Aggression
Aggression in dogs is largely preventable and treatable if the owner understands their dog and the factors that influence the development of aggressive behaviour. Both genetic and hereditary factors play a major role in aggression. Inbreeding or breeding from nervous or aggressive parents can create unstable temperaments in their offspring, Hormones can also contribute to aggressive tendencies in intact male dogs, females in heat or in a false pregnancy, and females nursing puppies, and a number of illnesses and diseases can result in aggressive behaviour.
The dogs environment -- living conditions, lack of socialization, excessive punishment and abuse, being attacked or frightened by an aggressive dog, being isolated from human contact or being exposed to frequent teasing by children, even being tethered in the garden --can also influence aggression. It is important to initially seek a veterinary opinion as to the cause of aggressive behaviours in order to rule out any medical cause, and then approach a canine behaviourist to assist in determining the type of aggression being displayed, its cause, and advice on retraining that behaviour. . In distinguishing between different behaviours one of the most important things to determine is not only the behaviour itself and the resulting reaction but the motivation behind it. (1)
The following are brief descriptions of some of the various forms of aggression,
Fear Aggression
This could be a result of lack of socialisation and early exposure to different experiences as a puppy. Or it may also be because the dog has had a negative experience in the past,The resulting aggression shown is the only way the dog knows to get away from what it believes to be a genuinely frightening situation
Fear Aggression can cause dogs to bite when they are frightened. The dog bites when he cannot escape the situation. Some fear aggression can be prevented simply by the owner being aware of the signals given by the dog to show that it is uncomfortable with the situation especially if the fear is of a person. If a dog displays avoidance body language (crouching, flinching, blinking, upper lip raising, and tail tucking) and is allowed to move away from the threat, a bite can sometimes be prevented. Fear is usually dealt with by slowly building up exposure to the cause of fear in order to desensitize the dog to the person, sound, object or situation making them fearful thereby reducing the fearful response to it in future. The use of CDs containing the sound of fireworks is often successfully when played initially quietly then building up in volume in the weeks preceding bonfire night as the dog has become accustomed to the sound and it not causing him harm.
Pain Related Defensive Aggression
Many dogs in a painful situation will attempt to bite Vets, nurses, groomers and even their owners, even those dogs that have never shown any other aggressive tendencies in the past. Dogs who have been in road accidents often bite their helpers, the dog is likely to be in a confused state, perhaps also in shock or in great pain and unable to move because of injury and therefore in a situation from which it is unable to flee, there is a likelihood that the dog may feel its only option is to fight, and a bite incident could easily occur. Even holding a dog still in order to clip its nails can force a situation that will lead to a defensive reaction. This is a natural reaction to pain or the expectation of pain, and is not something that can be trained out of a dog however lessons can be learned by handlers and owners in the correct handling of a dog in pain or in fear of pain to reduce the possibility of being bitten.
Territorial Aggression
By definition, territorial aggression should be directed toward members of the same species ie other dogs. Dogs, however, seem to regard humans as conspecific and consequently may direct territorial aggression toward us, The Dublin Pet School claim that a study of dog bite incidence's that took place in Ireland between 2004-2005 concluded 50% of Bites were territory related.
The use of aggressive behaviour is reinforced in a dog whenever, for example, a postman or milkman approaches the house and then after dropping off a letter or the milk he leaves the territory. The dog actually thinks that he drove the stranger away and this in itself will encourage more aggression next time. A dog is also more likely to be defensive or territorial if he is isolated, locked up or especially or tethered. There are three main problems with tethering. A dog that is tethered is feeling two instinctive responses immediately. One is a natural territorial defensiveness. he is protecting his property from would-be strangers. Another typical response is a personal defensiveness. This occurs because the dog is anchored, so to speak, and has lost the ability to flee in case of danger. The ``fight or flight'' response is very real and, by tethering a dog, you have inadvertently left it with only one choice, to ``fight.'' A dog on leash can also behave in a similar way for the same reasons this can be helped by the owner providing an escape by removing both themselves and their dog from the situation therefore reinstating the flee option. Not allowing a dog access to widows or doors or gates that it can see through can also help but there is no substitute for proper socialization to prevent the behaviour from occurring initially. (2)
Predatory Aggression
All dogs have some level of prey drive (the motivation to chase, catch and kill small furry or feathered creatures) because hunting and killing was the means for the survival of their ancestors. Predatory aggression by dogs does not reflect on its behaviour with its human family and the dog is neither vicious, malicious nor vindictive.
