Understanding Dog Aggression Causes and Treatment

Dog aggression can be a complex and frustrating issue for both dog owners and the dogs themselves. It's estimated that up to 80% of dog bites occur due to fear or defensiveness.

Fear-based aggression is a common cause of dog aggression, often stemming from past traumatic experiences or lack of socialization. This can lead to a dog feeling anxious or threatened, causing them to lash out.

A key factor in dog aggression is the concept of resource guarding, where dogs become possessive of food, toys, or other resources. This can be triggered by a variety of factors, including genetics and environment.

Understanding the underlying causes of dog aggression is crucial in developing effective treatment plans. By identifying the root causes, owners can work with their dogs to build trust and confidence.

Take a look at this: What Causes Resource Guarding in Dogs

There are seven types of dog aggression, including Fear Aggression, Territorial Aggression, Idiopathic Aggression, Predatory Aggression, Intra-Household Aggression, Control Aggression, and Resource Guarding/Possession Aggression.

Each type of aggression presents unique challenges and requires specific approaches for modification. Identifying the specific triggers and underlying causes of aggression helps in addressing your dog’s needs.

Dogs with Predatory Aggression often stalk, chase, and attack smaller animals, objects, or anything that mimics prey-like movements. This behavior is rooted in their ancestry as hunters.

Territorial Aggression is a defensive behavior where a dog protects an area, person, or position it considers its own from perceived threats. This behavior stems from their ancestral pack instincts, where maintaining a defined territory was crucial for survival and protecting resources.

Leash Aggression occurs when a normally non-aggressive dog becomes aggressive when on a leash. This aggression is often directed at other dogs, especially those that are not leashed, and can stem from frustration, fear, or a sense of restraint or protectiveness.

Dogs confined to specific areas may develop Containment Aggression, resulting from frustration, fear, or territorial instincts. This behavior can occur when a dog feels unable to escape perceived threats.

Pain or Irritable Aggression can cause dogs to exhibit aggression with little to no warning when touched or approached, even by familiar individuals. Consult a veterinarian to rule out pain or underlying medical conditions as the cause of sudden aggression.

For more insights, see: Breaking Dog Territorial Aggression

Conflict Aggression arises from dogs learning that assertive behaviors achieve desired outcomes, escalating these behaviors over time. This type of aggression reflects the dynamics of the dog-human or dog-dog relationship, not the individual dog.

Here are some common types of aggression:

Dogs that haven't received proper training or socialization as puppies often develop aggression later in life.

Inadequate socialization can lead to a lack of understanding of appropriate behaviors around unfamiliar people, situations, and other dogs.

Genetic factors can also predispose certain breeds or individual dogs to aggression.

Certain breeds, such as German Shepherd dogs and Bull Terriers, are more likely to display violent behavior to others.

In fact, research has shown that purebred dogs are more likely to display aggressive behavior than mixed breed dogs.

Early experiences, such as traumatic events, lack of proper care or training, and insufficient attention, can also contribute to aggressive behaviors.

Related reading: Dog Socialization Training

A dog's health status can also play a role in aggression, with conditions such as neoplasia of the central nervous system and infectious diseases leading to aggressive behavior.

In some cases, aggression can be triggered by specific stimuli, such as a lack of proper socialization or exposure to new environments.

Identifying these triggers is crucial in addressing and modifying aggressive behavior with professional guidance.

Fear and anxiety can manifest in dogs in various ways, often leading to aggression. Fear aggression often presents as an offensive posture with the dog attempting to create distance between themselves and the offending trigger.

Dogs may display defensive or offensive body language, making it confusing to determine the type of aggression. Early manifestations of fear-related aggression are typically defensive, displayed to increase the distance between the perceived threat.

Fear and anxiety-related aggression are commonly manifested in the veterinary hospital or in situations of social approach and handling. Some signs of anxiety include dilated pupils, constant yawning and lip licking, ears pulled back, trembling, tail tucked, and lowered body or head.

