Dog aggression is quite complex not only because it is unacceptable to humans but also its potential consequences are serious and dangerous. Dog aggression is any type of behavior that is meant to intimidate, harm or inflict pain on other animals and humans. Symptoms of aggression in dogs include baring teeth, growling, snarling and biting. There is always a reason for aggressive behavior. This is something that humans have to deal with. But this problem is preventable if the pet owner knows and understands the reasons and factors that influence dog aggression. There are several reasons why these types of behavior occur in dogs. A dog may exhibit more than one type of behavior at one point or another.
Dominance Aggression
Dominant-aggressive dogs are those who want to establish supremacy and demand attention. This behavior is also evident in humans. Since dogs are pack animals with a strict social hierarchy, they express it differently. More often than not, dogs think that people belong to their pack, and they will try to assume the alpha dog position, hence the aggression.
Territorial Aggression
Another reason for aggression in dogs apart from dominance is their territorial nature. Dogs can be very protective and possessive of their property. Since dogs assume their home and family as ownership, they will protect and defend them at all cost even to the point of extending well past their boundaries. Extremely violent behavior can happen when their area or property is threatened.
Fright Aggression
Aggression due to fear is another defensive reaction from dogs who feel that they are in danger of being harmed. A frightened dog will fight and strike back because he wants to protect himself from the incoming threat or danger. Fear should not be neglected as this may be one of the probable causes of dog aggression that is usually mistaken for direct aggressiveness. It is usually characterized by growling, with the dog’s ears pulled back and its tail between its legs.
Predatory Nature
Although most of the dogs may be afraid, other dogs have burly instincts, so predatory character is another aspect for aggression. Certain dogs enjoy hunting and chasing. Cats, smaller dogs, or little kids can be mistaken by dog as food.
Redirected Aggression
One more reason for aggression amongst dogs is redirected aggression, and is sometimes misunderstood. This kind of behavior can be seen when a dog lets out his aggression on the actual object causing the fear, anger or territorial thoughts. A good example, if your dogs are in the yard and an individual they thought as a trespasser enters the house, the dogs may turn on one another. But, some individuals do not understand the unexplainable aggression, just because they don’t understand where the aggression originated.
Medical Reasons for Aggression
Although aggression is usually something behavioral, there might be medical reasons behind it. Normally dogs can be trained to not be aggressive if it is something behavioral, but if it is because of a medical condition then it needs to be treated properly and professionally. Pregnant or nursing female dogs tend to be violent because of maternal protectiveness, and this violent behavior can be addressed by training them as early as when they are still puppies.
Remembering the reasons for aggression in dogs and observing where your dogs fits can be the initial step in curbing the behavior. There are few varying training methods you can use to limit the different types of aggression, so knowing the reasons behind your pet’s aggressive tendencies can help you determine what training methods to use to be more effective.
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