Predation is a natural survival-related behaviour which even though it may sometimes alarm or disgust us, is one of the main attributes which humans have harnessed, honed and modified since dogs were first domesticated The entire predatory sequence involves searching, stalking, chasing, catching, biting, killing and then eating.
Predatory aggression is not preceded by a significant mood change or threatening gestures because either would not be productive to the objective – which is to catch and kill the prey. The absence of warning signs plus the fact that killing is the natural end point for the behaviour however makes it important that owners of certain breeds are aware of the capability and drive of their chosen breed, for example a Jack Russell Terrier might not be the right dog in a rodent or rabbit keeping family. (3)
Maternal Aggression
Maternal protective behaviour is the natural instinct to protect the young or vulnerable. A mother dog may become aggressive with strangers when she is nursing puppies. This form of aggressive behaviour decreases as the puppies are weaned and become more independent. Careful handling so as not to distress the bitch is required when she is nursing very young puppies and supervision of children when around the mum or her puppies is of major importance. (4)
Resource Guarding
It is suggested that resource guarding, also known as possessive aggression is a vestige of a dogs pre-domestication. In the wild, resources are scarce, and wild dogs learned to guard their food, shelter and other resources from other animals in their environment. Even after generations of breeding for temperament this predisposition to protecting valued objects has carried over into domestic dogs and translates as defensive aggression when a dog feels his possessions are in danger and consequently, that his survival is being threatened.
Food guarding is the most common type of resource guarding however toys, empty bowls, items stolen from the dustbin, cloths, preferred resting areas and, sometimes, social companions if highly valued by the dog may cause an unwanted reaction. In it’s mildest form the dog may merely tense up a little or freeze if someone approaches whilst he is trying to eat. If the perceived threat was to continue the dog may feel that he is left with no other option than to bite.
Resource guarding is a serious problem, a recent study concluded that this behaviour is responsible for 42% of bites on familiar children. (5) Often this type of behaviour has be labelled as “dominance”, however their may be many reasons for this behaviour and Veterinary advice should be firstly sought to rule out any medical reason. Employing a professional behavioural consultant to fully evaluate the problem may then be required if any improvement is to be seen. Under no circumstances should the dog be punished for this behaviour. Using harsh discipline often results in the dog showing more aggression to retain it’s resource.
Dog owners must be aware of aggressive behaviours exhibited by their dog. A biting dog is a serious liability, and responsible owners must be proactive in dealing with the source of the aggression in order to treat the behaviour. Some dogs bite as a defence mechanism, and are actually responding to underlying fears. Identifying the fear-provoking stimulus and retraining the dog to overcome his fears is critical in treating the problem. Corrections, especially harsh, physical ones, will only serve to intensify the fears and cause further behavioural problems. However, aggression is not always associated with fear. Overly confident dogs may aggressively respond to the presence of new dogs. Territoriality may also cause aggression. Dogs may act aggressively to dogs of the same sex, but not to those of the opposite. Some dogs are even taught, either consciously or subconsciously to exhibit aggression, If correctly diagnosed most of these dogs can be reconditioned.
In conclusion aggressive acts can be the first sign of underlying and medical problems many of which are treatable. Dogs who suddenly start to act aggressively could be responding to pain associated with orthopaedic abnormalities, gastro-intestinal discomfort or serious illnesses, such as cancer or thyroid imbalances. Diagnosis and treatment of physical illness is necessary to resolve associated behaviour problems and professional help should be sought immediately from a vet. Aggression even in its early stages should be taken seriously, before the behaviour escalates to more serious threats or biting and if medical cause is ruled out then assistance should be sought from a behaviourist. Many behaviourists work in conjunction with veterinarians to treat aggression, occasionally using pharmacological approaches to treating aggressive tendencies. Aggression from dogs is intolerable, but is most often treatable.
References 1) http://www.canismajor.com/dog/aggres1.html
(2) O’ Heare J 2007 Aggressive behaviour in dogs a comprehensive manual for professionals, Dogpsych Publishing,Ottawa, Canada.
