Recently, our five-month-old pup Captain has been displaying fearful behavior, such as growling and ducking behind furniture, when confronted by alien dogs and humans who pass by our home at a distance.

If you pursue running long enough, whether your runs have an urban backdrop or a mountainous setting, an aggressive dog (domestic wolf) or a wild predator will likely cross your path at some point. Knowing how to lessen your chances of such an encounter is important. Knowing how to survive one is vital. Here are a few tips for both:

Every year, “new” research claims to uncover the “new” origin of domestic dogs. Such is the case in a recent article published in Discover magazine, in December 2016, which points to genetic studies that place the domestication of dogs in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia or Southeast Asia, and dating their origin between 10,000 and 38,000 years ago.

The ionized air was detected by Elsie several minutes before the arrival of the booming thunder and the brilliant white and blue talons that streaked through the dark recesses of her home in an attempt to snare her. As soon as she sensed the approaching storm, Elsie raced for the hallway closet that had served as her refuge from thunderstorms for the past six years.

As Samson watched, the young woman standing a few feet from him kept stealing nervous glances in his direction. With each flick of her eyes, she would simultaneously jerk the leash she was gripping in her left hand to keep the small dog on the other end from getting too close to him. Even though the little dog had succeeded in coming within a few inches of Samson’s muzzle on a few of its lunges, the dog was nothing more than an annoyance to Samson whose eyes remained fixed on the young woman.

There are many stumbling blocks that average dog owners encounter on their way to achieving manageable and peaceful coexistence with their dogs. Limitations in time, money, physical capabilities, and proper knowledge of the dog itself are just a few. Add the latter to the belief that most American’s hold their dogs to near-human standards (this is called anthropomorphism, which is when people infuse a human persona into their dog), and it’s no wonder that manageable and peaceful coexistence can be very elusive.

I knew the bite would happen a few seconds before it occurred. It wasn’t an unlucky guess on my part. Rather, my hunch was based on my personal experience of having been bitten by a dog under similar circumstances and my observation of the attacking dog’s behavior before the bite.

It's an important job for the success of your home and your dog. Learn about the best ways to get everyone one the same page from the start.

Socialization in dogs is extremely important. Not only will it make your life easier when you go on walks or take your dog places, but it will make it safer for both your dog and others in the long run. Without proper socialization, you will have no clue of how your dog will react when he runs into another, unfamiliar dog.