Even the best dog in the world can
sometimes show a bit of aggression. If
barking, growling, showing teeth,
snapping, snarling and even biting are a
problem, it's take to take proactive
steps.
Dogs
don't typically act aggressively without
cause, but the fact remains this
type of behavior is unacceptable and can
lead to bigger problems down the road.
There are a few basic types of
aggression dogs might display. These
include dominance
aggression, fear aggression, protective
aggression and redirected aggression.
Each type comes with its own set of
reasons for the display, and some forms
might be more acceptable than others.
The dominance brand of aggression, as
its name suggestions, involves a dog
trying to maintain or hold its place in
the pecking order. A dog that feels its
place in the household or
"pack" is being challenged
might lash out. If this is happening
with a person being on the other end of
the aggression, a professional trainer's
help might be in order. If your dog is
acting aggressively toward you, for
example, the dog views itself in a
higher spot in the hierarchy. This is
something that will need to be undone or
challenges to authority will continue.
Fear-related
aggression is one of the easiest to spot
and respond to. If a dog feels it
is in danger, it might act out. Often,
making sure the dog feels secure can
help curb this problem.
Protective aggression
can involve people, territory or
objects. While we all want dogs
that protect us, if this particular
behavior becomes a problem, retraining
might be in order. It is not acceptable
for a dog to act aggressively toward a
person unless there is a real danger
situation at hand.
Just like the person who has had a bad
day at work and takes aggression out on
his family, redirected aggression
involves doling out punishment or
aggression on a different target. Dogs
that feel they cannot attack the targets
of this disdain might take that out on
other animals or people in a household.
If this form of aggression is too high,
getting some help in retraining is often
called for.
When aggression becomes a real concern
or problem, it is a very good idea to
take measures to curb it. If there are
no physical, medical, reasons for the
problem, retraining might be the best
bet. If the dog has not been neutered or
spayed, this can help, too.
Dogs
that are aggressive or unpredictable
should be treated with care,
especially when around small children or
the public in general. Take
steps to make sure situations are safe
before brining a dog with aggression
issues into them.
Learn
More, How to STOP Dog Aggression
