What makes dogs aggressive

Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. What Makes Dogs Act Aggressive? New Research Offers More Info. By Mary Robins Oct 13, 4 Minutes.

Oct 13, 4 Minutes. Fearfulness, Pain, Age, and Sex May All Play a Role in Dog Aggression Researchers in Helsinki studied more than 9, dogs to uncover the most common factors shared by those displaying aggressive behaviors, such as growling, barking, snapping, and biting. Those factors include: Fearfulness. Perhaps unsurprisingly for dog lovers, fearful dogs were found to be much more likely to behave aggressively than non-fearful ones — up to five times more likely, to be precise.

Aggressive dogs were sometimes found to have a medical condition such as hip dysplasia, which caused them pain and marred their overall wellbeing. Older dogs were more likely than younger ones to act aggressive. The team speculates that this might be down to suffering from a disease that causes pain, leading to aggression as described above, or because of sensory impairment that makes the approach of humans seem sudden and thus more frightening.

Male dogs were found to be more aggressive than female though in an email to AKC. Dealing with dog behavioral issues is never easy, but having an aggressive dog is particularly hard. It frequently passes the point of simply being worried about coming home to a wrecked living room or having an overly yappy pooch. When someone says their dog is aggressive, the first thing that comes to mind is that they have a dog that bites, but aggression can mean a lot of different things.

Some canines keep their aggression toned down and never act out more than the occasional growl, while others can attack other dogs or even people.

Whatever the signs of aggression your dog displays, the most important thing is to understand what triggers the behavior. There are many different reasons why a dog might be aggressive and knowing what the underlying cause is will make treatment easier and more efficient.

Even though dog aggression is among the most serious behavioral problems you might have to deal with, it is still just that — a behavioral problem that can be corrected.

It is one of the more difficult to handle though. How can you tell if a dog is nervous to the point of being aggressive? What kind of body language and signs is a precursor to an attack? Knowing the answer to these questions can help you anticipate aggressive behavior, and, hopefully, stop it in time.

Apart from Sudden Onset Aggression syndrome , which is a rare condition, an aggressive attack can always be predicted by the specific behavior that precedes it. Here are the most common signs of aggression in dogs:. Most often, the main culprit is a lack of proper socialization and training , but there are other causes that can contribute to this issue. Here are the most common causes of dog aggression:. Maybe your feisty furball has a stressor that makes them rage, or they are acting out as a consequence of a past trauma.

More often than not, there might be a common reason for different types of aggressive behavior. For example, a dog that is establishing dominance by being aggressive can exhibit that by attacking other dogs, being unfriendly with new family members, or lashing out when on a leash.

The item in question might be their favorite toy, their bed or a bowl of food, but the outcome is always the same. Once another person or a pet approaches their belongings, possessive aggressive dogs will immediately react. Territorial dogs can also react when perceived intruders come to their turf.

Depending on the gravity of the problem, the reactions can range from just growling to a full-on attack that includes biting. As with humans, fear is a powerful motivation for dogs. When faced with a scary situation, a nervous dog can turn to a flight or fight response — and fear aggressive dogs choose the latter. Unlike most other types of dog aggression, fear aggression in dogs has no warning signs. Commonly directed at other dogs, this type of aggressive behavior stems from the fact that your pooch is feeling restrained and frustrated by their leash.

This often happens when dogs are not trained on time and it can be a type of aggressive behavior that is the easiest to correct. In some instances, a dog can lash out at people that they consider the runt of their pack. The key here is to be assertive and act as the pack leader, rather than a two-legged beta.

Dogs are very good at hiding their pain, but if something is really bothering them, they might start growling or nipping. Injured dogs, for example, have been known to bite their owners while they were trying to help, so it is important to be careful when handling a dog in pain.

If you notice your older dog is starting to act aggressively out of the blue, chances are they are experiencing discomfort, pain, or even have an illness.

Rather than trying to correct the behavior, make sure to take them to a vet to eliminate any medical condition that might be triggering it.

There are dangerous breeds, such as Pitbulls, Dobermans or Rottweilers, who are specifically bred to be bloodthirsty and aggressive. There is no such thing as most aggressive dog breeds or least aggressive dog breeds. Veterinarians agree when it comes to so-called most aggressive dog breeds. The key to preventing dog aggression is good socialization, proper training, and lots of love. Breed has nothing to do with it! Aggression in dogs is a complex issue.

However, with the right approach and a lot of patience, you can learn how to stop dog aggression in its tracks. As is usually the case with all behavioral issues, prevention is the key. How can aggression be treated? Is it a good idea to hug my dog or cat? Is it important to train my dog? What sort of training would you recommend? Home Companion Animals Dogs Behaviour. Tagged: Animal behaviour Dog attacks.

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