I am offering you today some ideas to help you understand your dog's behavior and give you advice on how to get him to be in a better state of mind.
How did you get here? Why has your dog become so virulent? How to calm him down and find solutions? How to prevent dog aggression? These are the questions that are addressed here. However, be aware that this article is not a solution in itself! You must, in addition, call on professionals so that they can give you personalized advice because each case is different and is therefore treated individually.
Reading an article is not enough and will not allow you to solve your dog's aggression problem 100% because each line that you will read below can be interpreted in a thousand and one different ways and this are of course “general” advice which may not be sufficient to solve your problem.
I would like to make this clear because this subject is very sensitive and a misinterpretation of the advice that will follow can sometimes even aggravate an already complex situation. It is therefore always preferable to meet with professionals (veterinarians and canine behaviorists) to benefit from personalized advice.
Why is my dog aggressive?
A dog can become aggressive for many reasons and we will also list the 8 types of aggression that can be distinguished when analyzing a dog's behavior.
But in general, there are 3 major reasons that explain the aggressiveness of a dog (in addition to the 8 that we will detail next).
Know that it is often because of us that our dogs become aggressive. Sorry to tell you, but it is a very widely observed fact in canine behavior analysis.
Human failures and abuses do a lot of damage, very often unintentional, fortunately But it is important to take them into account to first of all prevent your dog's aggressiveness if you never are not yet affected by this problem and above all to become aware of the birth of the problem you are encountering in order to find suitable solutions.
A lack of socialization
This is most certainly the main cause that explains the emerging aggressiveness of a dog. Because, NO, a dog is not born “bad”, it becomes so (often because of its master).
The lack of socialization, mainly between the first 3 and 12 weeks of a puppy can have serious consequences.
This period is essential because it finally allows the puppy to create a kind of hard disk of data which will serve as a base, a reference, for all his life.
In fact, if a puppy does not have a lot of positive experiences during his development period, he will not be able to live calmly in the new situations that will be imposed on him later.
You will agree, you can't blame a dog for not knowing how to “speak dog” if he has never had opportunities to develop and reinforce his canine codes with his congeners.
Similarly, a dog cannot be forced to be sociable with strangers if it has always been put in a bubble without seeing anyone during its development period.
Also read>https://www.toutoupourlechien.com/socialisation-chien.html
The accumulation of bad experiences
Then, on the contrary, there are masters who want to socialize their puppy so much at all costs that they don't favor only good experiences. This is a typical case of “over-socialization”!
In fact, the accumulation of bad experiences (and sometimes just one is enough) can cause quite severe trauma that leaves the dog in question no choice but to attack “before being attacked”.
As a survival reflex, the dog no longer allows anyone to approach him to avoid an Nth bad experience.
In fact, if your dog has associated a person, a dog or an environment with a bad experience several times, when he meets a new person, a new dog or a different environment, he will be in an emotional state unstable which can then cause it to become aggressive.
And in a way, it totally makes sense. I dare anyone not to end up getting upset if every time they meet someone, they get slapped.
An inconsistent attitude from the master
Finally, the inconsistent attitude of a master can also be the cause of an aggression problem in dogs. I offer you some profiles of masters who can cause this kind of problem:
- A teacher who is too brutal in his educational approach: an inter-specific relationship based on conflict breeds conflict. Violence begets violence.
- An overly lax master who leaves everything to his dog: without framework, without limits and without referent, the dog therefore finds himself alone to manage the new situations that are imposed on him.
- An overly protective master who does not let his dog play with others for fear of being hurt: this is the typical case of masters of small dogs who have the reflex to carry their dog systematically to each supposedly “critical” situation.
- A master who does not understand canine codes or the signals sent by his dog and who insists in a situation when his dog clearly shows that he is in a very uncomfortable emotional state.
In all the cases cited here, it is very often a lack of information on how a dog works, what it really is and how it should be really educated that is the problem.And the only solution in this case is to call on a professional in canine education and behavior to give all the keys to new adopters so that the inter-specific relationship is he althy and balanced.
The different types of aggression
To go further, when we analyze the behavior of a dog, when we try to understand why he is so virulent and above all to find suitable solutions, we distinguish 8 different types of aggression:
Possessive aggressiveness
This is the case of dogs who can't share their resources, whether it's their bowl, their basket or even their human.
Here, it is an important resource management work that is worth starting:
- Teach your dog to wait before eating (sit down, not move, put the bowl down, wait a few seconds and OK).
- Don't give him self-service food. One or two meals a day should be offered to him, at more or less fixed times.
- Add kibble when you pass by his bowl (do not take it away from him as many educators advise!!!)
- Always initiate contacts. You have to decide when interactions with your dog begin and end, don't let your dog beg for your attention and always get it.
- Do not disturb him when he is in his basket (this is especially valid when you have children).
- Teach him to go to his basket on command.
- Regulate access to the sofa and the bed: your dog must not get on the sofa when he wants, or, if so, he must be able to get off it quickly when you ask him.
