Aggressive Dogs and How to Avoid Owning One.

A dog should be a welcome member of the family and not one that you fear will bite you or someone else.

Dr. Benjamin Hart, an animal behaviorist at the School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis recommends the following steps when considering which dog to bring home.

Choose a puppy with you head and not with your heart. All puppies are cute but not all pups will grow into the dog that you and your family expect. If you go to a shelter or private breeder, don't fall in love with the first furry face you see. Perform some simple behavioral aptitude tests to determine if the pup will snap at the first startling noise or run and hide. Test the pups' willingness to be handled and responsiveness to your commands. A pup that exhibits aggressive tendencies is more likely to continue this behavior as an adult. This usually means an unhappy home life in the future.

Remember, what you see in the movies and on TV is not what real dogs are made of. The Jack Russell Terrier that has been popularized on a current television show has lead many a new pet owner to wonder why their terrier is so excitable and not calm and obedient as they see on the show. The trained dogs of TV and movies are not what we take home with us. Each breed has certain innate characteristics that a potential pet owner must consider. Do you want a dog that is calm, or one that is full of energy? Do you need one that you can run with, or how about one that just wants to lay on your lap and be cuddled? To discover which breed might be the best one for you, there are several websites that can help you with the process. A great site is www.dogbreedinfo.com.

If your usually well behaved pooch starts nipping or acting in unusual ways, it may be trying to tell you that he or she is just not feeling well. When in doubt, see your veterinarian because it is "Your Pet…Health Matters."