Agressividade

What NOT to do (mistakes that make it worse)

What NOT to do (mistakes that make it worse)

Pulling the leash and shouting when the dog reacts — it only adds tension and a bad association. Forcing a face-to-face meeting so “they sort it out between themselves”. It can seal the trauma. Punishing the growl. A growl is a warning. A dog that learns not to warn starts biting without warning. Going to dog parks thinking “the more exposure the better”. Uncontrolled exposure above threshold trains exactly the behaviour you want to eliminate. Waiting for it to “pass with age”. Untreated reactivity consolidates; it gets worse with time, not better.

Need help with your dog? André Alves works at home across Greater Lisbon and online worldwide.

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