Spay or neuter your dog. Hormones have a significant impact on behaviour and can cause both male and female dogs to act in aggressive and / or destructive ways. Spaying or neutering will not only make a dog less likely to bite, it will also decrease a dog's tendency to wander. The best age to spay or neuter a dog is at the beginning of puberty, between six and eight months old.

Train your dog. Proper manners not only benefit you and your dog but also others. A well-behaved dog is less likely to upset people and pets in public places and will be more welcomed at gatherings.

Teach your dog appropriate behaviour. Don't teach your dog to chase after or attack others, even in fun. Don't play aggressive games (such as wrestling or tug-of-war) with a puppy or adult dog. Be careful of physical games because your dog can't always understand the difference between play and real-life situations. Set appropriate limits for your dog's behaviour.