Can aggressive dogs change? What to Know

Signs That Your Dog May Become Aggressive

Any dog can pick up aggressive behavior, and its important to track a pattern of warning signs, like:

Growling and snapping

A rigid body and quickly wagging tail

Lip licking or yawning

Averting gaze

Raised fur

Cowering and tail tucking

Seeing whites of the eyes

Not all dogs who exhibit this behavior are generally aggressive—many of these warning signs are also an indication of anxiety or fear.

Make a note of when your dog becomes aggressive and the circumstances surrounding the behavior. This will play an important part in determining your next step. It is essential to deal with the underlying cause of the aggression. The behavior is just a symptom of an underlying problem. There are a number of ways you can manage the hostility and help your dog remain calm. It will take time, consistency, and possibly the help of a professional.

Why Do Dogs Behave Aggressively?

Aggressive behavior in a dog refers to any behavior connected with an attack or an impending attack. This includes becoming still and rigid, growling, snarling, baring teeth, lunging, and nipping or biting.

Your first step toward stopping this behavior is to figure out what is causing your dogs aggression. Some dogs growl as someone approaches them while theyre eating or chewing a bone, for instance. Others react aggressively toward children or strangers.

The aggression doesnt have to be directed toward a person either. Some dogs become aggressive around other animals, only specific animals (cats but not other dogs), or toward inanimate objects, such as wheels on vehicles or yard equipment.

The key thing to keep in mind is that you cant come up with a plan to modify your dogs behavior until you know the reason behind it. The most common types of dog aggression include:

Territorial aggression: The dog defends its space or your home from what it deems to be an intruder.

Protective aggression: The dog protects members of its pack against another animal or a person. Mother dogs are also extremely protective of their puppies and may become hostile toward anyone who goes near them.

Possessive aggression: The dog protects food, chew toys, bones, or another object of value to it. This is sometimes called resource guarding.

Fear aggression: The dog is fearful and tries to retreat in a scary situation, but then attacks when cornered.

Defensive aggression: Similar to fear aggression—the dog attacks in defense of something rather than trying to retreat first. These dogs have generally given other, more subtle, indications that they want to be left alone before biting, such as turning their head away.

Social aggression: The dog reacts aggressively to other dogs in social situations. Dogs that are not socialized properly with other dogs and people may also exhibit aggression.

Frustration-elicited aggression: The dog behaves aggressively when its restricted on a leash or in a fenced yard. When the dog becomes stimulated and can not act on that stimulation, it may act out. Sometimes a dog may become overly excited, such as before a walk, and nip its handler.

Redirected aggression: The dog might become aggressive toward a person who attempts to break up a dog fight. It may also happen when the dog cant reach the target of its hostility, such as a neighboring dog on the other side of a fence.

Pain-elicited aggression: The dog shows aggression when its injured or in pain.

Sex-related aggression: Two male dogs or two female dogs become aggressive when vying for the attention of a mate. This applies to intact animals and can be avoided by spaying and neutering dogs.

Predatory aggression: The dog behaves aggressively without much warning when exhibiting predatory behavior, such as when chasing wildlife. This instinct may become a serious danger when a child is playing chase with the dog. It may start out as an innocent game, but dogs with predatory aggression may quickly turn on and possibly bite the child.

How do we assess the risk of keeping an aggressive dog?

According to the CDC, 800,000 people seek medical attention for dog bites each year, half of which are children (see Aggression – Children). Dog bites are not rare; these are common events that occur in normal family’s lives and it is estimated that 15% of dog owners have been bitten by their own dog. Once a dog bites, he has shown his willingness to use biting as a behavioral strategy at least in that situation and therefore is more likely to bite. Dogs that are willing to use aggression to change the outcome of a situation are rarely cured again. The severity of a bite may be assessed by careful consideration of the situation, the damage caused by the bite, the choices the dog made including the dogs willingness to avoid escalation to a bite by growling, snarling or snapping and the diagnosis of type of aggression. Complex cases may require the experience of a board certified veterinary behaviorist to evaluate and prioritize this assessment.

While all bites should be considered serious; the circumstances and choices the dog made during the episode may give some indication as to the options the dog considered before using aggression. In general, most dogs have good control of the intensity and force of their biting.

Some bites are inhibited and may leave no marks on the skin. Other bites may bruise, pinch, or indent the skin without creating bleeding. More intense bites break the skin, puncture wounds may be superficial or deep, multiple punctures may be present or tearing/shearing injuries may result. Some dogs may bite hard enough to crush bones. Some dogs bite once and withdraw, others bite multiple times within the same episode. Some dogs bite when threatened and when in close proximity; other dogs charge from across the room.

How to Solve Dog Aggression! (Dog Nation)

Living with a dog who displays aggressive behavior is stressful and creates challenges. Dogs may show signs of aggressive behavior early on or develop aggressive behavior over time. Sometimes dog owners don’t realize that their dog has a behavior problem or may not recognize the behavioral signs that indicate an issue. Other owners notice behavior concerns but feel it is “not that bad” or that “it is a phase and will pass with time.” And some dog owners know: that their dog has a problem.

With rare exceptions, dog owners care about their dogs. But unfortunately, many dog owners don’t know how to address their dog’s behavior issues, and not addressing concerns early frequently causes aggressive behavior to become more severe. The consequences can be heartbreaking and life-changing, i.e., the dog might injure a person or other animal, with severe consequences for all involved.

This article will explain options for owners with aggressive dogs. Because every dog is different, and there are many reasons for aggressive canine behaviors, creating a proper behavior modification plan can be complex. This article explains that understanding your options will help you navigate life with your challenging dog.

Aggression represents a spectrum of behaviors, ranging from minor posturing to serious and dangerous attacks. Aggressive behaviors typically occur when a dog feels threatened, fearful, stressed, anxious, conflicted/concerned, protective, overstimulated, frustrated, angry, or in pain. Dogs typically display aggressive behaviors to warn, intimidate, defend/protect and/or cause harm. In effect, aggressive behaviors serve the function of increasing distance from or causing harm to a perceived threat or danger. Aggressive behaviors range from:

When hiring a professional to help you (whether a certified behavior trainer, your regular veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist), you should discuss the risks and prognosis in your initial consultation. Some dogs who display aggressive behavior do well because their families know how to manage their dog appropriately so that no one is harmed. While others have responsibly hired professional help and have implemented the recommended behavior modification protocols to help their dog. Unfortunately, other families may find their dog too risky for them and their lifestyle. Important questions for anyone who owns a dog with aggressive behavior include:

Navigating these options and finding the right professional may seem overwhelming, but following these guidelines will help your decision-making.