A unique perspective: Anxiety in Dogs Body Language

An anxious dog may pace or be unable to relax even when there is no threat present. According to the AVMA, treating chronic anxiety can help alleviate fear-based aggression.

Dogs with anxiety may not be able to determine the difference between a legitimate and false threat, leading to aggressive behavior. Owners of fearful dogs reported that their dogs demonstrate behaviors they consider aggressive, such as barking and growling, to strangers and other dogs.

In a study, owners of 673 dogs noted that their dogs express fear by barking and growling. The presence of aggression in dogs is associated with defense mechanism, and ignoring this can lead to an increase in bites towards strangers and familiar people.

Suggestion: Dog Growling at Familiar Person

Territorial aggression can be intense, as the dog fears for themselves and their owners. Some breeds are more territorial than others.

Rewarding calm behavior when visitors come to your home can help lessen your dog's territorial reaction. Enrolling them in obedience training can also help them react to your command when telling them to stay calm.

If this caught your attention, see: Dog Territorial Aggression

Territorial aggression often presents when an unfamiliar human enters the dog's home or yard. This can trigger a strong protective response in the dog.

Picking up your dog's toys, food bowls, and other possessions when they're not using them can create an "out of sight, out of mind" situation and help manage resource guarding aggression.

Predatory aggression is the rarest of all forms of dog aggression, usually limited to hunting dogs or those with a tendency to chase prey. It's often instinctual, particularly in certain breeds.

Dogs with predatory aggression may display behaviors like chasing, biting, and catching, which can result in serious damage to others. This type of aggression is rarely directed towards humans, but rather towards animals.

To manage predatory aggression, it's essential to avoid the environment causing the behavior. For example, if your dog is chasing animals in the yard, take them on walks instead.

Explore further: Tail Chasing

Predatory behavior in dogs is often driven by instinct, particularly in breeds with a strong prey drive. This can lead to chasing and potentially harming animals in the yard, so it's best to take them on walks instead of letting them roam free.

Predatory aggression is usually limited to hunting dogs or dogs with a strong tendency to chase prey, and it's considered the result of a medical or mental condition that needs to be addressed by a veterinarian.

Dogs that exhibit predatory aggression often display a sequence of behaviors starting with a visual or auditory trigger, followed by chase, capture, and kill. This type of aggression is rare and usually directed towards unfamiliar dogs.

Predatory aggression is rarely displayed by dogs, but if it does occur, it can result in serious damage to others, including actions such as chasing, biting, catching, and even death or injury.

In some cases, predatory behavior can activate reward centers in the central nervous system, making it a challenging behavior to change. This is especially true for mature and intact males, who are more likely to display predatory aggression.

Defensive aggression is a common issue in dogs that approach and interact with human-avoidant animals, often resulting in aggressive behavior as a means to defend themselves from a real or perceived threat.

Dogs may display a range of behaviors leading up to an attack, including fear and stress signals, defensive posturing, and facial expressions. These signals can be different for self-defensive dogs versus those who are truly aggressive.

Defensive aggression is not a fixed trait and can be addressed through training and conditioning. For example, Tortora's Safety Training method, which involves using safety cues to retrain avoidance-motivated aggressive dogs, has been shown to have long-term benefits for both the dog and its owners.

Dogs that exhibit defensive aggression may try to flee initially, but may resort to aggressive behavior if cornered or threatened. This behavior is often a result of a genuine attempt to avoid a negative consequence, such as pain or discomfort.

For more insights, see: Calming Signals

Intra-household aggression is relatively common when two or more dogs live in the same household and more than one dog wants to be dominant. This type of aggression increases with more dogs brought into the home.

Older dogs are typically the aggressor over new or younger dogs. Intra-household aggression can be alleviated by separating your dogs and slowly re-socializing them until their interactions are calm.

Maternal aggression is displayed by mothers when they are approached, especially when their offspring are young. This type of aggression is linked to pain such as in cases of mastitis.

Intra-household aggression is relatively common when two or more dogs live in the same household and more than one dog wants to be dominant.

