Even the best dog in the world can sometimes show a bit of aggression. If barking, growling, showing teeth, snapping, snarling and even biting are a problem, it's take to take proactive steps.
Dogs don't typically act aggressively without cause, but the fact remains this type of behavior is unacceptable and can lead to bigger problems down the road.
There are a few basic types of aggression dogs might display. These include dominance aggression, fear aggression, protective aggression and redirected aggression. Each type comes with its own set of reasons for the display, and some forms might be more acceptable than others.
The dominance brand of aggression, as its name suggestions, involves a dog trying to maintain or hold its place in the pecking order. A dog that feels its place in the household or "pack" is being challenged might lash out. If this is happening with a person being on the other end of the aggression, a professional trainer's help might be in order. If your dog is acting aggressively toward you, for example, the dog views itself in a higher spot in the hierarchy. This is something that will need to be undone or challenges to authority will continue.
Fear-related aggression is one of the easiest to spot and respond to. If a dog feels it is in danger, it might act out. Often, making sure the dog feels secure can help curb this problem.
Protective aggression can involve people, territory or objects. While we all want dogs that protect us, if this particular behavior becomes a problem, retraining might be in order. It is not acceptable for a dog to act aggressively toward a person unless there is a real danger situation at hand.
Just like the person who has had a bad day at work and takes aggression out on his family, redirected aggression involves doling out punishment or aggression on a different target. Dogs that feel they cannot attack the targets of this disdain might take that out on other animals or people in a household. If this form of aggression is too high, getting some help in retraining is often called for.
When aggression becomes a real concern or problem, it is a very good idea to take measures to curb it. If there are no physical, medical, reasons for the problem, retraining might be the best bet. If the dog has not been neutered or spayed, this can help, too.
Dogs that are aggressive or unpredictable should be treated with care, especially when around small children or the public in general. Take steps to make sure situations are safe before brining a dog with aggression issues into them.
