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There are three primary types of aggression commonly seen in pet dogs. Each dog differs in its individual temperament and what triggers aggressive behavior. Some dogs may exhibit multiple types of aggression.
The first and most common type of aggression in dogs is fear aggression. This is unfortunately also the most difficult to treat. A fear-aggressive dog behaves aggressively when it feels frightened or trapped. This behavior is often a result of past abuse or neglect, but may also occur in dogs that have never been mistreated. Inadequate socialization during puppyhood may trigger fear aggression later in life. A dog that has bitten due to fear in the past is unlikely ever to be completely trustworthy with children or strangers, but may be able to become a safe pet for people it knows well.
The second most common type of aggression in dogs is resource guarding and territorial aggression. This behavior may involve barking and snarling at the fence line of a yard, guarding food or toys by biting or growling, guarding locations within the home and guarding family members. This type of aggression is sometimes easy to treat and sometimes very challenging, depending upon the dog's temperament.
The third type of aggression in dogs is dominance aggression. Genuine dominance aggression is rare. Territorial and fear aggression are frequently misidentified as dominance aggression by inexperienced owners or trainers. The very few dogs who do use aggression to dominate household members are terrifying, but often easily reformed. In fact, dominance aggression is generally the easiest type of aggression to treat. The relative ease of treatment, however, does not reduce the danger of interacting with a dominant-aggressive dog during treatment. -
Any aggressive behavior displayed by a dog necessitates professional intervention. Pet owners are not equipped to treat aggression independently. In fact, most professional trainers do not have the experience and education required to interact safely with an aggressive dog.
A professional, certified Applied Animal Behaviorist should be hired to develop a treatment and management plan for any aggressive dog if at all possible. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists have completed post-graduate courses of study in Animal Behavior. Most also have many years of real-life experience. They specialize in treating behavior problems as opposed to obedience training.
If there is not an Applied Animal Behaviorist in your area, a good second choice is a veterinary behaviorist. These professionals are veterinarians who have completed additional training in Animal Behavior. They can prescribe medications, such as mild sedatives, which may be beneficial in the treatment of aggression. However, many do not make house calls. A house call is highly recommended when treating aggression. Dogs frequently behave very differently away from home.
If neither an Applied Animal Behaviorist nor a veterinary behaviorist practices near you, look for a dog trainer who offers in-home training and specializes in behavior problems. The trainer should be notified that your dog is aggressive before she is expected to enter your home. Make sure that any trainer you hire has extensive experience in treating aggression.
Before inviting any professional into your home to interact with an aggressive dog, make sure that you carry renter's or homeowner's insurance that includes personal liability coverage for dog bites. -
If you are unable to seek professional help for your aggressive dog, as a last resort you may attempt to retrain your dog on your own using a Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) program and clicker training. This requires extensive research and education to be done properly. Many aggressive dogs will not improve without professional intervention. Some will not improve even with professional intervention.
If your aggressive dog does not improve, a difficult decision must be made. Euthanasia is often the kindest option for incurably aggressive dogs.
