by: Dr. Amandeep Kaur Mauj Inappropriate aggression in dogs is the most serious behavior problem that pet owners must deal with. Aggression, while infrequently a result of a medical problem, is usually caused by human mismanagement. It is largely preventable if the owner understands canine growth periods and the factors that influence the development of aggressive behavior.
To understand why dogs become aggressive we have to know that aggression is imprinted in the genes that they inherited from wolves. To chase and kill was their survival plan when dogs were part of a pack. To maintain their position in the pack, defend their territory and to date their mate they had to be aggressive. Once adopted by humans they were bred specifically to either increase or decrease aggression as desired by their new master. The dog thinks of his new family as his pack and tries to build his rank. That’s where we come in. without us helping him out the dog is simply acts as he would act in the wild in order to survive, leading to inappropriate aggression.
A dog may exhibit more than one type of aggression. These include Defensive or induced by fear, pain, or punishment; Dominant; Possessive; Territorial; Intra-sexual (male-to-male or female-to-female); Predatory; or Parental. If you think your dog is aggressive check the following symptoms:
· Excessive barking; · Over protectiveness of food and possessions; · Fearfulness in new situations or around strangers; · Severe attacks on other animals, such as cats or livestock; · Attempts to mount people's legs; · Snapping and snarling when petted, groomed, or lifted; · Frequent attempts to chase moving objects such as bicycles, cars etc · Repeated escapes from home and long periods spent roaming free
None of these symptoms should be ignored. Each can be a predictor of serious aggressive behavior. If we can better understand aggression we can more easily recognize the early warning signs and possibly avoid a serious if not life threatening situation. In no case should an aggressive pet abandoned as he can be dangerous for an unsuspecting new owner.
