Aggression in Dogs can be Dangerous if Left Untreated

Aggressive behaviour such as growling and biting is not restricted to one breed of dog, but can occur in all breeds, whether pit-bull terrier, spaniel, or even poodle . Correction of aggressive behaviour in dogs is extremely challenging, requiring both hard work and patience. One must first determine whether the aggressive behaviour is fear-induced or dominance-related. Treatment of one type of aggression is different from the other. Attempting to tackle this problem without the help of a veterinarian is difficult.

Dominance aggression is a common form of aggression. Dogs that exhibit dominance aggression tend to maintain eye contact, keep their ears erect and forward, hold their head high, maintain a rigid body posture, and keep their tail held horizontally or erect. This body language contrasts sharply with that of a subordinate dog whos behaviour includes: avoidance of eye contact, lowered head and tail, ears flattened against the head, and crouched body position.

Problems usually occur when dominance signals are misread by humans. For example, as a sign of affection, children may stare intently at their dog. A dog may interpret this staring as a dominance signal and respond by becoming aggressive and biting.

Dominance aggression can occur in either sex, at any age, and in any breed. However, it is often intact males under two years of age that are presented for this problem, and pure-bred dogs more so than mixed-breeds.

Treatment of dominance aggression is difficult not only for the average pet owner, but even for professional dog handlers. A veterinarian can help you start a correction program or refer you to a veterinary behaviour specialist.

A treatment plan would include:

1) avoiding situations that would trigger aggressive behaviour

(2) avoiding punishment (pain "triggers" aggression). For example, forcing a dog into a recumbent position only makes matters worse.

(3) implementing "exposure" techniques (i.e. gradually introducing dog to various scenarios)

(4) acclimatizing the dog to dominance signals by the owner (e.g removing food dish, staring at dog, etc.)

(5) making the dog obey commands before giving it rewards such as play or petting, and

(6) utilizing various counterconditioning techniques.

Since the majority of dogs that exhibit dominance aggression are intact males, castration should also prove helpful. As a last resort, in a small percentage of dogs, drug therapy or euthanasia may be the only alternative.