(3)Serpell J 1995 The domestic dog its evolution, behaviour and interactions with humans, The Cambridge University Press
(4) Beaver B, 1999, Canine Behaviour a guide for veterinarians, Saunders
(5) http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/13/5/348
The dogs environment -- living conditions, lack of socialization, excessive punishment and abuse, being attacked or frightened by an aggressive dog, being isolated from human contact or being exposed to frequent teasing by children, even being tethered in the garden --can also influence aggression. It is important to initially seek a veterinary opinion as to the cause of aggressive behaviours in order to rule out any medical cause, and then approach a canine behaviourist to assist in determining the type of aggression being displayed, its cause, and advice on retraining that behaviour. . In distinguishing between different behaviours one of the most important things to determine is not only the behaviour itself and the resulting reaction but the motivation behind it. (1)
The following are brief descriptions of some of the various forms of aggression,
Fear Aggression
This could be a result of lack of socialisation and early exposure to different experiences as a puppy. Or it may also be because the dog has had a negative experience in the past,The resulting aggression shown is the only way the dog knows to get away from what it believes to be a genuinely frightening situation
Fear Aggression can cause dogs to bite when they are frightened. The dog bites when he cannot escape the situation. Some fear aggression can be prevented simply by the owner being aware of the signals given by the dog to show that it is uncomfortable with the situation especially if the fear is of a person. If a dog displays avoidance body language (crouching, flinching, blinking, upper lip raising, and tail tucking) and is allowed to move away from the threat, a bite can sometimes be prevented. Fear is usually dealt with by slowly building up exposure to the cause of fear in order to desensitize the dog to the person, sound, object or situation making them fearful thereby reducing the fearful response to it in future. The use of CDs containing the sound of fireworks is often successfully when played initially quietly then building up in volume in the weeks preceding bonfire night as the dog has become accustomed to the sound and it not causing him harm.
Pain Related Defensive Aggression
Many dogs in a painful situation will attempt to bite Vets, nurses, groomers and even their owners, even those dogs that have never shown any other aggressive tendencies in the past. Dogs who have been in road accidents often bite their helpers, the dog is likely to be in a confused state, perhaps also in shock or in great pain and unable to move because of injury and therefore in a situation from which it is unable to flee, there is a likelihood that the dog may feel its only option is to fight, and a bite incident could easily occur. Even holding a dog still in order to clip its nails can force a situation that will lead to a defensive reaction. This is a natural reaction to pain or the expectation of pain, and is not something that can be trained out of a dog however lessons can be learned by handlers and owners in the correct handling of a dog in pain or in fear of pain to reduce the possibility of being bitten.
Territorial Aggression
By definition, territorial aggression should be directed toward members of the same species ie other dogs. Dogs, however, seem to regard humans as conspecific and consequently may direct territorial aggression toward us, The Dublin Pet School claim that a study of dog bite incidence's that took place in Ireland between 2004-2005 concluded 50% of Bites were territory related.
The use of aggressive behaviour is reinforced in a dog whenever, for example, a postman or milkman approaches the house and then after dropping off a letter or the milk he leaves the territory. The dog actually thinks that he drove the stranger away and this in itself will encourage more aggression next time. A dog is also more likely to be defensive or territorial if he is isolated, locked up or especially or tethered. There are three main problems with tethering. A dog that is tethered is feeling two instinctive responses immediately. One is a natural territorial defensiveness. he is protecting his property from would-be strangers. Another typical response is a personal defensiveness. This occurs because the dog is anchored, so to speak, and has lost the ability to flee in case of danger. The ``fight or flight'' response is very real and, by tethering a dog, you have inadvertently left it with only one choice, to ``fight.'' A dog on leash can also behave in a similar way for the same reasons this can be helped by the owner providing an escape by removing both themselves and their dog from the situation therefore reinstating the flee option. Not allowing a dog access to widows or doors or gates that it can see through can also help but there is no substitute for proper socialization to prevent the behaviour from occurring initially. (2)
Predatory Aggression
All dogs have some level of prey drive (the motivation to chase, catch and kill small furry or feathered creatures) because hunting and killing was the means for the survival of their ancestors. Predatory aggression by dogs does not reflect on its behaviour with its human family and the dog is neither vicious, malicious nor vindictive.
