LIFESTYLE NEWS - Aggression is a serious behavioural issue that can cause significant harm, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to resolving it.
Local animal behaviourist George van Huyssteen, explains why dogs might become aggressive.
When addressing aggression, it's crucial to consider the dog's emotional state at the time of the aggressive response before implementing a behaviour modification plan. With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to outline some common reasons why dogs might exhibit aggressive behaviour.
The term "aggressive" is frequently used to describe dog behaviour, but it is a broad and often misunderstood term. Depending on the context, it can mean different things to different people.
Some might label a dog as aggressive for showing its teeth while holding a bone, others might think of a dog lunging at other dogs on a lead, and some might associate it with a dog that inflicts serious bites.
Generally, aggression in dogs involves threatening behaviours towards another individual—be it human or animal. While it can be alarming, aggressive behaviour is ultimately a form of communication, often signalling a desire for others to keep their distance. If left unaddressed, aggression can have serious consequences, making it essential to seek guidance from a professional dog behaviour expert to ensure safety and appropriate behaviour modification.
Ritualised aggression
Aggression in dogs can serve as a form of communication. When a dog effectively communicates through aggressive displays, it may actually prevent conflict. This form of communication, known as "ritualised aggression," is used to avoid confrontation rather than initiate it. Understanding this concept is key to interpreting a dog's behaviour accurately.
Fear aggression
Dogs that exhibit aggressive behaviours, such as biting, are often perceived as confident. However, the reality is that most aggressive responses in dogs stem from fear. When feeling vulnerable or threatened, these dogs may lunge and growl to protect themselves. Their aggressive behaviour is simply a defensive response, rooted in the fear of being attacked, leading them to adopt a "best defence is a good offence" strategy. Whether directed at people, other dogs, or animals, this behaviour is the dog's way of communicating discomfort and a need for space.
Territorial aggression
This type of aggression typically occurs within a dog's perceived territory. The same dog may appear calm and non-aggressive when outside this area. A common example is a dog barking at people passing by its home. It's important to note that a dog's territory can extend beyond the immediate home and surrounding area; dogs are often willing to defend even a few metres beyond their property. While territorial dogs frequently guard homes and land, some may also fiercely protect vehicles.
Barrier aggression
Barrier aggression is an explosive display triggered when a dog is prevented by a barrier from accessing something or escaping. This leads to frustration and heightened arousal, which can result in aggressive behaviour. For example, a friendly dog might become frustrated and aggressive when behind a fence or on a lead but act friendly once the barrier is removed. Any type of barrier—such as a gate, lead, kennel, or tether—can provoke this form of aggression. In some cases, fear may be an underlying emotion, as the dog feels anxious and frustrated when unable to free itself from the barrier.
Defensive aggression
Defensive aggression occurs when a dog feels the need to protect itself from a perceived threat. This is often seen at the vet's office, where dogs may bite when they feel trapped or restrained, anticipating pain or discomfort.
It can also occur when owners use harsh methods to address undesirable behaviours, prompting a defensive reaction from the dog. A survey published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that confrontational techniques—such as glaring at dogs, physically striking or intimidating them, and using physical manipulation—can lead to aggressive responses.
Play aggression
Play aggression is frequently observed in dog parks and daycares. Dogs may be playing peacefully one moment, but the situation can quickly escalate into a fight due to heightened excitement. Another scenario involves a dog with inadequate social skills who fails to give another dog space or exhibits bullying behaviour.
Redirected aggression
It's important to note that dogs who are highly aroused by a particular stimulus may redirect their aggression and attack or bite a person or animal unrelated to the original trigger.
For instance, a dog being walked on a lead may lunge and bark at another passing dog, then redirect and bite the owner when they attempt to calm the dog. In another example, two dogs barking at a passerby may end up redirecting their arousal and fighting each other.
If an owner tries to intervene in a fight between two dogs, they may be bitten as a result of redirected aggression.
Resource guarding
Resource guarding occurs when a dog assigns high value to an object, person, or resting place and acts aggressively towards anyone—including other dogs—who approaches it.
This is a common behaviour among dogs, ranging from ritualised displays to actual biting if the dog's wish to be left alone with a valuable resource is not respected. Commonly guarded objects include food bowls, bones, toys, dog beds, and specific individuals.
Medically induced aggression in dogs
Aggression in dogs can sometimes stem from an underlying medical condition. Various medical issues have the potential to induce behavioural changes, including aggression.
Iatrogenic aggression
Iatrogenic aggression, also known as "drug-induced aggression," occurs as a side effect of specific medications or procedures. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly review a dog's medical history, including any current medications, before assuming that the dog is inherently aggressive.
Hormone-induced aggression
This type of aggression in male dogs is often linked to the influence of powerful hormones. Testosterone has been associated with specific behaviours in male dogs, such as roaming, urine marking, and engaging in conflicts with other male dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering can reduce aggression in 62 per cent of cases where male dogs have displayed aggressive tendencies towards other dogs, especially male dogs.
However, it is important to note that neutering is not always as effective as expected, as some studies have produced conflicting findings.
Intrasexual aggression
Many cases have been reported of dogs displaying aggression towards dogs of the same sex, known as same-sex aggression. While two male or two female puppies may coexist without issues, problems can arise once they reach puberty and social maturity. Such conflicts have been observed in both intact dogs during hormonal changes and spayed/neutered dogs.
Maternal aggression
After giving birth to a litter of puppies, mother dogs may display aggressive behaviours towards their owners, other animals, or other dogs. This type of aggression is related to the hormonal changes in the mother's body and typically decreases gradually over the weeks following birth.
Predatory aggression
Predatory aggression can occur when larger dogs attack smaller dogs or pets that resemble prey animals. This type of aggression is typically silent, with the dog stalking and attacking without significant warning signs, such as barking or growling.
Trained aggression
Throughout history, dogs have been professionally trained to exhibit aggressive behaviour towards enemies and intruders. This type of training requires the utmost professionalism due to the significant risks and liabilities involved.
Learned aggression
All forms of dog aggression involve some level of learning, as there are reinforcing consequences that maintain the aggressive behaviours. Unlike trained aggression, where a human intentionally teaches the dog to display aggressive behaviours, learned aggression occurs naturally without deliberate trainer intervention.
For instance, a dog that barks at the postman learns that the postman eventually leaves, leading the dog to believe that barking is effective. Consequently, the dog will increasingly use barking, having learned that it causes the postman to leave.
Similarly, a dog fearful of having its nails trimmed may learn that growling and snapping stop the owner from attempting the task. Dogs may also exhibit aggressive behaviours because it provides internal relief, allowing the dog to express feelings of anger or frustration.
While it might be tempting to try to suppress these learned behaviours by ignoring the barking or continuing to trim the nails despite the growling, these actions can exacerbate the problem, potentially leading to biting.
Instead, the focus should be on addressing the underlying emotions through the most suitable force-free behavioural intervention techniques.
As you can see, aggression can have many causes, and because every dog is an individual, many factors need to be considered when dealing with aggressive dogs. This is why I have explained the possible reasons for aggression but have not offered specific solutions, as there is no one-size-fits-all remedy.
Aggression cannot simply be trained out of a dog; in most cases, desensitisation and counterconditioning are needed, which are more closely linked to classical conditioning (associative learning) than to operant conditioning (behaviours have consequences, the foundation of dog training). - George van Huyssteen (DipCABT, CCAB, CABTI, MHERA)
*If you have any questions regarding your dogs, please send George an email to neuropaws@gmail.com and tell him about your problem. Each week he will pick a question to answer
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