Dogs have been close companions to humans for hundreds of years, thousands in some places. For many, the old saying, "a dog is man's best friend" (which should be updated to "a man or woman's) is more than a cliche, but a heartfelt feeling. Dogs can indeed be a comfort, a friend, a protector, a playmate to children, a guardian of house and property and many other things.

There are times, alas, when dogs do not seem like our best friends. At times, they can be downright scary. There isn't much you can do about other people's dogs (except avoid them if they are likely to snap at you!), but what do you do if your own dog is the one causing problems?

Aggression is the most serious problem faced by dog owners. It can take many forms. Your dog may have a problem with other dogs, with children or with just certain people or in certain environments. So, first of all, you should narrow it down and pinpoint the exact issue.

The first step to take is to have a veterinarian you trust examine your dog, to make sure there is not a physical problem that is the cause of disruptive behavior. You should also try to control your dog's environment as much as possible, avoiding whatever tends to provoke problematic behavior.

Don't take unnecessary chances. If your dog is a threat to people or other animals, you have to make an effort to prevent any unpleasant situations from arising. If your dog is a biter, use a muzzle until you have corrected the problem. There can be serious consequences if a dog attacks someone.

Most cases of aggression in dogs can be successfully dealt with. In rare cases, as when you have a young child at home, or if the dog is, for whatever reason, unresponsive to any kind of corrections, dog and owner must part ways. Fortunately, these situations are not the norm. The first thing you should make sure of is that your dog gets sufficient exercise. Aggressive dogs often have too much energy because they are idle.

When exercising or playing with your dog, do not encourage aggression. For example, if your dog tends to growl and snap at people, you should not play a rough game of tug-of-war with a leather toy. This is actually teaching the dog to bite and growl.

Sometimes the problem is isolation. Dogs are social animals who do not like to be left alone for long periods. Tying a dog to a stake in the ground all day is not going to make him/her happy, and in some cases it may cause behavior problems. If you are away from your dog for long periods, try to make an arrangement so the dog isn't alone all the time. At the very least, make sure the animal has some room to move around.

These are fairly basic suggestions and will often not be enough to solve the problem. The fact is, if you have an aggressive dog, or one with other serious behavioral problems, you are going to have to take some action. This means either hiring a professional dog trainer or taking some time to learn how to train your dog yourself. The first solution can be expensive, the second requires a commitment in time, as well as patience.

An aggressive dog is a situation you cannot ignore, hoping it will improve on its own. The fact is, most dogs are trainable and with some attention will turn out to be great companions. However, some dogs need more guidance and training than others when it comes to social behavior.