Why Do Dogs Show Aggression?
Knowing why your dog is acting aggressively is essential to figuring out the best plan for stopping this frightening behavior. First, however, it helps to know the signs of canine aggression, as few dogs bite without first showing escalating behaviors that indicate an attack is coming. A dog displaying aggression may:
Depending on the cause and intensity of the stimulus provoking the aggression, a dog might progress through all of these behaviors, or might just deliver a warning by growling, snarling, showing aggressive body postures, or exposing its teeth without progressing to an actual bite.
Most often, your dog will display aggression due to one of the following five reasons.
Why might my dog behave aggressively toward me?
There are multiple reasons that a dog may exhibit aggression toward family members. The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression. Living with a dog that is aggressive to family members may be difficult, dangerous, disappointing and frustrating (see Aggression – Diagnosis and Overview).
How do I stop my dog’s aggressive behavior?
We can use management so that the dog isn’t put in a situation where they need to be aggressive or you can change the way the dog thinks about the issue by using behavior modification.
Creating space can be done by crossing the road or going onto a driveway and waiting for the other dog or person to pass. You may also be able to move the dog behind a barrier, such as a car or low wall. If there are no obvious barriers, you could try using your body to block your dog’s view.
By doing this, we avoid a head-on confrontation. If there’s enough space, your dog may not feel threatened, and so that means that there’s no need to react aggressively. In the home, space can be created by ensuring that your dog has a safe and secure place to be when other people or dogs are around.
Some dogs can be distracted with their favorite treats or toys, especially if the trigger is further away. If your dog’s body language tells you they have already spotted their target, then trying to get their attention with treats and toys might not be an option. This is because they are now solely focused on the trigger.
If your dog has less time to stare or obsess, then you may be able to distract them more easily. Briskly walking away can get you out of that situation fast.
In an ideal world, other people would be responsible enough to stop their dog from running across or prevent their child from rushing over to hug the ‘doggie.’ Sadly, that’s just not the situation many dog owners find themselves in.
If you know your local park is where there are loads of off-leash dogs doing their own thing, then that’s not going to be an option for a walk for your dog aggressive dog. Likewise, trail walking on a weekend might be a nightmare if it’s full of families enjoying a day out if you have a people-aggressive dog.
Despite asking people not to come over and say hello or to put their dog on a leash, sadly, members of the public are often convinced that everything will be okay. If your dog has the slightest potential to react, you should firmly tell them to back off. While they might take offense, that’s a much easier situation to deal with compared to your dog reacting.
All dogs need the opportunity for exercise; however, walking the aggressive dog comes with some real challenges. There is an argument that aggressive dogs shouldn’t be walked in public. If you have a large yard, your dog might be able to get the physical exercise and mental stimulation they need without going out. However, for most homes, that’s just not possible.
That means that it’s essential that other people and dogs are safe when you’re out with your dog. You also need to know that if your dog redirects to you, that you’ll not be hurt. One way to achieve this is through your dog wearing a muzzle. Do be aware that muzzled dogs can still cause injuries to others, so all walks need to be on a leash.
Training your dog to enjoy wearing a muzzle is a great idea for all dogs, not just those who are aggressive. That’s because there may be situations, such as emergency veterinary treatment, when the likelihood of your dog biting is much higher. If they already think it’s great to have the muzzle on, that removes some of the stress from the situation.
Most dogs get excited when you get the leash out because that predicts going out for a walk. Our dogs are brilliant at making these types of connections, so we can use this to teach that the muzzle means something good is about to happen.
Before you start muzzle training with your dog, it’s essential to get the correct type of muzzle. An aggressive dog will be wearing the muzzle while out on a walk, so it’s important that it doesn’t affect their breathing and that they can pant and drink without it being removed.
Fabric muzzles that close the mouth are only suitable for very short periods of time. So that might make them an option for when treatment is given in the veterinary office.
The basket type of muzzle is the best option for the aggressive dog when taken out for exercise. This doesn’t restrict breathing, and they will still be able to drink and eat treats, all without the muzzle being removed.
Teaching your dog to love their muzzle is best carried out over several days. Use small treats, like cheese or cooked meats, that are both smelly and tasty. Repeat every step several times and make sure that your dog is relaxed at each stage before moving to the next.
You know you’ve done a great job with muzzle training when your dog gets really excited as soon as they see it!
The theory behind dog blinders is that if your dog can’t see the trigger, then they won’t react to it. While that may seem logical, it’s anything but. First of all, blinders only cover part of the dog’s vision, so they will still see other dogs and people. Then there’s the anxiety that’s likely to be caused by not being able to see properly. For a dog that’s already anxious, this might be the thing that puts them over the edge and into aggressive mode.
Then there’s the fact that our dogs have a sense of smell that is so much better than us. In fact, they are thought to have the ability to smell objects or people as far as 20km away. So, even if they can’t see another dog or person clearly, your dog will definitely know that they’re close, just by their smell.