Dogs naturally communicate through visual and vocal behaviors.
But when your dog communicates through aggression, can it be managed or cured?
In our last blog, we explored what it means when a dog growls and how it doesn’t always mean aggression. But canine aggression is a natural behavior for your dog.
Canine aggression does not always mean that your dog is a “bad dog” that needs to be given up or euthanized. But it is a serious problem requiring immediate professional intervention.
First, let us look at what canine aggression means.
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Canine Aggression: What It Is
While aggression is a natural social canine behavior, it is also the most serious and misunderstood dog behavior. Sadly, many dogs are given up because of aggressive behaviors many owners feel ill-prepared to handle. Aggression involves behaviors that usually begin as warnings escalating to bites or attacks on perceived threats.
What Does Canine Aggression Look Like?
Canine Aggression: Can It Be Managed or Cured?
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Canine aggression ranges from appropriate (depending on the situation), to being abnormal. When the aggression escalates to inappropriate behavior, it’s time for an experienced trainer to help manage and redirect any aggressive behaviors. Early and proper intervention is the key to improving the odds of successfully managing aggressive behaviors.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to manage aggression. Each dog needs to be assessed by an experienced trainer to diagnose, design, and implement the best course of action to give an aggressive dog the best chance at rehabilitation. Aggression cannot generally be “fixed” or “cured”; it most often comes down to managing the behavior.
Canine aggression will not improve on its own and with enough time, an aggressive dog may reach the “point of no return” making rehabilitation difficult or impossible when it comes to permanently changing embedded aggressive behaviors.
Managing and resolving canine aggression most often involves reestablishing your position as the pack leader, providing structure, and changing your dog’s routine and expectations. The critical first step is to seek out the services of a trainer that has experience with aggressive dogs to help you address any signs of canine aggression as early as possible.
Canine Aggression: What Type of Aggression Is It?
First, have your dog examined by a veterinarian to make sure that there are no underlying health issues that are causing pain or discomfort. Just as in humans, there are health issues that can cause chemical imbalances that can result in aggressive behavior.
If you’ve eliminated the possibility of health issues, let us explore other reasons behind canine aggression.
Canine Aggression: The Reasons Behind the Why
There are a variety of reasons why a dog shows aggression. Understanding aggressive behavior by these classifications helps reveal the motivation behind the aggression. Classifications of canine aggression include (but are not limited to):
Territorial
Protective
Possessive
Fear
Defensive
Social
Frustration-Elicited
Redirected
Pain or other health issues
Sex-Related
Predatory
Learn about each of these types of aggression here.
Once the type of aggression has been diagnosed, your trainer can help identify the triggers behind the specific aggressive behavior and design a plan of action.
Canine Aggression: Do Not Give Up on Your Dog!
As your dog’s guardian, do your best to resolve any aggression issues with the help of an experienced dog trainer. Do not go it alone as misguided or misapplied efforts could worsen overall aggression. Since canine aggression is a complex and dangerous behavioral problem, leave it to the experts to work with you through the process of diagnosis and management.
Does your dog show aggressive tendencies?
Don’t wait for something to happen!
Steve Mark is an expert when it comes to working with aggressive or out-of-control dogs!
Ignoring signs of canine aggression is a recipe for disaster for you and your dog.
Call 480-382-0144 or
send us an email to schedule.
Serving Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe and East Valley areas of Arizona.
Additional Reading:
ASPCA: Aggression
VCA Hospitals: Dog Behavior Problems – Aggression Diagnosis and Overview
Petcube: Aggression in Dogs: What is it and How to Stop It
CesarsWay: Understanding Dog Aggression
Image Credits (Shown in Order of Appearance):
Nicholas Demetriades from Pixabay
