by Richard A. Hall

Created on: November 12, 2008   Last Updated: January 23, 2010

For many animal lovers, the decision to obtain a new family pet from an animal shelter is a no-brainer - even the President-elect is in on the act, it seems. The heartwrenching TV ads showing the forlorn and abandoned dogs sitting miserably in their cages, just waiting for somebody to give them the love they need, are a powerful inducement. But the decision shouldn't be taken lightly, because any rescue dog is going to come with a certain amount of baggage and it's important to be prepared for that.

A reputable animal shelter may offer or even require classes in handling a rescue dog and being a responsible owner. Although rescue dogs may have a variety of special needs in their own right, one class of rescue dog which needs particular care is the aggressive rescue dog - not only is this animal likely to have issues of its own, it presents potential risks to others as well. The responsible dog owner should be concerned, obviously, for the mental and physical well-being of their own dog; but also be alive to the impact their dog has on others. If at all possible, when obtaining a rescue dog take advantage of any "owner training" the shelter offers, or identify classes run by a local veterinarian. An aggressive rescue dog is a psychologically disturbed dog, and your chances of modifying its behavior are greatly improved by seeking the advice of a professional.

Learn as much as you can about the history of your dog before you take ownership. In many cases, there simply won't be information about this because of the nature of rescue dogs: all the same, it's worth investigating. Some dogs are abandoned or given away because their owners can't handle them - that is, because their owners weren't able to train their dogs effectively. Even dogs bred for aggression - Pit Bulls, Dobermanns, German Shepherds - are responsive to effective training methods (in fact, some of the most highly aggressive breeds are also among the most highly responsive to training), but the key word there is effective. Your dog may be aggressive simply because of its natural tendency as a pack animal to assert dominance over other members of its 'pack'. It may also have acquired aggressive responses since being abandoned, or as a response to abuse. Finding out what you can about your dog's background can help you take the right steps to addressing the behavior.

It pays to be very considerate of a rescue dog's perspective, particularly if it shows signs of aggression. Dogs are stressed by the

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