Understanding canine aggression

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There are very few dogs who are prone to aggression regardless of the situation. That's why it's helpful to think in terms of of aggressive behaviors rather than aggressive dogs when trying to reduce your dog's tendencies to growl or bite. Usually these behaviors are related to specific events, relationships or environments.

Keeping this in mind, here are some terms commonly used when labeling aggressive behavior:

1. Resource guarding. Many dogs will exhibit aggressive behaviors if guarding a valued resource (which can be anything, not just food or a toy, it could be their bed or even their owner.) Usually these dogs are giving "warnings" (growling, snarling, air-snapping) but they can be pushed into biting if the warnings are not heeded.

2. Misplaced, sometimes called displaced, or frustrated aggression. Commonly seen when dogs become overly excited, such as when the owner arrives and dogs congregate at a gate, bump into one another, and then get into a fight.

3. Play-escalation. Very similar to frustrated aggression, involving a dog that becomes overly excited during play (with another dog or with a person) and suddenly switches over to aggressive behavior.

4. Territorial. Most common when dogs are allowed in any "territory" without an owner present, or if the owner is not communicating clearly to the dog that they, the owners, are the ones ultimately in charge of the territory.

5. Pain-induced. Dogs trying to escape from something which has caused them pain may inflict a bite on anyone present, sometimes even directing aggression toward themselves (such as the dog who bites off his foot when it is caught in a trap.) This type of aggression is part of a canine's survival instinct, as are most aggressive behaviors.

6. Fear-related. These dogs display aggressive behaviors when afraid, and may actually bite if cornered with no escape. Sometimes fearful dogs progress to taking an offensive position, if they realize that aggressing toward people (as opposed to backing away) is successful in making the person retreat.

7. Social status. Includes  [Continued]

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