Understanding Aggression
Now when we acquire a new puppy it is always a brand new beginning and a puppy is akin to a blank canvas with you being the artist painting their behaviour.
We all like to think that we do our very best to raise our puppies the best way and to teach them right from wrong but very few of us are actually doggy experts and we probably inadvertently teach our puppies bad habits. Aggression is very often a problem in dogs and can vary considerably from a mere annoyance to being dangerous.
There are several types/groups of aggression displayed in dogs and your initial step to helping your dog is to ascertain which group he/she fits into the best.
One of the best known types of aggression observed in dogs is ‘dominant’ aggression. Dominate dogs enjoy being in control and they have firmly placed in their heads that they are in charge of everything and everyone. This type of dog will be seen purposely approaching other dogs and will always display a very positive and powerful type of body language, the tail will be carried high as will their head. If dogs back down and behave submissively there will generally be no problem but if a strange dog decides to stand its ground then sparks could fly so be on your guard.
‘Nervous’ aggression is the next type we will cover and this is displayed in dogs which are very often simply afraid, they are afraid of daily occurrences such as doorbells, phones, disturbances outside or other humans and dogs. The dog with nervous aggression will generally react in a negative manner by snarling, biting, barking, showing its teeth and basically being upset.
This type of dog might not have been socialized well when younger and very often will respond badly when feeling threatened and restricted by a lead.
Another type of aggression is ‘territorial’ aggression; the dog with this type is extremely protective of his/her own space. The dog feels threatened by dogs or humans entering the home where he/she lives, their garden, driveway, path outside of their home all of these areas are, as far as the dog is concerned, theirs and nobody else is permitted to enter them.
Then there is ‘possessive’ aggression. This particular dog really does not enjoy sharing and can react quite badly if their toys, food, bed or any items considered to be theirs are touched. This list of possessions can extend to their owners and this is where people can experience problems when it comes to expressing feelings towards the dog’s owners. There have been many cases of the dog reacting nastily when their owner is being hugged or kissed by another person, even another family member which the dog also knows well.
All cases of aggression observed need to be taken seriously and if you feel that you cannot handle the situation please seek advice from your vet who will be able to point you in the direction of a reputable dog behaviourist.
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