

Common, Unprovable Explanation
Aggressive dog is alpha or dominant

My Assessment and Training Strategy
Identify triggers that cause the aggression and practice desensitization and counter conditioning. Do not put the dog in the situation where he might exhibit the behavior again and learn that aggressive behaviors work. This will increase the likelihood that the dog’s aggression will escalate.

Behavior Issue: Difficulty Being Left Alone
Dogs might exhibit housetraining accidents, barking or destruction

Common, Unprovable Explanations

• Spite
• Dominance
• Anger
• Mad at their person for being left alone
  

My Assessment and Training Strategy
Look at general housetraining and management strategies to alleviate the accidents and destruction. Look at desensitization strategies to noises that might be causing the barking. Increase training and physical exercise to alleviate boredom. Assess possible separation anxiety and treat accordingly.

Have you heard reasons for dog behavior and wonder if they are accurate? Share what you have heard, or ask questions in my Forums.