Aggression in Your Pet Dog

In dogs, aggression happens to be the most serious and common problem of behaviour. It is also one of the primary reasons that pet owners seek help professionally from veterinarians, trainers and behaviourists.

Aggressive Behaviour

Aggression can refer behaviour that happens in various circumstances for many different reasons. Mostly, animals in the wild tend to be aggressive when they guard their territory, protect themselves and defend their offspring. Groups of species that include dogs and people also utilize the threat of aggression and aggression to negotiate social interaction and keep the peace.

It can mean many things to say that a dog is aggressive. A range of behaviour is encompassed by the term, usually beginning with a warning that can end in attacks. At any point during an encounter of aggression, dogs may abort their effort. Dogs that display aggressive behaviour usually exhibit intense behaviour.  This behaviour can include shaking and biting, repeated, successive and rapid bites, puncture bites, snaps, snarls, showing teeth, growling, muzzle punches and mouthing as though to control or move the person. Behaviour can also include charging at the person with no contact, guttural barks that sound like threats and becoming very rigid and still.

Often, this behaviour is not done in sequence, but rather, simultaneously. Most time, pet owners do not even recognize the sign of warning before a bite occurs, and think of their pets as suddenly behaving erratically, which is really seldom the case. Before a bite and a warning, it can be merely milliseconds. However, it is a rare case when a dog suddenly bites with no previous warning.

Evaluation of Behaviour

In the past, if your pet has been aggressive and you have a suspicion that this could happen again, it is important that you take time to do a situation evaluation for what has caused your pooch to become upset. Where and when did this occur? What else was going on? What had just really happened r was about to occur? What ceased the aggression from continuing? Learning all you can about the situation can help make your dog’s aggressive behaviour clear. Plus, in the future, you will know what set of your pet and avoid the situation. Before you can get help, however, an accurate diagnosis is important. In dogs, behavioural, aggressive issues may vary as to the cause.

Even if a dog’s breed may play a part, it is neither wise nor accurate to make this the basis of aggression. The best prevention is to socialize your dog as a puppy. When you notice a sudden change in your pet’s behaviour, it is important to pay a visit to the veterinarian immediately.

Mark Perry is a dedicated veterinarian for Canada Vet with over 20 years experience. A farm boy born and breed, Dr Perry loves all animals but he has a special place in his heart for working animals, particularly working dogs and horses.