Welcome!!  You'll find here resources to help pet owners whose dogs may occasionally exhibit aggressive behaviors.  Click the red "Read More" clickable link just below.

Some aggressive displays are normal canine behaviors; they serve a communication function for the dogs.  

The causes of serious aggressive behaviors are oftentimes complex. Sadly, not each dog can be saved because some extremely serious problems of aggression may arise from medical cause such as tumors; or some other aggressive dogs may not be able to be saved because they have already inflicted some very serious bite injuries. Dogs lacking acquired bite inhibition pose a substantial risk for families and for the public.

However I want you to know that some problem aggressive behaviors are actually learned behaviors, and they may be modified, oftentimes quite easily.

We do not pretend to be experts here. Not at all. We're experienced dog trainers and dog-behavior consultants who have continued our studies to learn more and more about dogs' behaviors in social settings, with their famiies, in their neighborhoods.  For our understandings, we have relied heavily on information provided by Board-certified veterinary behaviorists and on Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists.

Many dogs may be helped, their behaviors modified. Many family relationships improved through increased understanding, behavior modification efforts, and new teaching methods.

Let me quickly suggest to you to click on "links" at the bottom of the home page. I'm stressing this now because that tiny clickable "links" could easily be missed. In that section, you'll be able to review an extensive listings of articles about canine behavior. You'll want to check those reference articles for information.  If I've missed some important articles about canine behavior, links that are available for public viewing, then I'd love to have you tell me about them. Just check Contact Us for my information; then send me a private note about what you've found. Thanks.

Today let me call everyone's attention to Jean Donaldson's article called "Breedng Grounds," which had been published in Dogs In Canada, gives much information and food for thought -- it's about selecting dogs for good tempermant when planning a breeding program!!

I'll try to highlight various items from time to time. Enjoy this site and come back often.

You do not need to log in.  That registration is a feature I'll use when I'm ready  to implement a trainers' directory.Or I may decide not to do that part. In any event, you do not need to log in to read the articles on this web site.

Pet owners are often distraught, intensely worried about a dog who's become aggressive. But do not give up hope; there's good news. Help is available. Perhaps at no other time have there been so many resources to help pet owners learn how to deal effectively with their dogs in order to help diminish or eliminate any aggressive behaviors. You'll learn how to safely reduce tensions, not exacerbate them.

Here I've printed some educational articles, and I've indicated some books, videotapes and DVDs to enrich your learning.

If your dog is exhibiting aggressive behaviors, please considering hiring an experienced dog training professional to assist your efforts.

To help you find some, I've including links to professional organizations whose members offer services. Click the Facs section to find the professional organizations. 

What type of professional?  An experienced dog trainer, such as one with the initials CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer) after the name; and one with the initials CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant) after the name.  Or a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, or a board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist.

For more information about discussing an individual case, consider subscribing to our Internet discussion group, started in April 1996. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/agbeh   

To subscribe, you may click the "Join Now" button at the left on this page.

This site is brought to you by editor, Barbara D. Brill, former Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), now retired, having served the greater Rochester, NY area, and by web mistress, Christine Keryakes, Pixilante, in Cambridge, MA, with additional articles and photographs contributed by some other trainers.