Predation is a natural survival-related behaviour which even though it may sometimes alarm or disgust us, is one of the main attributes which humans have harnessed, honed and modified since dogs were first domesticated The entire predatory sequence involves searching, stalking, chasing, catching, biting, killing and then eating.
Predatory aggression is not preceded by a significant mood change or threatening gestures because either would not be productive to the objective – which is to catch and kill the prey. The absence of warning signs plus the fact that killing is the natural end point for the behaviour however makes it important that owners of certain breeds are aware of the capability and drive of their chosen breed, for example a Jack Russell Terrier might not be the right dog in a rodent or rabbit keeping family. (3)
Maternal Aggression
Maternal protective behaviour is the natural instinct to protect the young or vulnerable. A mother dog may become aggressive with strangers when she is nursing puppies. This form of aggressive behaviour decreases as the puppies are weaned and become more independent. Careful handling so as not to distress the bitch is required when she is nursing very young puppies and supervision of children when around the mum or her puppies is of major importance. (4)
Resource Guarding
It is suggested that resource guarding, also known as possessive aggression is a vestige of a dogs pre-domestication. In the wild, resources are scarce, and wild dogs learned to guard their food, shelter and other resources from other animals in their environment. Even after generations of breeding for temperament this predisposition to protecting valued objects has carried over into domestic dogs and translates as defensive aggression when a dog feels his possessions are in danger and consequently, that his survival is being threatened.
Food guarding is the most common type of resource guarding however toys, empty bowls, items stolen from the dustbin, cloths, preferred resting areas and, sometimes, social companions if highly valued by the dog may cause an unwanted reaction. In it’s mildest form the dog may merely tense up a little or freeze if someone approaches whilst he is trying to eat. If the perceived threat was to continue the dog may feel that he is left with no other option than to bite.
Resource guarding is a serious problem, a recent study concluded that this behaviour is responsible for 42% of bites on familiar children. (5) Often this type of behaviour has be labelled as “dominance”, however their may be many reasons for this behaviour and Veterinary advice should be firstly sought to rule out any medical reason. Employing a professional behavioural consultant to fully evaluate the problem may then be required if any improvement is to be seen. Under no circumstances should the dog be punished for this behaviour. Using harsh discipline often results in the dog showing more aggression to retain it’s resource.
Dog owners must be aware of aggressive behaviours exhibited by their dog. A biting dog is a serious liability, and responsible owners must be proactive in dealing with the source of the aggression in order to treat the behaviour. Some dogs bite as a defence mechanism, and are actually responding to underlying fears. Identifying the fear-provoking stimulus and retraining the dog to overcome his fears is critical in treating the problem. Corrections, especially harsh, physical ones, will only serve to intensify the fears and cause further behavioural problems. However, aggression is not always associated with fear. Overly confident dogs may aggressively respond to the presence of new dogs. Territoriality may also cause aggression. Dogs may act aggressively to dogs of the same sex, but not to those of the opposite. Some dogs are even taught, either consciously or subconsciously to exhibit aggression, If correctly diagnosed most of these dogs can be reconditioned.
In conclusion aggressive acts can be the first sign of underlying and medical problems many of which are treatable. Dogs who suddenly start to act aggressively could be responding to pain associated with orthopaedic abnormalities, gastro-intestinal discomfort or serious illnesses, such as cancer or thyroid imbalances. Diagnosis and treatment of physical illness is necessary to resolve associated behaviour problems and professional help should be sought immediately from a vet. Aggression even in its early stages should be taken seriously, before the behaviour escalates to more serious threats or biting and if medical cause is ruled out then assistance should be sought from a behaviourist. Many behaviourists work in conjunction with veterinarians to treat aggression, occasionally using pharmacological approaches to treating aggressive tendencies. Aggression from dogs is intolerable, but is most often treatable.
References 1) http://www.canismajor.com/dog/aggres1.html
(2) O’ Heare J 2007 Aggressive behaviour in dogs a comprehensive manual for professionals, Dogpsych Publishing,Ottawa, Canada.
(3)Serpell J 1995 The domestic dog its evolution, behaviour and interactions with humans, The Cambridge University Press
(4) Beaver B, 1999, Canine Behaviour a guide for veterinarians, Saunders
(5) http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/13/5/348
