CAUSES

Aggression has many causes...many of which are total natural behavior. A dog that wants to gain control over a commodity or a situation will try to establish dominance over potential competitors. This can happen over food, shelter, toys, potential mates, attention, the "best spot" to sleep or keep watch, territory, personal space, doorways, beds and other furniture, people, freedom to participate in a particular activity, etc.

Bad experiences can also play a major role in aggression. Abuse, psychological mistreatment and inconsistent rules and/or training, encouragement of bad behavior that seems "cute" when a puppy does it, lack of positive reinforcement for good behavior, and lack of proper socialization with humans and/or other dogs at an early age can all play a part.

Self-defense + defense of young can result in aggression.

How Do I Prevent Aggression?

There are 2 VERY important factors in preventing agression; one is Proper Socialization and the other is Establishing a Proper Pack Order.

Proper Socialization

Proper Socialization means exposing your puppy to a variety of people, dogs and situations so that he will become familiar with many things. Interactions with babies and toddlers should always be supervised. Some dogs that grow up with children are very tolerant of having their tail pulled and being used as a jungle-gym. Others may growl and snap in response to children's hyperactivity, volume and motion or bite at such provocations as eye-poking, fur-puling, and just being bothered too much.

Very young puppies can be traumatized by a negative first encounter with a child...this is why you must supervise even small puppies with children...it could affect his future interactions with children. Larger puppies older than 6 months (even younger in some breeds) can overpower young children and will tackle them, mouth them, and otherwise try to assert their dominance over them if they are not socialized properly. Don't let toddlers play with a puppy until he wants to hide, don't let them interact when either one of them is hyperactive and don't play rough with a puppy yourself! This will only teach him nasty behavior that will be difficult to untrain.

When a puppy mouths you too hard, say a firm, "No," and hold your hand over his muzzle for a second or two (don't sqeeze). Resume play gently...if the behavior persists, stop playing and do not give the puppy your attention. If you are playing with your hands, play with a chew-toy instead. Avoid scolding your children in front of the dog if at all possible. When a dog misbehaves around young children, it is tempting to keep them separated and just hope the dog will "act better when he's older". Instead, plan times when 2 adults can be in the room with them together, one to supervise the chilren and one the dog. Put the dog in a down at your feet where you can prevent him from getting up and running after them. If you must, bring the dog in the room on a leash when the chilren are fairly calm, allow them to have briefer interactions, and let your dog learn to be calm.

Walk your dog often where there are people. Allow him to be petted, but only if he behaves (no jumping). Ask the person to get down where the puppy can see them. Ask your trained dog to sit while being petted. If people say they "don't mind" if he jumps, explain you are training him not to jump, so he is only allowed to be petted while sitting or while standing still.

Allow your dog to approach other dogs in a non-threatening manner, but watch their body language very closely. Stiff-legged walking, raised fur, lips pulled down, and a low growl are all defensive gestures. Head and tail high (maybe curled over back), leaning forward on toes, approaching straight and direct, staring directly in at the other are all dominant and possibly aggressive guestures. Lips pulled up and back in a molar-baring snarl and lunging and snapping are aggressive. A submissive or cautiously friendly dog will not directly approach the other but will veer to the side...the more submissive dog will avert and lower its head. The more dominant dog will sniff the other one first. Do not transmit nervousness or hold back on the leash. Saying a soft, calm, "Good dog," to either of the dogs while they are displaying cautious or freindly behavior will help make the encounter positive. If the dog approaches you, do not look the dog directly in the eyes, allow your hand to hang, back of it facing the dog, in a relaxed posistion where the dog can sniff it without feeling threatened, and softly say, "Good dog," while he calmly sniffs. Some dogs are VERY outgoing even around strangers and may butt their head against your hand to be petted, giving obvious body signals that you don't have to be quite so reserved...but allow the dog to make the first move.

If said dog is unsure and alternately showing cautious freindliness and defensive or dominant agressiveness, make the meeting very breif and then be on your way. Do not leave quickly, just move calmly along. If you meet a dog that seems determined to both try to warn you off and "contain" you, he is being extremely territorial, and you need to be extemely cautious. Move a few steps when he lets you, when he doesn't, keep your head turned away and stand until he lets you move. Let him feel as though you are no threat.

If you do not feel safe stopping, then continue calmly on your way unless the other dog blocks you, then see above. If you are attacked, an easy way of defense, unless the dog is so big he can knock you over, is to put up your knee so he will bang into it and be prevented from harming you. Of course, if your dog is with you, this may well be impossible. It may be best to allow your dog to face the other dog and keep it at bay while you back up, and hopefully your dog will be able to follow you a few steps at a time before turning around again...if all goes well, the other dog will realize you are actually trying to leave and let you go. If it grabs your dog, do not yank your dog away or you may cause very serious injury to your pet. Do something so startling that the other dog lets go, then pull your dog away.

If your dog is nervous around certain things, noises or circumstances, it is best to expose him to them on a regular basis, distract him from nervous behavior and worrying, and praise him for behaving well or even allowing you to distract him. This has a 1-2 effect of preventing him from becoming alarmed and actually associating the situation with positive feelings (praise and treats). A group obedience class is a TERRIFIC way to socialize your dog!

Establishment of Proper Pack Order

It is amazing how many owners do not take this aspect of training seriously until their dog actually DISPLAYS dominant behavior. It is unlikely anyone except an expereinced trainer or breeder would recognize signs of a dominant dog personality in a puppy before the dog actually begins establishing himself as the Alpha, or leader of the pack.

It is critical that you do all the proper things from the beginning so that the puppy understands you are the Alpha. Alpha dogs and lower dogs all have typical behaviors, and if you unwittingly demonstrate submissive behavior or allow your pup to demonstrate dominant behavior, you are, in effect, telling the puppy that HE's the boss...and just try to change his mind later!

Dogs are a different species than humans, and as such, they have different standards of behavior. It is your JOB as a responsible dog owner to know what these behaviors are and what they mean, and to demonstrate behavior that will communicate to your dog that you are the Alpha. SEE THE DOMINANCE TOPIC FOR DETAILS...after you read it, go to the Print Center, print out the "Top 10 Alpha Commandments", and POST THEM WHERE YOU WILL SEE THEM EVERYDAY!

Aggression -- What Do I Do NOW?

Please refer back to this page later...I will be continuing to add to this topic!