Growl. Snarl. Snap. Bite. Is there anything that a dog can do that worries us more?
Perhaps because these behaviors cause such strong emotions in us, they are also some of the most misunderstood behaviors in the dog world. But once we know what aggressive behavior is, and why dogs display these types of behavior, we can understand what to do to resolve it.
How do dogs show aggressive behavior?
When you picture an “aggressive dog,” what does his body looks like? Perhaps he’s leaning forward, teeth bared, and lips pulled back. Or perhaps he’s snarling, growling, or barking ferociously. Perhaps he’s frenzied, straining and lunging on the end of a leash, or maybe he is frozen, ready to strike out.
Aggressive behaviors are defined as conflict-related behavior in a social species (or as dog ethology nerds call it, “agonistic behaviors”). Aggressive behavior is grouped under social behavior because it is typically directed to another being, and serves as crucial communication to that being.
In dogs, we describe aggressive behaviors as directed toward:
- humans (known as dog/human aggression )
- other dogs (dog/dog aggression)
- other animals, or perceived threats
Why do dogs aggress? (Tip: It’s likely not what you think!)
It may come as a surprise, but most aggressive behavior occurs for the opposite reason many presume. The majority of aggressive behavior is actually intended as a warning to avoid more serious conflict, not to cause it.
When we understand this, we are in a place to approach these behaviors with the seriousness they require and to help our dogs and ourselves remain safe. Of course, if early aggressive behaviors are ignored and the conflict is not resolved from the dog’s point of view, aggressive behavior can and does cause harm.
In evolutionary terms, conflict is “expensive.” Fighting uses a lot of precious energy, and risks injury to both the winner and loser of the fight. To avoid such costs, many species, dogs included, have developed an exquisite set of warning signals that allow for conflict resolution before fighting occurs.
In other words, almost all behaviors we think of as aggression are ritualized attempts to avoid injury, danger, harm, or further conflict. Despite appearances, behavior like growling, snarling, or lunging is rarely intended to cause harm. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Think of the dog that is growling, snarling, or snapping as saying “I do NOT want to hurt you - but I will if nothing changes. I am doing everything I can to avoid that, so please listen. I want peace and safety.”
Isn’t it astounding?
Once you view aggressive behavior through the eyes of a dog, you can see the main way humans interpret aggression (as trying to cause harm) misses the essential function of aggression, which is to keep everyone safe.
Some of the functions of aggressive behaviors are to:
- Avoid injury
- Minimize or de-escalate conflict
- Seek safety or security
- Increase distance from a real or perceived threat
- Make something “go away”
- Express discomfort or pain
- Maintain possession of precious resources (toys, food, space)
Can aggressive dog behavior escalate?
Domestic dogs are social animals who respond to many mild social pressures using appeasement behaviors like licking their nose or turning their head away to avoid making challenging eye contact. Dogs routinely avert conflict this way in everyday life, but when a dog feels increasingly distressed or threatened, when all else fails, these behaviors can escalate.
If more subtle behaviors are ignored, and the conflict is not resolved from the dog’s point of view, behavior will escalate to more severe levels that most of us recognize as aggression.
This escalation process is sometimes described as the “Ladder of Aggression.”
“The Ladder of Aggression" depicts the range of body language and actions that dogs show in response to perceived stress and threat. At the low end of the ladder there is a mild reaction to unwelcome social interaction and pressure, and this can look like simple blinking and nose licking. At the highest end of the ladder are more severe responses, such as lunging, snapping, and biting.
One of the most important things we can do is learn to recognize and respond to milder and less obvious behaviors, rather than waiting for a bite or worse.
Surprise! Dogs that truly intend to cause harm rarely announce their intentions.
Dogs that wish to resolve conflict relatively peacefully use all of the warning signals and behaviors listed above (like growling, snapping, etc.) to keep everyone safe and to avoid conflict.
That does not mean that we should treat aggressive behaviors lightly. We need to take them seriously to prevent escalation and injury. Understanding aggression’s function is just the first step.
Are aggressive dogs trying to be dominant?
Aggression sometimes is mistakenly confused for dominance-based behavior. Although aggressive behavior is an effective way for dogs to communicate socially and maintain possession of resources, aggression by itself is not an expression of dominance. Why? Because where dominance hierarchies are already in place, there are established orders of access to resources, and by definition, no aggression.
In the dog world, dominance is an established relationship between individuals of the same species over a resource and not a personality trait. That means that conflict over that resource is unlikely, since access to it has already been established. For example, you would not fight your boss over the corner office, because the hierarchy of office access is already established. Think of dominance like waiting in line at a buffet. We line up to establish an agreed upon order of access to the food, and this line-up is another way that we avoid conflict-aggressive displays like pushing, shoving or shouting over who gets access to the food first.
Dog behavior experts know that dominance is not a personality trait, but instead a relationship between individual dogs. Dominance in dogs is a complex subject, but the key point to remember is that if a dog acts aggressively towards you, he is not a social climber trying to outrank you! Most likely he is simply afraid or trying to protect something that is important to him.
