Aggression in Dogs: The Warning Signs
Aggression is a term that is used to explain multiple dog behaviors. Usually aggressive behavior will start as a warning, but eventually it may lead to an attack, which is why training an aggressive dog is so important.
Here are some ways a dog may exhibit aggressive behavior:
Any breed can produce an aggressive puppy
Puppy aggression is not breed-specific. As sweet, loving, friendly dogs exist in every breed, so do aggressive dogs. No single breed is an exception.
It is your responsibility to be open-minded when you see a problem. That means taking immediate and appropriate action at any sign of aggression. Wishful thinking that things will change is not the answer. The earlier you act out on it, the higher the chances of resolving your pup’s aggressive behavior by learning how to redirect your puppies to good behavior.
But you may be wondering how to stop puppy aggression.
The first thing you should do is speak to your veterinarian. Have your veterinarian examine your puppy.
There could be medical issues, genetic issues, or other pressing matters that need to be dealt with as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it could be to correct. A vet is an expert who can help you tame any aggressive tendencies you may discover.
Unless there is a severe genetic or neurological problem, the younger a puppy is, the easier it is to modify inappropriate behaviors. Often puppy fear can become aggression. Positive reinforcement and punishment-free obedience training helps create a well-behaved, well-mannered dog and prevent fear aggression in puppies. You also can use it to stop excessive puppy barking.
Understanding how to teach a dog social skills is critical. Think of this as how you’d train and enforce your baby’s positive attitude. Since their minds work like sponges, the earlier you discipline them, the better. It’s easier to get a grip on obedience training.
Common warning signs include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominance, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and biting!
Now, what are the aggressive puppy signs? Here are a few:
Watch your puppy’s behavior around areas where there is food. Early signs of aggression in puppies include being possessive over toys and food.
Is your puppy protective of his food bowl? How do they growl or snarl as you walk by their food bowl while eating? Do they growl or snap when you reach for their food bowl, even if it’s empty?
Do they snatch treats or food out of your hand? Does your puppy lunge, growl, or snap as you attempt to retrieve a dropped piece of food? Are they protective of the trash container?
Does your puppy claim furniture like a chair, couch, or bed? Is your puppy possessive of toys or other items, especially items that might belong to your children?
How does the puppy act when someone, especially someone they don’t know, walks into the house or enters a room? Does the puppy react differently when an unfamiliar child comes to the house? Or does your puppy bark excessively? Are you struggling with a puppy that won’t stop biting?
Does the puppy exhibit an unusually high prey drive by chasing and nipping at anything moving? Do they overreact aggressively to playful teasing, sudden movements, awakening from a deep sleep, or being corrected? Or are they unwilling to be touched?
Watch for warning signs when you pick up the dog, especially puppy nipping, which can quickly turn into a puppy biting your hands. Although you don’t need to pick up your dog often or carry it, there are times when you will need to do so without fear that your puppy will behave aggressively and bite you.
Also, watch how your puppy reacts to other dogs and puppies. Be sure to watch for signs of a dominant puppy. Does your puppy try to dominate other puppies or adult dogs? That type of early aggression needs to be curbed immediately with training.
Signs that are Confused with Aggressive Puppy Behavior
For comparison, here are some descriptions of typical canine puppy play interactions:
To watch a puppy stalking and pouncing can be quite amusing. But it can be much more of a worry to hear that same puppy snarling or to discover your cute puppy growling at kids. So how on earth are you supposed to know what is normal, and what is problematic aggressive puppy behavior?!
Don’t feel alone in your concerns, and never be embarrassed to ask for help! I once had a client call me, practically in tears, saying, “My puppy is aggressive towards me!” When I went to her house, I was prepared for the worst. (I had bite-protection gloves and everything!) I got there and saw the poor woman sitting on top of the counter in her kitchen while her 12-week-old Labrador puppy trotted around the kitchen barking up at her—wagging his tail.
For this woman, her fear was real. She was genuinely afraid of being bitten by her puppy. But the puppy thought it was a game. “I’ll bark at mommy, and she squeals so I bark some more!” The puppy was simply communicating with his human mama in “puppy speak.”
Brenda Aloff explains it perfectly by saying,
Sudden Puppy Aggression & How to Stop It (tutorial)
Most of the time, when you see an aggressive dog, they were not born that way. An owner of this type of dog may not fully understand how to train their pup. This lack of training often leads to aggressive behavior because the dog responds to situations using his instincts since he has never been taught differently. Let’s discover how to stop aggression in dogs, find out why it happens, and learn how to get your dog to stop aggressive behavior. Table Of Contents
Dogs become aggressive for several reasons. These reasons can vary widely with each dog. It helps to pay attention to the situations that cause your dog to become aggressive, so you know how to train him.
Dogs may become aggressive if they feel cornered or trapped and can’t retreat from what they’re finding threatening. Dogs who have been mistreated, abused, or weren’t properly socialized can also exhibit fear-based aggression.
Possession aggression, also called resource guarding, is one of the most common causes of aggression in dogs. Many dogs feel the need to protect their possessions (food, toys, bed, crate, etc.), whether there’s a threat or not. Dogs showing possession aggression may growl if someone approaches their sacred items or spaces. Food guarding is an especially common form of possessive aggression.
Some dogs are instinctively territorial and feel the need to protect their space (your home or yard) from what they perceive as intruders. For some dogs, this can be limited to strangers, while others may show territorial aggression toward friends and foes. Dogs usually don’t get territorial until they grow into adulthood.
Dogs are instinctively social pack animals and feel the need to protect their pack members. Some dogs may show aggressive behavior when they feel that a family member, friend, or fellow pet is in danger.
Dogs sometimes exhibit aggressive behavior as a show of dominance. Dominance aggression, also called status-seeking aggression, can sometimes be seen in interactions with other dogs. As pack animals, dogs can develop a sense of a hierarchical order among the pack. And a dog that sees himself as an alpha dog may feel the need to show that he’s in charge.
If you pay attention, you may notice some warning signs that your dog is getting aggressive before his behavior becomes serious. Sometimes, these behaviors follow an escalating progression, as listed below.
An owner who fails to see the signs of aggression as they develop will soon find themselves with a completely out-of-control dog. This is the owner’s responsibility and doesn’t mean that the dog is a “bad dog.” It just means it’s time for some aggressive dog training tips to help you make your dog sweeter.