Causes Of Dog Aggression

Unexpected dog aggression can be an unnerving experience for a loving dog owner. The caring owner is completely baffled about how their "baby" could suddently show aggression toward friends, family, other dogs, and even the dog's owner/caretaker. Understanding why a dog becomes aggressive can give you the answer as to what action you should take to get the dog back to its usual loving self.

In order to understand why a dog suddenly becomes aggressive, you have to learn how a dog thinks. No matter how much we would like to think so, a dog is not a child and does not think the same way. Dogs are pack animals and our dogs regard us as another member of their pack. Our interactions with our dog determine whether or not we are regarded as the pack leader or as another pack member in need of protection. Is your dog submissive to you and to other dogs or does your pet "run the show". A dog of either personality type can become aggressive. However, each personality type tends to have different causes of that aggression. Often, the personality type is not apparent to the owner who is too close to the situation and it takes the intervention of a professional trainer to diagnose the problem. There are several different types of canine aggression that are often closely connected as causes of individual instances of aggression.

Often, dogs become aggressive when they feel threatened in some way. This threat could take several forms. The dog may be possessive and defending an object it feels belongs to him. This could be food, a toy, a bed or any other object the dog has come to value. Dogs with a submissive personality are less at risk for this type of aggression, but often more dangerous when possessive aggression manifests itself. They are, however, easier to correct and bring back into line.

Another type of dog aggression is territorial possessiveness. Dogs are very territorial creatures and if they feel that their territory is being invaded by members of another pack, then they will protect their space. Dogs who "run the show", who think of themselves as the pack leader rather than their owner, are typically more at risk of this type of aggression. They feel the need to protect the pack's territory from invasion. In the dog's mind their territory could span anything from their own home or yard to the whole neighborhood where they are walked and may have marked the boundaries.

A third type of dog aggression is caused by the animal's instinct to protect itself and its pack. Even the smartest dog is prone to misunderstanding the intentions of other dogs and people it is not familiar with. Again, this type of aggression is more prevalent in dogs who do not consider themselves a follower of their pack leader owner. The pack leader feels a stronger need to be the protector of the pack. However, even a submissive dog may step up when they feel the threat is sufficient and their pack leader (you) is in danger.

Dog aggression can quickly escalate to a dangerous situation for you, your family, your friends and other pets. Even the most minor instances of canine aggression, such as snapping or growling at you for forcing it out of your chair, must be dealt with early on. Aggression will only become worse once the dog establishes a new baseline limit for what it can get away with. Before you have a problem, you should learn positive methods that you can employ to make sure your dog regards you as its master so you can work to control that aggression. Once your dog reaches the point of snapping at people or other dogs, though, the time has come to seek competent professional assistance.