Fear Aggression

How can you tell if it is fear based aggression?

With nervous and fear aggressive dogs, you will find that they will react similarly to any dog, regardless of whether it is male or female. The behavior is often worse if the dog is on the lead or is cornered, especially if close to the owner, who backs up the behavior, (though unwittingly) by becoming nervous and agitated as another dog approaches.

This manifests itself in a tightening up on the lead and shoulders because of the expectation of conflict. Nervous owners experience a rush of adrenaline which the dog instantly detects and causes it to look for what is causing the concern. It sees the dog approaching and reacts accordingly. This type of dog is also normally a barker, it will lunge and bark at the approaching dog but generally will not snap, unless all its options have run out (i.e. flight or freeze) and after all it’s threatening behavior the other dog still gets too close.

This problem can often be diagnosed if someone who is confident around dogs (that the dog does not know well) takes it out on the lead. It will not get the same fearful vibes from the owner, therefore the reaction to another dogs approaching will be less intense. It is a good way of finding out if your dog suffers fear aggression as the behavior will either not be exhibited or will be less pronounced. The owner can then use a desensitization program for both the dog and themselves.

Dog Aggression: A Common Problem

I met with new clients yesterday with yet again another case of aggression. Their dog's aggression has escalated; continuing to get progressively more severe. The last straw was a dangerous situation that occurred at the dog park where he attacked another dog that happened to come to close to his ball.

Dog aggression is a serious and common theme these days. It is possible to overcome aggression with the proper course of training ~ one that addresses all aspects of a dog's environment. If you tackle only one problem without taking on a holistic approach, it can actually make matters much worse. It makes you very inconsistent. Consistency is key, along with clear rules and boundaries. It is important to set your dog up for success by teaching him/her what is expected of them.

You do not want to deal with aggression by simply "managing" the problem. It makes no sense to settle for avoiding social situations like the beach and parks, or crossing the street to avoid other dogs/people, etc. This definitely is not the answer! I'm sure you don't want to live my life this way, and neither does your dog!