The two most common ‘problem behaviours’ (which actually are often normal behaviours for dogs - sometimes exacerbated by human intervention - just unacceptable or undesirable for owners) are that of so-called dominant dogs and aggressive dogs. Aggression, however, is actually rarely an indication that your dog is a savage killer plotting to annihilate everyone until he has the planet to himself. Indeed, many owners will say the dog is fine with children, fine with cats, fine with people, strangers and other members of the family but wants to kill any dog he sees.
What is aggression?
The term aggression is interpreted differently by many people - in what way do you use aggression? Is a dog aggressive is it snarls at you? Growls? Bares its teeth, lowers its head, flattens its ears and goes tense? Technically there are several different category, or type, of aggression - reasons for a dog to be aggressive. A bit like human aggression, too. For humans we can categorise it into clinical aggression (IE the secondary effects of low blood sugar, hypoglycaemia), alcohol-induced aggression, tiredness aggression etc. The same is true for dogs: fear aggression, dominant aggression.
Fear aggression is by far the most common accounting for 95% of aggressive dogs. It’s understandable, too. The dog has natural instincts which I explain as ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan B’. Plan A is to increase the distance between the dog and whatever is causing it distress, discomfort and threat. Plan B - always the last resort - is to attack, in order to survive. Self defense in human terms. The same as you would do if someone was coming towards you that you were uncomfortable with and got too close for comfort. We use our voice to threaten or warn other people, shake our fists and stand tall. Dogs use their voice, too - they growl. They can’t shake their fists so they bare their teeth. And it is unnatural for them to stand tall so they, too, attempt to make themselves look big and scary in an effort to scare the threat away: their tail stands tall, their hackles raise and they tense their muscles.
Why is my dog scared?
Some owners can’t place why their dog is suddenly fearful of, say, other dogs. However it’s likely that the warning signs have been there and that the dog has been trying to tell you for a while - it’s just that you didn’t know what to look for.
The worst management is to punish the dog - which is why aides such as Pet Corrector and shaking a can filled with stones at the dog simply should not be endorsed for fear aggressive dogs. The dog is having a really tough time as it is, without you making it worse by making him feel even more insecure.
If you have an aggressive dog, please contact a professional to help you and the dog
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Posted in Jez's top behaviour tips by admin
