Understand Dog Aggression and Aggressive Behavior
Aggression is understood as the act of initiating harmful actions towards others, a definition credited to Alexander (2003).
It is a behavior rooted in the need to communicate one’s position within a social sphere if need be by establishing distance.
Different forms of aggression are noticeable by varying actions.
These could range from snapping, growling, or using intimidating postures. An extreme form of aggression noted by Abrantes (2005) is shoulder slams, often considered a show of muscular power. Interestingly, Abrantes differentiates between aggression and aggressiveness as he explains that the latter refers to the innate potential of an entity to exhibit aggressive behavior.
Taking an example from the animal kingdom, a wolf named Wolfgang was observed displaying aggression by using a muzzle grab against another wolf, Wotan in a documentation by Monty Sloan. This serves as an illustration of how aggressive behaviors are not reserved within human dynamics alone but are broadly seen in nature to assert dominance and survival.
Exploring Types of Aggression: Alliance and Barrier Aggression
Beside the general phenomenon of aggression, there exist specific types of aggression such as alliance aggression and barrier aggression. Alliance aggression is a behavior often seen when a usually fearful animal is accompanied by its owner or other familiar dogs. The presence of their person or companions can catalyze an aggression response, often characterized by the animal holding its ground. Increasingly, research shows that soothing words from a human accompanying the dog can further enhance this aggressive response.
On the other hand, barrier aggression arises out of fear and frustration experienced when an animal’s escape route or approach to something is blocked. This produces a reaction characterized by aggressive actions driven by a fear-based need for self-preservation. Scenario-based aggression such as these highlight the influence of the immediate environment and situation on the exhibition of aggression.
‘You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.’ (Former President Harry S. Truman)
Factors Leading to Aggressive Behaviors in Dogs
Aggression in dogs is not always attributed to barrier frustration or competitive tendencies. Certain aggression behaviors stem from underlying medical conditions like idiopathic epilepsy and thyroid disorders.
Most may not recognize it, but a dog acting defensively can also exhibit aggression.
One common trigger is when their distancing signals are ignored by an aggressor. Dogs typically show warning signs like growling or baring their teeth before they resort to an aggressive response. Ignoring these early signals can exacerbate the situation and lead to defensive aggression.
Sorting Out Misconceptions About Canine Aggression
Understanding canine aggression goes beyond knowing its triggers. We need to correct some misconceptions associated with it. For instance, dominance aggression is often misunderstood.
Contrary to the term’s implication, dominance and aggression are different as pointed out by L.I. Haug in 2007. This term can mislead people to believe that a dog’s aggressive behavior is a show of dominance.
However, aggression is more related to a dog’s anxious reaction to perceived threats rather than their intention to dominate. In dog training, such understanding is critical.
Understanding Various Types of Dog Aggression
Group-related aggression among dogs occurs specifically when they are in the company of their pack. This type of behavior claims to be quite common in the canid world and shows the significance of social hierarchies among these animals.
In a similar context, intra-sex aggression is also prevalent, most notably between dogs of the same gender. This might be triggered by a variety of factors, including territorial disputes or competition for resources and mates.
Raised slightly differently, but nonetheless an aggression type, is maternal-protective behavior. This is seen in female canines defending what they perceive as possible threats to their offspring. Truly a testament to a mother’s love, this kind of behavior showcases the dog’s strong instinct to protect their progeny against potential hazards.
The Factors Leading to Unpredictable and Fear-Related Aggression
Idiopathic aggression is described as an unpredictable flare-up of aggressive behavior without a known reason. This lack of identifiable triggers makes this type of aggression difficult to manage and foresee. It can be highly problematic, and dog owners must carefully monitor their pets to identify possible drive factors behind this unpredictable behavior.
There’s also fear-related aggression that comes along with signs of fear, like withdrawal and avoidance behaviors. Anxious dogs can also exhibit aggression, usually as a defensive reaction to circumstances they find intimidating. This behavior is usually a manifestation of their fear and not a sign of inherent aggressive nature. Understanding a fearful dog’s body language can help in managing such aggression.
Aggression Induced by Drugs or Medication
Aggression in dogs can also be induced by medication side effects or toxic ingestions. This type of aggression is typically a reaction to certain drugs or substances that alters a dog’s mood or behavior.
It is crucial to monitor dogs for sudden behavioral changes after they begin a new medication or ingest something potentially harmful. If left unaddressed, drug-induced aggression can have severe consequences, including risks to the dog’s health and safety of the people around it.
The Pain-related aggression in dogs emerges due to sickness, injury, or chronic pain, causing them to behave aggressively. Play escalation, regarded as predatory drift, happens when a playful scenario turns into a real fight. Another form of aggression is Predatory aggressive behavior, where dogs attack small mammals and sometimes small children. Proximity sensitivity involves fear and avoidance of other dogs.
Dogs may also behave aggressively when triggered by physical punishment from humans, known as Punishment-elicited aggression. An interesting aspect of dog aggression is Redirected aggression where the hostility is transferred from the original to a secondary target.
Dogs are also known for Resource guarding, which involves defending their food, toys, sleeping spaces, and human attention. Ritualized aggressive behavior includes threats without the intention of causing real harm.
Social aggression is directed towards humans or other dogs. Submissive-aggressive behavior, Territorial aggressive behavior, Trained aggressive behavior are other notable aggressive patterns found in dogs.
Dog Social and Interactional Behaviors
Agonistic behavior in dogs accommodates a range of competitive behaviors within the dog species.
A distinctive feature during this is the Agonistic pucker, a warning snarl that exposes their teeth as they wrinkle their nose.
Allelomimetic behavior engages dogs in mimicking the actions of other canids as a form of communication. Meanwhile, Allogrooming underlines the mutual grooming behavior that can be observed among dogs. It’s seen as a sign of bond and rapport among them.
The Alpha animal in a group has the maximum control over resources and social status. The Alpha roll is a submissive gesture and is not to be confused with humans forcing a dog to roll over.
Interpreting Dog Behavior
Interpreting dog behavior requires understanding each pattern of aggression and social behaviors. Pain-related aggression is a response to illness, injury, or chronic pain.
Comparatively, an exciting yet potentially dangerous response is Play escalation, proving that play time can, at times, evolve into actual hostility. Predatory aggressive behavior highlights the primal instincts of dogs, signifying potential attacks on small beings.
The fear and avoidance factor in dog behavior is exemplified in Proximity sensitivity. Dogs respond negatively to physical punishments, leading to Punishment-elicited aggression.
Territorial behavior and Resource guarding underline dogs’ instinct to guard their belongings and space. Social aggression, Submissive-aggressive behavior, and Trained aggressive behavior are telltale signs of a dog reacting to its surroudings or learned commands.