Aggression is such a natural and innate type of behavior among dogs that willy-nilly, at some time or other, they will experience it. Today’s domestic dog no longer expresses aggression with slight facial expressions or a stiff tail. In fact, today these signs are interpreted to
mean that the animal is ready for attack or to defend himself. Unfortunately, these days, dogs come into this world carrying genetic and hormonal baggage-based behavior problems, learned problems, problems acquired in training and those born out of improper primary socialization.
Animal behavior therapists now know 16 different types of aggressive behavior in dogs.
Aggression or intra-specific fighting involves using the teeth but in a controlled way so as not to kill but to force the victim submit into submission. This happens between dogs, usually of the same gender and within the same class i.e., two adult males.
Aggression can be when one dog wants to defend his space, be possessive over his food, bedding sites or affection in his master’s eyes. So, it is very natural for all dogs to be aggressive at some point of their lives. Inter-specific aggression is said to occur because we
have included dogs into our social order and imposed ours on them. This blurs the lines between man and dog and so it is not surprising that dogs react in much the
same way to humans as they would to a fellow dog and for the same reasons.
Since pet owners often don’t know how to communicate to their dogs and what to say, they often end up getting hurt more often by dogs than other dogs would. Besides, no matter how well you know your pet, it is not often that you can read him so well that you can
predict what he’s going to do next.
Recognizing aggression in your dog: Dogs may react to other dogs for two reasons: one, they are scared of the strange dog; and second, because they foresee that the strange dog might just pose a social or status threat to him. Further, if you have an aggressive dog, he
will display this behavior trait only to dogs of a particular size, color or breed, while being friendly with other dogs in the family but not to neighborhood dogs. Not all dogs, however, openly display aggression.
Signs of aggression:
Whining, barking or growling
Staring directly at the other animal
Raised hackles
Tugging against the leash to reach the other animal
Ears pointing forwards
A stiff tail held up high
What influences aggression: Aggression may be influenced by several factors such as genetic predisposition, early experience, maturation, sex, age, size, hormonal status, physiological state and external stimuli. On the basis of a classification system based on
patterns of behavior and the causes of such behavior, and the dog’s motivation, behaviorists are able to understand the problem better. The classification is as follows:
Kinds of aggression:
• Dominance-related aggression: This is a commonly found form of canine aggression rooted in a power struggle. Aggression is directed to either one member of the family or several or to any other household pets. The reason dogs display aggression in such situations is that they consider humans members of their species and as member of their pack. This is the most dreaded form of canine aggression— from the point of view of both human and dog safety.
Since people are most often affected by it, it is the most commonly encountered aggression problem. Through this form of aggression, the dog initiates a struggle for
power, or anything else that symbolizes status. This happens because dogs are like people in seeking the top slot whether within the family or among other dogs. Since pet owners find it difficult to understand this problem and grapple with it, they use physical punishment to teach the dog just who’s the boss. Today, however, this is changing in favor of humane and
scientific treatment methods.
Basically, dominance aggression is genetically determined, with a lot of learning thrown in. The
quantum of aggression varies from dog to dog, though the innately highly aggressive ones are those who are most likely to demonstrate dominance aggression and to lose control in seeing that his combatant is ready to quit. Or in their highly aggressive state, they could be so
incensed that they cut out all preliminary posturing and come right down to knocking down their victim and dragging him out. By now, the dog has internalized the fact that winning is best and if it means increasing his intensity of aggression, he will do it. This attitude makes him unsafe for human beings and fellow animals.
Because your dog has had insufficient or poor primary socialization, he will not be able to see the signals of appeasement. Further, the problem is compounded when you take a pup of a non-fighting breed too early away from the litter, at a time when he is obviously too young developmentally. This is why trainers and animal behaviorists usually recommend not picking up a pup before he completes at least 10 weeks in the same litter.
If you remove him at seven weeks as is usually done, it serves to increase dominance aggression only because the pup can’t understand fellow dogs, result in an adult
canine sociopath.
How it is manifested: If your dog displays atypical, out-of-context aggressive behaviors directed toward people consistently, then he’s showing his aggressive streak. Such behaviors include growling, snapping and biting. Bites, however, are not preceded by a bark or
growl. Dogs display their dominance aggression in many circumstances with the dog primarily trying to control people-related situations. Some of them are:
• Disturbing him while he sleeps
• Pulling at his leash to correct him
• Reaching over his head to put on the leash
• Grooming him
• Staring at him in the eye
• Hugging him
• Holding him by the muzzle or face
• Conducting restraint exercises
• Punishing him
A dog may be aggressive to strangers or may direct his ire at one or more members of the family, so not all members may be affected by his aggression. They may turn aggressive when faced by a huge household commotion, or when children play with them at their eye level, or they may victimize a compliant person only because he or she is not firm with the dog, and the
latter knows he can push this person around.