How does fear contribute to aggressive behavior?
From a dog’s perspective, most aggression is a response to a threat, whether real or perceived. A fearful dog may have had a traumatic incident, for example being attacked by another dog or abused by a person, and so feels unable to cope with similar situations and environments.
In these situations, dogs act aggressively because of deep insecurities or fears. They need our understanding and careful guidance rather than punishment.
How would you feel if you were punished for being afraid and doing your level best to protect yourself? Punishment is only going to make you feel more insecure and your behavior will get worse, because no one has addressed WHY you are being aggressive or worked with you to make you feel better and give you some relief.
Can aggressive behavior be changed?
Once we understand the reason for a dog’s aggressive behavior, we can begin to address the cause. Positive trainers work with dogs that are behaving aggressively by using methods that aim to reduce fear and improve the dog’s confidence in certain situations.
The key to successfully changing aggressive behavior is to help the dog see the perceived threat or potential loss of a valued resource in a different light.. For some dogs this can be achieved in a relatively short period of time, but others require more help as each dog learns at a different pace. Understanding the dog’s perspective and meeting their needs for safety and security can really help modify aggressive behavior and improve a dog’s confidence enough that aggressive display is no longer needed.
What's the link between aggression and undiagnosed pain?
It's important to have your vet do a thorough examination, because pain and discomfort are the driver behind a surprising number of problem behaviors. One study suggests that up to 80% of problem behaviors can be helped by resolving medical issues and pain.
It’s easy to assume your dog is not in pain, because dogs often hide discomfort and can be incredibly stoic. Even if you cannot detect pain in your dog’s actions or movements, the first step to resolving aggressive behaviors is a consultation with your vet to rule out chronic or acute conditions.
Sometimes, this is the quick fix - once the pain is resolved, the problem behaviors stop without any further intervention! For example, a dog who is snapping at being petted on the head may be suffering from an ear infection.
Especially if your dog has been displaying new aggressive behaviors, schedule a vet visit as your essential first move.
What "quick fix" for aggressive behavior is actually counterproductive?
Guardians understandably want quick fixes for their dogs’ aggressive behavior, because they worry about any damage their dogs may do.
But the least effective — and actually most harmful - “quick fix” involves punishment and physical “corrections” that ignore and demean a dog’s own internal experience. These include hitting, yanking a dog by the collar or leash, using harsh noises such as alarms, spraying from bark or citronella collars, or applying electric shocks from e-collars. While punishment may appear to suppress unwanted behavior in the moment, it actually makes the situation deteriorate, as studies illustrate.
- A nervous, anxious, or fearful dog needs guidance and support to help him emotionally; punitive training only temporarily covers up the problem without really addressing the cause.
- If a dog’s problem behavior is caused by a hidden medical condition or hidden pain, increasing the dog’s pain will only escalate the problem more quickly.
- Even if it appears the dog behaves better after punishment, continually treating aggressive behavior with punishment can be dangerous, because every incident creates another negative experience for a dog who is already communicating that he feels threatened or in conflict with those around him.
When we use punishment, the outward manifestation of the behavior is suppressed, but the inward cause of the behavior actually grows and may eventually break through the suppression. Imagine that you work under a supervisor who constantly yells at you, belittles you, and undermines your efforts. You might take the criticism stoically for years, never reacting back, but how do you feel as the years go by? Your negative emotional response grows with every incident, and eventually you can “boil over” and lash out.
Can positive trainers offer useful “quick fixes” for aggression?
Yes, two relatively quick strategies can help reduce your dog's aggression while a more long-term plan is put into place.
First, there's a strategy called “management.” Management involves adjusting the environment, and often has a profound effect on dogs and people as it focuses on safety for both dogs and caregivers and takes pressure off while a training plan is put into place.
Management might involve using baby gates or enrichment so that a fearful dog can feel more relaxed. A positive trainer may also suggest more boundaries, such as not having guests over until longer term solutions and new habits can be taught so that the dog learns that guests are not a threat.
Second, a positive trainer will also recommend consulting a veterinarian to determine if a hidden infection, undetected medical condition such as a thyroid imbalance, or neurological issue is contributing to pain and poor behavior.
For dogs that have been in pain, proper medical care can improve behavior dramatically.
Aggression: The bottom line
Aggressive behavior is a serious issue that can manifest itself in a variety of ways and in multiple scenarios. Most aggressive behavior is rooted in a dog's desire to put distance between himself and whatever he views as a threat to his resources, safety or very survival. To curb aggressive behavior in dogs, it's imperative that punishment-based training techniques be avoided, as they only exacerbate the problem in the long run.
Instead, check first with your vet, because undiagnosed pain or medical conditions can often provoke aggression. Then employ the power of positive training with an experienced positive dog trainer to effectively and safely change how the dog perceives triggering situations, so he no longer feels the need to react aggressively.
Short and frequent positive training sessions, combined with improved communication between a dog and its guardian can prove beneficial to reducing aggressive behaviors and ultimately improve the well-being of the dog and the family.
