Understanding Dog Aggression
People think of dog aggression in terms of a disease, and not of a symptom. Humans regard the problem as one of the dog, and not of influences *to* the dog.
Although aggression in dogs can be pathological, it is rare. The vast majority of dogs that behave aggressively do so because they think they are in danger.
Defensive aggression is an enormous problem in domestic dogs and one that defies quick resolution. Not because aggression cannot be mitigated, but because there are so many tiny nuances that influence it. Having the skill to recognize triggers takes effort and time. Many owners fail to perceive their dogs intentions before it’s too late.
The misnomer that dogs act ‘without provocation’ is inherently false. There are very few dogs that act without purpose. Instinct drives mechanics, and a dog that is acting aggressively is doing so for a very good reason. In the dog’s mind, anyway.
The dog may be the only one who knows what provoked that behavior. I can assure you, the dog feels justified for that behavior.
TRAINING does not create aggressive dogs. Poor timing and inappropriate reinforcement of incompatible behaviors certainly does.
You Can’t Train Defense out of a Dog Using Punishment
The owner that relies on compulsion to ‘train’ aggression out of a dog is going to end up with more orifices than they started with. The trainer that thinks the use of food is going to reform Hannibal Lechter is… inadequately prepared.
Dog aggression is a manifestation of a potential physical threat to the animal itself, or something it values.
It doesn’t take much to trigger defensive aggression. I believe it’s time we start thinking in terms of what drives the behavior and address that first, before labeling dogs as inherently defective for engaging in behaviors they are instinctively predisposed to.
Dog Aggression- Defensive or Offensive?
Dogs are not food-aggressive, *dog* aggressive, or human-aggressive. They are either defensively aggressive (protecting self or property) or offensively aggressive (initiating and advancing).
It is the rare domestic dog that will offensively run towards another dog or human and arbitrarily initiates an attack. It is far more often that the dog is responding to something or someone in its immediate environment that it perceives as a threat.
Know the difference. The vast majority of aggressive acts can be eliminated simply by knowing what causes them and by creating confidence in the dog.
Training can do that.
If your current training conventions are not yielding results, schedule a behavior consult at your convenience. Our online coaching is a popular option for folks outside our coverage area, especially if you’ve been struggling with training for a while.
We are only an email away. If you are in our coverage area, we would be delighted to help you in person, so you can feel free to contact us directly.
