Why Most Dog Training Advice About Aggression is Misleading—and How Lee’s Dog Training Does It Differently

If you’ve been reading up on dog training advice about handling aggression, chances are you’ve come across the same recommendations: show patience, use treats, and never say “no” too loudly – or at all. While well-intentioned, this mainstream advice misses the mark for most – if not all – aggressive dogs, especially the ones who need the most help.

As a professional dog trainer with over 11 years of experience in the Midwest United States, I’ve worked with thousands of aggressive dogs by now, each with unique backstories. From my experience, I believe that understanding aggression—and addressing it effectively—often requires going against conventional wisdom.

Myth #1: Aggressive Dogs Are Aggressive Because They’ve Been Abused

One of the biggest misconceptions in dog training is that aggression stems from abuse or neglect. People often assume that aggressive dogs must have been mistreated in the past, which leads to the notion that abused dogs are ticking time bombs.

In my experience, this is rarely the case. More often than not, dogs who’ve been through hardship, abuse, or neglect are the opposite of aggressive. Just as an abused person may shy away from conflict, many dogs who’ve experienced trauma are gentle, cautious, and eager to please. They don’t want to “fight back” but rather seek a sense of safety and comfort.

You may have rescued a dog who is showing signs of aggression. The shelter may even have told you he came from an abusive situation. More often than not, I’ve found that these claims are unsubstantiated and the shelters rarely provide “proof” the dog was ever abused or neglected. Sadly, shelters will often use this as a tactic to make you feel sympathy for the dog and adopt. I’m not saying this happens every time – but from my experience – I see it in more than 99% of the aggression cases I work with. I get it, an aggressive dog is hard to place for a shelter – so it’s tempting to pull on people’s heart strings to get them to feel like they are “saving” the dog.

Myth #2: Spoiled Dogs Don’t Become Aggressive – AKA “It’s all about how you raise them!”

On the flip side, the dogs that do become aggressive are often those who have been spoiled or allowed to rule the household. These are dogs that may bark, growl, and disregard commands with no consequence. When a dog is permitted to ignore boundaries and believes they are top tier in the household structure, they can become possessive, defensive, protective and yes—aggressive. It’s not about cruelty; it’s about a lack of clear leadership. In addition to that, the leader of the household is also in charge of creating rules and applying discipline. So you may find that your aggressive dog gets snappy with you when you try to tell them what to do. Yes – they are disciplining you and putting you in your place!

A Different Approach: Why Treat-Training Not Only Fails – But Fuels the Fire

Now, if we understand that spoiled dogs are often the ones becoming aggressive, then it’s pretty clear that a treat-based, consequence-free training is not only ineffective but can actually make it worse! Aggression always stems from a leadership position in the dog’s mind, so removing that mindset is essential. I will teach you how to remove this mindset with techniques that I’ve learned to be nearly 100% effective on all dogs. I can’t tell you how to do this in this article, but the basic premise is that consequence-free training is a really bad approach!

Results-Driven Aggression Training at Lee’s Dog Training

If you hire me, you’ll get more than just advice. You’ll get an approach that has been proven to work, time and time again, for aggressive dogs. My clients have faced situations that many trainers would consider impossible, and they have seen amazing transformative results. You can look at the success stories on my website and read the reviews of clients who once struggled with aggressive behavior in their dogs and are now enjoying a balanced, friendly pet.

Choosing the Right Trainer for Your Dog

When considering a trainer, ask yourself: Does their method work consistently? Or does it only work sometimes? At Lee’s Dog Training, I focus on real, lasting change. But the process requires trust and commitment. I’ll be the first to admit—it’s not always easy. There will be bumps along the way, and it won’t all be fun. But the results are life-changing.

Every dog has the potential to be trustworthy and well-behaved. If you’re dealing with an aggressive dog and are ready to commit to a training method that works, contact me at Lee’s Dog Training. I’ll give you the steps to help your dog become the friendly, well-mannered pet you know they can be.

Training isn’t about shortcuts or sugarcoating—it’s about doing what works. Let’s start your journey to a happier, safer home for you and your dog.