Why Are dogs Aggressive?
14 Sep 2009
Dogs have developed an instinctual aggressive-it is a part of their very nature. They evolved as pack animals who used their aggressive instincts to hunt for their prey and to protect their den and pack mates from danger. Although in the course of their evolution aggressive behavior in dogs was necessary to their very survival, in today’s society our dogs need to control their aggression. If you have a dog that is aggressive, you will need to know the reasons for his type of aggression before you can pick the proper training method to correct the problem.
Here is a list of the 6 most common reasons for dog aggression.
- Dominance Aggression: When 2 dogs first meet they have a little ritual to establish who is the dominant dog, and conversely, who is the submissive dog. Dogs are pack animals, and developed a hierarchy system in order to maintain peace among the various pack members. Normally, the dogs quickly agree on who is the boss dog, and go on with their business without any problems. It is when one of the dogs does not agree to be submissive that leads to the possibility of a dog fight ensuing.
- Fear Aggression: Fear aggression is pretty much the opposite of dominance aggression. In the case of fear aggression the dog is so overcome with anxiety that it may lash out at whatever is causing its fear. For example, a dog that had been abused by a former master, will likely show fear aggression towards certain people-especially if that person is doing something to agitate the poor dog. This type of aggression is easily recognizable-the fearful dog will display a cringing, slinking body language that includes tucking its tail up between the legs and up against its stomach. A dog in this state may try to bite anything nearby, so don’t try to comfort a dog like this.
- Territorial Aggression: Aggressive behavior over territory is a very common reason for a dog becoming aggressive. Territorial aggression is instinctive for a dog-he used it to protect his den and his pack, which today is your family and your home. However, if your dog is overly protective and becomes too aggressive, it is possible that he may even bite visitors (especially strangers) and attack other dogs or animals nearby. If you see signs of territorial aggression with your dog you should take steps to take control. The dog must learn to know to not let the barking turn into violence.
- Redirected Aggression: Redirected aggression is a type of behavior that may seem confusing at first. Sometimes a commotion may happen on the other side of your fence that stops your dogs from reaching it, and in their fury they may sometimes attack each other. It is similar to when sharks go nuts in a frenzy. The grip of the aggression got so strong that they even attacked their own buddy.
- Predatory Aggression: All dogs are born with the instinct of a predator deep down. You probably see examples of predatory aggression almost every day. Your dog displays predatory aggression by chasing a cat up a tree, or by chasing birds, dogs or other animals. Many times they are only chasing because they enjoy the thrill of the chase and not to kill. If the chasing is more serious and not just for the thrill of the chase, your aggressive dog could cause serious damage, so be sure to correct this type of aggressive behavior.
- Medical Reasons Causing Aggression: A very common example of a medical issue causing aggression is when a female dog is nursing or pregnant and becomes extra protective and bitchy. If your dog is not feeling good physically it could cause him to be easily irritated and more aggressive than usual.If you notice your dog having unusual aggressive behavior for no understandable reason, make sure his health is fine with a visit to your vet. There are those problem dogs that just are aggressive-period, and don’t need much of a reason to get all aggro. Just like some people we all have met, that’s just the way they are.
By learning to understand the different reasons for dog aggression you can more easily pick the best way to correct your dog’s problem and be sure to have the well behaved pet you really want.
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