Aggression Dog Training
Types of Dog Aggression: A Tailored Approach
Understanding and Addressing Dog Aggression
Do you offer aggression dog training? Absolutely. Aggression, the most challenging behavior for dog owners, becomes less daunting with understanding. Below is a list of the types of dog aggression, each requiring its unique approach. Aggressive behavior in dogs comes from a survival instinct, wolves use aggression for hunting, protecting territory, guarding resources, and as a means to communicate with others. Those same aggressive behaviors come out in our domesticated dogs. As humans, we exploited aggression for our benefit. Understanding the type of dog aggression you are dealing with in very important.
As a trainer for aggressive dogs, I provide tailored solutions to address these behaviors without breaking your dog or surprising behaviors. Together we will address the underlying use, make a blueprint, and execute. If your dog is showing signs of aggression, please keep reading so you can gain a better understanding of what you are facing. Too many so-called professional dog trainers dealing with aggressive dogs will classify all aggression under the umbrella of “aggression”.
When working with Species K9 I will explain to you the type of aggressive dog behavior you are seeing, why, and how we will address it. I can do this because I have and continue to study canine behavior. Understanding aggression dog training allows one to have the confidence to address the behavior without fear or need to abuse the dog.
Dealing With Dog Aggression In A The Humane Way
The Ethical Approach to Aggression Training
As you are looking for someone to help you with your dog’s aggression please be sure they are ethical and humane. Anyone can suppress a behavior in a dog temporarily. Suppressing a behavior is like squeezing a water balloon that is not full. When you do some part of it will be put out somewhere else. If the behavior is a natural one it cannot be rehabilitated. See the blog post here about dog training. However, it can be managed and redirected appropriately. With true obedience training, you can control the behavior, with deconditioning and avoidance conditioning we can extinguish the behavior. Dogs are born with traits and drives; if a drive is not being met they will find a way to meet that drive, in most cases it is destructive and unhealthy. In some cases this unwanted behavior is aggression. When you provide your dog an outlet for their drives you can control and better understand your dog. Thus building a trusting and harmonious relationship with your dog.
Aggression Training vs. Personal Protection Training
Aggression dog training is sometimes confused with personal protection training. In fear-aggressive dogs teaching them what a real threat looks like is a great way to overcome their fear and give you a “switch” to turn on and off the aggression. Through repetition, the dog learns what a real threat is thus building the dog’s confidence so it stops resorting to aggression when fearful. This also teaches the dog that mom/dad will tell me when I need to “protect”. Thus building that bond between the dog and handler. Reach out to discuss aggression and how to deal with it.
The most common cause of aggression within the home.
Dominance Aggression
A common form of dog aggression is called “dominance aggression.” Dominance is defined as the “first right to a limited resource.” Types of limited resources include food, affection, a sleeping space, or a toy. Whoever controls the limited resources is dominant. Dominance has nothing to do with a physical altercation or being the stronger one. If your dog feels they have the first right to any resource, you will see aggression. This may display through dog-on-dog aggression when showing affection to one dog over the other, or when a dog growls and snaps when you pick up its toy. This is easily managed and addressed with a few simple steps and training. It is important to note that dominance aggression is not the same as resource guarding.
Is your dog’s behavior changing? Is he/she between the ages of 2 and 4 years old? This is the age when dogs typically reach sexual maturity, and behavioral issues emerge, typically in the form of dominance aggression. Visit any animal shelter and you’ll find that the average dog is between 2 and 4 years old with the listing of owner surrender. This sad reality can be fixed with a little extra understanding and knowledge. Over 50% of dogs will be rehomed during their lives for no other reason than the owner’s lack of knowledge. Training an aggressive dog is possible with some simple steps and knowledge.
The number one reason for owner-on-dog aggression is over resting places.
Attempting to Prevent Your Exit from a Room
Here are key signs that will help you spot if your dog has a dominance aggression issue. Does your dog growl or bite at you when you pet it? If you ask your dog to move from a spot, will it bark or act aggressively? Does it try to stop you from leaving a room? The big one that most people experience is “my dog is just protective of me”. This is not the case. Your dog views you like a toy or what we refer to as a limited resource. In the dog’s mind, you are a source of affection. They are protecting that not you. If you do something the dog does not approve of they will bite. This is the time to start aggression dog training. All of these are signs of dominance aggression. Do not worry, we can help, aggressive dog training is possible.
Types of Dog Aggression
Types of Aggression in Dogs
Resource guarding, protective aggression/fear aggression, fear biting, territorial aggression, predatory aggression, play aggression, and barrier frustration are all forms of aggression your dog may express. Can you recognize the differences between dogs? Yet all of these traits can be observed in wolves. An example of predatory aggression, or prey drive, in domestic dogs is found in the Greyhound. This trait was originally heightened to help humans hunt small game. These dogs will run forever to chase something; sadly, humans abused this by creating dog racing. This is an example of how one trait was enhanced through selective breeding while others, such as resource guarding, were significantly decreased within the Greyhound.
