Aggression, Fear & Anxiety

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety and other forms of stress - from mild whining when left alone to full blown panic attacks. Some dogs are fearful of loud noises, storms or strangers, or have an aversion to people of a certain age, race, or gender. Other dogs show signs of aggression toward other dogs or even toward humans.

If your dog is showing even the mildest signs of a behavioral problem, don’t put off working with the dog now to prevent larger issues down the road. It will not get better with time! How effectively you deal with the issue at the initial onset will determine whether it becomes a controlled situation, or one the escalates over time.

Whether planned or not, your dog begins learning from the moment you meet. Every experience will shape the dog’s behavior about you and the environment your dog inhabits: your neighborhood, the veterinarian’s office, riding in your car, being home alone or with the family, and having visitors come over. How you expose your dog to new situations and how you handle those situations will have an influence on your dog’s behavior. Structuring your dog’s experiences to teach the dog what you want the dog to understand will make life better for both of you.

A dog’s confidence is enhanced by providing it with structured training and socialization activities. This gives the dog an understanding that success is always possible, making them resistant against related behavioral habits.

If you are considering a professional trainer to help you address your dog’s behavioral challenges, visit IACP for a list of qualified trainers in your area - http://www.canineprofessionals.com/


For professional training in the San Francisco Bay Area visit our website at http://www.k9intel.com/, K9 Intel is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals.

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.