This type of aggression increases with more dogs brought into the home, with older dogs typically being the aggressor over the new or younger dog.

Intra-household aggression can be alleviated by separating your dogs and slowly re-socializing them until their interactions are calm.

Separating your dogs allows them to have a break from each other and reduces the likelihood of conflict when they are reintroduced.

Older dogs are more likely to be the aggressors in intra-household aggression, often due to their established dominance status within the household.

Discover more: How to Housetrain Adult Dog

Maternal aggression is a real thing, and it's not just limited to humans. Maternal aggression is displayed by mothers when they are approached and particularly when their offspring are young.

This type of aggression is linked to pain, such as in cases of mastitis. Oxytocin plays an important role in the early bonding between the mother and her offspring.

Dogs with maternal aggressiveness are protective of their offspring and nest. The change in hormone is linked to lactation, and the mothers can change the dogs' perception and assessment.

Maternal aggressiveness may lead to bites or other attacks. Maternal dogs are very protective of their puppies.

Their aggressive tendencies decrease as their offspring grow up and they are able to defend themselves.

Idiopathic and Trauma are two complex factors that can contribute to dog aggression. Idiopathic aggression is the most unpredictable type, with triggers unknown or misunderstood by the owner.

This type of aggression can be severe and warrants a conversation with your veterinarian. Idiopathic aggression may have a neurological reason behind it, making it even more challenging to address.

Trauma, especially in rescue dogs, can significantly contribute to aggressive behavior. Dogs that have experienced abuse, neglect, or other traumatic events may display fear-based aggression to protect themselves from perceived threats.

Trauma can also lead to increased anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and a lowered threshold for fear or frustration. Inadequate socialization during critical developmental stages can amplify the effects of trauma, resulting in fear-based responses towards people, other animals, or new environments.

Rehabilitating rescue dogs with trauma requires patience, understanding, and specialized techniques. Building trust through consistent training, providing a safe environment, and gradually introducing new experiences can help reduce aggression.

Explore further: Reward Based Dog Training

The gut microbiome plays a significant role in canine behavior, particularly when it comes to aggression. Research has shown that the gut microbiome differs in aggressive and non-aggressive dogs, even when they are fed the same diet and live in the same environment.

A study by Kirchoff and colleagues found that the composition of the gut microbiome is associated with aggressive behavior in dogs. This means that the types and abundance of bacteria in the gut can influence a dog's temperament.

Dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior tend to have higher levels of Lactobacillus in their gut, which is interesting given that strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in mice. On the other hand, dogs that display non-aggressive behavior tend to have higher levels of Fusobacterium in their stool.

The presence of these bacteria in the gut can have a significant impact on a dog's behavior, and may even contribute to the development of anxiety and aggression.

For your interest: Dog Training Levels

Idiopathic aggression is the most unpredictable type of aggression, with the trigger either unknown or misunderstood by the dog's owner.

This type of aggression can be severe, with a possible neurological reason behind the behavior.

Idiopathic aggression can't be foreshadowed based on the dog's environment, making it the most dangerous form of aggression.

Talking with your veterinarian is warranted if you suspect idiopathic aggression in your dog.

Trauma can significantly contribute to aggressive behavior in dogs, especially rescue dogs that have experienced abuse, neglect, or other traumatic events.

Dogs that have experienced trauma may display fear-based aggression to protect themselves from perceived threats, which can be a result of their lowered threshold for fear or frustration.

Trauma can also lead to increased anxiety and hyper-vigilance in dogs, making them more prone to reacting aggressively in new or unfamiliar situations.

Inadequate socialization during critical developmental stages can amplify the effects of trauma, resulting in fear-based responses towards people, other animals, or new environments.

Rehabilitating rescue dogs with trauma requires patience, understanding, and specialized techniques, such as building trust through consistent training and providing a safe environment.

Professional assistance is recommended for this journey, as it can be challenging to address aggression in dogs with trauma without proper guidance.