Dog Aggression Training & Tips

Real Talk About Reactive Dogs

Aggression is one of the most confronting behaviours a dog owner can face. It’s scary, unpredictable, and often leaves people feeling helpless. At Bark Busters, we work with aggression every day—and we’re one of the few training teams equipped to handle it properly. The good news? Even the most reactive dogs can change. It takes patience, consistency, and the right kind of leadership.

What’s Really Going On?

Most aggression stems from fear. Fear of pain, fear of other dogs, fear of people—even fear of you. However, the lesser-known aggression is a "Learned Behaviour", where the dog has learned that if I react a certain way, then I get a certain result, often seen when a dog is resource guarding. The key is to understand what’s triggering your dog and what sequence of events leads to the behaviour. Are they cornered? On lead? Feeling responsible for your safety? These things matter.

Aggression isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some common types include:

• Fear-based aggression

• Possession/resource guarding

• Redirected aggression

• Territorial behaviour

• Dog-to-dog aggression

• Human-directed aggression

• Pain or medically induced aggression

Each type needs a tailored approach. That’s why generic advice doesn’t cut it.

Fear-Based Aggression: The Most Common Type

You’ve heard of “fight or flight”? A fearful dog will either try to flee or fight. If they’re on lead or cornered, fleeing isn’t an option. So they hold their ground.

You’ll see the signs: ears pinned back, panting, teeth bared, whites of the eyes showing. They might approach from the side or rear, trying to intimidate without direct confrontation. Often, they’ll snap and retreat—not because they want to hurt anyone, but because they want the threat to go away.

Dogs who weren’t appropriately socialised as pups, or who’ve had traumatic experiences, are more likely to react this way. And if your dog thinks it’s their job to protect you, they’ll be on high alert for anything that feels like a threat.

What Doesn’t Work

Punishment-based techniques, especially physical or "time-outs", can make things worse. You can’t bully fear out of a dog. At Bark Busters, we believe the only hand you should lay on your dog is a loving one.

What Does Work

Leadership. Calm, consistent, confident leadership. Your dog needs to know that you’ve got this. Doorbell rings? You’ve got it. Another dog approaches? You’ve got it. They don’t need to step in. They need to step back and trust you.

This is about perception. You might feel safer with your dog, but they need to feel secure with you.

Common Triggers

• Unfamiliar dogs and people

• Children (who often approach unpredictably)

• Loud noises—especially fireworks and thunder

These triggers can be desensitised with the proper training. Even reactive dogs can learn new, calmer responses.

Can Aggression Be Fixed?

The key is consistency and trust, but most can get to 99% and require you to keep your dog on track. Every dog is trainable. With the proper guidance, you can manage and transform aggressive behaviour—and restore peace in your home.

If you’re dealing with a reactive dog, don’t wait. Reach out. This is what we do.