Common situations when aggression occurs
When we talk about aggression, many people picture a dog that growls, bares its teeth, lunges, or even bites. While aggression can show itself in these ways, it's crucial to understand the underlying cause. We'll look at aggression from a few different angles and offer advice on how to handle aggressive behaviours in various situations.
What is dog aggression?
There's a clear reason why dogs display aggressive behaviour. Aggression stems from a dog's desire to influence its situation or create distance. Before aggressive behaviours surface, dogs communicate using signals that reduce the likelihood of conflict. We'll explore this further below.
Aggression is an emotion. As owners, we can observe triggers, like another dog on a walk, and the resulting reaction, such as your dog lunging and barking. However, we can't see the emotion itself. Reactions related to aggression occur when a dog feels threatened, or when it’s a learned strategy to escape a situation. Experience plays a key role; if your dog learns that barking and lunging helps it avoid difficult situations, it will consider this a successful strategy for the future.
Avoiding conflict
Dogs are adept at avoiding fights. They achieve this by displaying signals that de-escalate tension. Examples include turning their head away, walking in a wide arc around each other, or sitting down and looking away. This body language is their way of preventing conflict, as fighting carries significant risk, potentially leading to severe injury or death. It's a survival instinct to use these behaviours to avoid confrontation. Our dogs use the same tactics with us. Therefore, if we are too harsh or ignore their signals, we might create a situation where aggression emerges. This can become dangerous if we also disregard the dog's aggressive behaviour. More on this next.
Listen to your dog
Aggressive behaviour typically follows a sequence before a dog resorts to biting. Often, a dog will growl, bare its teeth, and snap the air before biting in a pressured situation. This might vary slightly by breed; some dogs bred for guarding may bark excessively, while others bred for different purposes might bite more readily. Regardless, it's vital to always heed a dog exhibiting aggressive behaviour. This means creating space, for instance, if your dog growls when you approach its food bowl. This can prevent the dog from feeling the need to escalate its signals to be heard.
Common triggers for aggression
Resources
As mentioned, a common trigger for aggressive behaviour is when a dog guards its food bowl, chew, or toy. The dog places high value on these items, making it crucial never to take anything from a dog displaying these behaviours. We simply don't want the dog to experience loss. It's also worth noting that the practice of picking up a puppy's food bowl and putting it back down doesn't help; it can actually encourage resource guarding. Always let your dog eat or chew in peace.
Pain
Pain can significantly impact a dog's aggressiveness. If your dog suddenly becomes aggressive, a vet visit is recommended to rule out any underlying pain. The dog might simply be trying to protect itself from being touched and wants to create distance due to discomfort.
Leash reactivity
For many dogs, encounters with other dogs while on a lead are highly uncomfortable, often because the leash restricts their natural way of greeting. Dogs prefer to meet by forming a wide circle, using their calming signals. A leash limits this, making direct approaches feel threatening. Understanding this and observing your dog's body language can help you manage these situations.
Territory and space
Dogs can feel threatened and guard their home, hallway, or territory. Some breeds, particularly those bred for guarding, may exhibit these behaviours more intensely. Others might offer a low growl when a guest arrives. We can help by managing the situation to prevent the dog from feeling threatened, or by training to build confidence and address fears.
Prevention and training
Often, aggression is a sign of fear. It's important to address the root cause. Here are some practical tips based on the scenarios above. For severe aggression issues, consulting a qualified ethologist or behaviourist specialising in reward-based training is advisable.
Resources
With resource guarding, the key is never to take food bowls, chews, or toys away from your dog. Instead, train your dog to 'drop it' and offer an alternative reward, preventing conflict. If your dog already shows aggression around food or chews, try tossing treats as you approach while they're eating. This can help your dog view you as less of a threat and associate your presence with positive outcomes.
Pain
If you suspect your dog is in pain, the best course of action is to see a vet, as mentioned previously. Try to touch your dog as little as possible to minimise the risk of being bitten.
Leash reactivity
When your dog shows aggression on walks, the most effective approach is to create distance. Simply giving a treat might not be enough and could even inadvertently distract your dog, causing it to notice the other dog at close range and become overwhelmed. Maintain a significant distance where your dog feels safe. If you can't achieve adequate distance, it's better to turn around and walk away. Practising 'look at that' training can also be beneficial.
Territory and space
Depending on the situation, it might be best to remove your dog from the scenario. A simple solution is to train your dog to go to a specific place when someone knocks. You can then calmly greet your guests and allow your dog out once everyone is settled. This is particularly helpful for guarding breeds, as it prevents them from feeling responsible for security, which can be stressful. Dogs often greet guests better when the environment is calm, rather than in a busy hallway.
Early prevention
Ensure your dog is well-socialised and exposed to various environments, prioritising quality experiences over quantity. Build your dog's confidence to foster a secure companion for life. Strive for harmony in your daily life together, meeting both your dog's physical and behavioural needs. You can find more advice in our article, "Balanced Everyday Life.