The Myth of the "Bad Dog"
If your dog barks, air snaps, or even bites, it does not mean you have a bad or broken dog. There are alternative solutions other than putting a dog down or surrendering to a shelter. Growling, barking, air snapping and even a bite are forms of communication that we need to listen to. Your dog is trying to express themselves the only way they know how. Through training, leadership, and management you will learn what your dog is saying, how to address it and control it.
The Wolf Connection
All behaviors in dogs can be traced back to and seen in wolves. Dogs evolved from wolves, so it is only fitting to watch and study wolves to better understand the blueprint of their domestic cousin, the dog. Wolves and dogs share 99.9% of their DNA, we look to wolves to see the original intent of behaviors so we have a better understanding of why your dog is exhibiting a behavior, by working backward we can address it in a safe and understanding way. All behaviors we see in modern-day domesticated dogs can be observed in wild wolved
Humans selectively breed the traits, naturally found in wolves, they want to exploit for their benefit. Humans breed, high prey drive into German Shepherds and other shepherd breeds to work with livestock and humans. They also breed out high prey drive and aggression in Labs, so they make good family dogs and amazing hunting dogs. Unfortunately, some people breed dogs simply because they want to make money. They have no concern for breed integrity or the traits they breed in or out of dogs. You might be reading this and say, “Jared, I came to your site because my lab bit my bestie and is mean.” A variety of things can lead up to a bite. That is why our consultation can take several hours. Here is a great lecture by Stanley Coren about dog behavior. I highly suggest you watch it.
If you are looking for protection training, controlled aggression, or aggression training for personal protection
Types of Dog Aggression
Fear Aggressive
When any animal is pushed into a situation that causes fear, it will go into a fight or flight. When your dog does not have the option to run, it has no choice but to fight (bite). This becomes scary because dogs can skip steps in the aggression cycle, and bite without warning. If your dog shows signs of fear aggression by running to a corner and barking/growling, it is a sign that they are scared and it needs to be addressed.
Please do not give up on your dog! There are many humane steps we can take to build your relationship with your dog. Contact us and let’s discuss.
Predatory Aggression/Prey Drive
This is actually a fun behavior to work with. Dogs with a high prey drive are energetic and great to train. Most people who have a dog with a high prey drive call us and say, “My dog chases my cat all the time.” That is prey drive. The cat runs, and the dog has no idea why, but every part of its being says, “Chase it!”. This behavior becomes a problem when your dog starts to kill animals or chase kids and people. As discussed earlier this is a drive that must be met to make the dog feel fulfilled and happy.
Remember, dogs are bred to do a job. In our world now, we rarely see dogs doing the job they were created for. Your dog will find a way to meet their needs if you do not. If your dog shows signs of predatory aggression, give us a call.
Territorial Aggression
This is a very scary behavior. The number one killer of wolves in the wild is other wolves when they fight over territory. When a dog sees something as a threat in their territory, they will challenge it. Flock guardian breeds, like Great Pyrenees, are bred with a great deal of territorial aggression. This is fine if your dog is out protecting sheep from coyotes. Not so great when your dog sees the mailman as a threat.
However, this behavior is only exhibited within their perceived territory. That is why you do not see guardian breeds as police dogs; they lack predatory aggression. You do not want your flock guardian dog running two counties over chasing a coyote. Once the treat is out of the territory they stop. They do not want to chase something to the ends of the earth just to bite it. Although you will see this trait/drive in Malinois or German Shepherds with a high prey drive.
If your dog behaves well at the dog park or on walks, but barks, growls, or even bites at home, your dog has territorial aggression.
Resource Guarding
This kind of aggression relates to controlling an owned resource. However, do not confuse this with dominance aggression. David Mech’s 1999 groundbreaking study revealed that, regardless of status or age, if a wolf had food in their ownership zone (under the chin and between the paws), it would show aggression to retain the item.
“Aside from these food deliveries, there appeared to be an ownership zone (Mech 1970). Around the mouth of each wolf, and regardless of the rank of a challenger, the owner tried to retain the food it possessed, as Lockwood (1979) also found with captive wolves. Wolves of any rank could try to steal food from another of any rank, but every wolf defended its food (Table 6).”
This is a natural behavior. Do you want someone stealing your dinner? Understanding this information will save you and your dog a lot of heartache. If your dog is eating, let it be. If your dog is showing abnormal aggression, or you have questions about your dog’s behavior, please contact us. We are happy to have a phone conversation free of charge.
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We provide expert dog training services for aggressive dogs, offering effective solutions to promote positive behavior and strengthen the bond between owners and their dogs. Cultivate a harmonious companionship with our dedicated training approach.