Dog Aggression Training

This series explains the different types of dog aggression in an easy-to-understand format for everyday pet owners.

While a few complex and technical terms are used, each category goal is designed to reach individuals searching for answers pertaining to dog aggression. Information provided contains current prevention tips and behavior protocols as well as how to find professional help if needed.

What is Dog Aggression?

Aggression means “often harmful, social interaction with the intention of inflicting damage or other unpleasantness upon another individual.” In the dog world, most dogs display aggressive behaviors to warn they can and will cause harm before actually engaging in a fight. Basically, this means most dogs are not born aggressive. Instead, dogs learn to use aggressive behaviors to guard favorite toys, protect themselves from perceived threats or redirect their frustration onto another dog or person.

Before labeling a dog with aggression issues, it’s important to understand that aggression is a symptom of anxiety. Fixing aggression does not help a dog; you’re just masking a symptom of an underlying cause. Instead, focus on managing anxiety, which will decrease aggression. Think of it this way: If someone has the flu, lowering a high fever, a symptom of illness, does not cure the flu. This is the same with aggression. Check out this article to dispel a few dog aggression myths.

What Does Not Work?

Punishment rarely works. Instead, punishment causes an increase in anxiety, which causes a surge in aggression. Punishment is usually categorized as leash correcting, yelling, screaming, scolding and physically striking a dog. If you’re scared of heights, would my screaming and pushing help your fear? Probably not. Instead, your fear will worsen or you’ll redirect your frustration by punching me in the nose!

 Aggression is extremely frustrating and scary for pet owners. No one wants his dog to cause harm to himself or anyone else.

Instead of redirecting your frustration at your dog, channel your frustration to solving the issue.

Can You Fix Aggression?

This is a controversial topic in the dog training world, and I’m going to tackle it head on. No, you can’t fix or cure aggression, but you can teach a dog how to manage his anxiety. While you can’t fix aggression, you can surely teach a dog how to respond without acting aggressively.

Before you become discouraged, allow me to explain further.

If you’ve been violently mugged by a man wearing a red shirt, you understand the terror felt when another man wearing a red shirt approaches you. We all know men wearing red shirts are not scary, but you’ve learned to fear them. Over time, you learn red-shirt-wearing men are harmless, but your heart still pitter-patters when you see one.

Types of Aggression

Redirected Aggression

Road rage is basically redirected aggression. You’re turning your frustration onto another motorist. Instead of honking your horn, learn how to manage road rage by driving slower, keeping additional distance between cars and rewarding yourself for disengaging or ignoring a fellow road rage-er. I’ll be the first to admit, this is my personal struggle and I’m still learning how to cope with my frustration. 🙂

Resource Guarding

Oh and let’s chat about resource guarding. 🙂 How do you feel when a stranger or friend leans or sits on your new car? Mercy! You’ve worked hard to pay for that shiny new car so folks need to show respect, right? Now, you understand why dogs guard their new and shiny toys.

Short Answer

While you can’t fix aggression, you can surely teach a dog how to respond without acting aggressively. Not only will this reduce aggression, it also builds confidence and lowers anxiety. I think you are starting to see the whole picture now.

Let’s Jump Into Our Series Now!

One more thing, understand that fixing should only be used with cars. You can’t fix dogs nor people, but you can surely change behavior for the better!

Be your dog’s voice!

More:
Defensive Aggression
Offensive Aggression
Redirected Aggression
Resource Guarding

Defensive Aggression in Dogs

This breaks my heart. Defensive dogs are begging to be left alone because they’re terrified. Before preventing or managing defensive dog aggression, learn how to identify and understand the cause of defensive dog aggression.

What is Defensive Dog Aggression?

Defensive means to defend oneself. Aggression means “hostile or violent behavior toward something.” When combined, defensive aggression means defending oneself by using aggression. Every living being has an automatic defensive response when encountering a perceived threat; we flee, fight or freeze. This reaction is hardwired into our brains. It’s a defense mechanism. We flee if this is an option. If not, we freeze or fight.

Defensive aggression encompasses all three reactions: fight, flee and freeze. If your dog displays any one of these three reactions, he’s scared. Remove him from the situation immediately. When polling pet parents during my group classes, most label “fight” as defensive aggression, as this is the most problematic of the three. Usually, pet parents ignore “flee” and “freeze” because they’re unaware these components are, indeed, a part of defensive aggression.

During safe puppy play, puppies practice these behaviors if they’re unsure they will “flee” or “freeze.” Other puppies learn what these behaviors mean and ignore the scared puppy. If the other playing puppies ignore “flee” or “freeze” behavior, the scared puppy is most likely to “fight.” While pet parents think, “Good. This puppy is teaching my bully puppy a lesson,” the scared puppy is actually learning offensive aggression, meaning if I attack when scared, it works. Yikes! This is the perfect recipe for dog aggression behavior. That’s why puppies should only play during safe play sessions organized by professional dog trainers.

Preventing Defensive Aggression in Dogs

Listen to your dogs. If they’re scared or nervous, remove them from the situation. Remember, defensive aggression happens when your dog is cornered by a perceived threat. If he can’t get away, he will resort to aggression. Dogs don’t understand that veterinarians are trying to help him. They feel cornered and don’t want to be there any longer.

Flight (Flee)

When given the opportunity, most dogs will flee. If not, they will either freeze or fight. Usually a dog will lower herself to the ground, tuck her tail, lean back from the scary trigger and run. If the scary thing catches up, she will freeze, then try to run away again. If the scary thing keeps chasing her, and “flee” and “freeze” are not working, she will fight.

Freeze

Just as the word describes, “freeze” means a dog will stop and stand completely still. This makes the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. Yikes! This dog is terrified. If this happens, remove your dog from the situation immediately. If pushed, a “freeze” will turn into a fight. Their options have been limited.

Tips on removing a dog from a scary situation:

• Small to medium size dogs: Pick them up and hold at chest level. Don’t forget to tuck the tail in too. It’s no fun having a bully pull at your tail.
• Large to giant dogs: Step in between dogs and grab the bully dog’s collar. Ask someone to come over and grab the bully’s collar so you can leash your dog. Leave the area while the bully dog is being restrained by the collar. Most folks try to grab their scared dogs, but that only aids bully dogs in pinning your dog down. Grab the bully instead.

Leash reactivity is a newer phenomenon; dogs are unable to “flee” from approaching strange dogs or people because they’re attached to a leash so most will “fight.“ Dogs then learn to bark, growl or lunge at other dogs or people, when on leash, because they know they can’t “flee.” This is an example of offensive aggression.

Fight

Dogs will fight as a last resort when feeling threatened. Now, some dogs may choose to “fight” before “freezing” or “fleeing.” Usually, these dogs have underlying anxiety issues, meaning they’re in a constant state of “flee” or “freeze” behavior. You never want it to get this far. Your dog is basically fighting for his life; he is terrified.

Managing Defensive Aggression

Listen to your dog. Be his voice.

• If your dog is stressed when another dog approaches, turn around and walk the other way.
• When a strange person tries to pet your dog and she moves away, support her decision. Never force your dog to meet or accept petting.
• During play, never allow your dog or puppy to be bullied. When in doubt, end the play session.
• Use yummy treats at the vet’s office. Practice body handling and restraint at home. Several times a week, pop in for fun vet visits, such as standing on the scale, reception folks giving out treats and so forth. Trust me, your vet wants dogs to have positive experiences. It’s no fun restraining frightened dogs. 🙂

Be your dog’s voice.