These tips apply to all dogs, whether they are aggressive or not. These are rules of life inherent in the harmonious integration of the dog into its adoptive family.
Also read>https://www.toutoupourlechien.com/mon-chien-est-possessif.html
Also read>https://www.toutoupourlechien.com/chien-aggressive-au-moment-des-repas.html
Predation aggression
This is the case with dogs that have very strong hunting (and predation) instincts that are often reinforced by throwing games.
We are obviously talking about hunting dogs, but also primitive dogs that have not experienced major genetic modifications (unlike other breeds selected by humans). This can also be the case with herding dogs used to controlling what is moving and when they fail to do so, biting can be observed.
Here, the goal will be to suppress the dog's instinct but it will be impossible to suppress it. Don't we say “drive out the natural and it comes back at a gallop”?
To control the marked instinct of a dog you must already let it exist, that is to say that if you adopt a hunting dog, you must accept that it runs after a possible prey.But accepting does not mean submitting; in fact, at the same time, it is necessary to put in place a good education by highlighting here the notion of renunciation: the “you leave”!
Also read>https://www.toutoupourlechien.com/attenuer-instinct-de-predation-chien.html
Aggressiveness by guard instinct
This is obviously the case for the dogs initially selected for guarding. This type of aggression is also called “territorial aggression” but in my opinion, this term means everything and nothing and is more confusing than anything else.
So be careful, not all guard dogs are aggressive. Their mission is more to prevent, protect and intimidate But some go further and do much more than just show their fangs when an individual continues their intrusion.
This can be a great help in some cases but know that even a burglar can turn against you if he is bitten by your dog And yes, justice is well done, isn't it?
Furthermore, you should know that a dog is born a guardian, he does not become one. It is even forbidden to train a dog to guard: either it is naturally or it is not.
Also read>https://www.toutoupourlechien.com/attenuer-instinct-de-garde-chien.html
Aggression by irritation
This aggressiveness concerns dogs who are unfortunately not understood and who, despite all the signals of discomfort sent, are not spared or left alone. Aggression is therefore for these dogs the last way they have found to escape an uncomfortable, stressful and/or dangerous situation in their eyes.
It is often this type of aggression that is observed in cases of bites on children.
Here, the goal is to learn how to communicate respectfully with your dog, to get to know him and to know how to distinguish signals that express discomfort from those that express well-being.
Aggression out of fear
This is one of the "worst" aggressions because here, the dog generally does not warn What makes him a potentially unpredictable dog.
However, a dog that attacks out of fear is a dog that has most certainly expressed its fears in a certain way before. Whether it's hiding, constantly running away from the object of your fears, having your tail between your legs, etc.
We come back here to the notion of socialization because by definition, a dog is afraid of what he does not know. It is therefore very important to make sure that your puppy is accustomed to dealing with new situations regularly, to meeting people or dogs he has never seen, etc.
The goal of socialization is not necessarily to make your puppy live everything, not already because you won't have time, on the one hand, but above all because the real goal of socialization is to get your puppy used to regular new experiences with you.Thus, even as an adult, as long as he is with you, “extraordinary” situations will not scare him because you will be his landmark.
To give you an example, if your puppy hasn't known the sea during his development period, that's not why he will be traumatized by a few waves as an adult It's only s 'he never left your house when he was little or that he was always used to taking the same walk every day that this sudden change of environment will scare him.
Maternal aggression
This concerns pregnant females who have given birth and are protecting their young.
There is not much to do here because it is a logical and natural behavior linked in particular to the instinct of survival and that of protection.
Aggression through pain
This is the case for older, potentially sick and painful dogs as well as injured dogs or dogs who have undergone an operation.
This type of aggression can affect many profiles and even the nicest and most adorable dog in the world can be aggressive if he is in pain.
Here, it is the quality of the interspecific relationship between the master and his dog that will be decisive. A climate of trust must reign between the two individuals to limit the risk of aggression as much as possible.
But above all, you have to know how to leave your dog alone, never force contact and adopt appropriate gestures (no sudden gestures for example).
Redirected Aggression
Finally, this aggression is often observed in dogs who fail to manage their frustration. To sum it up roughly: “I can't have this, so I'm going after whoever comes along”.
Personally, I often observe this in my dog: when I walk him on a leash and he can't go see a "buddy" he really wants to go see, he excites herself and externalizes her frustration by attacking my other dog (who she obviously didn't ask for).It's quick, generally without consequences, it's not "serious" but it can seem quite impressive from the outside.
Here, the work to be done is therefore to teach your dog to better manage his frustration, teach him to "come down" , to land and therefore better live the situations that trigger him.
Also read>https://www.toutoupourlechien.com/frustration-chez-le-chien-lui-enseignement-a-la-gerer.html
The solutions
Over the course of this article, I have given you several tips, adapted to each situation. But I remind you, the first thing to do when you have an aggressive dog is to call on a canine education and behavior professional to give you personalized work leads!
Here is a summary of the good reflexes to have to anticipate the aggressiveness of your dog and to limit the damage if this is already the case:
Tip 1: Go see a veterinarian
Your dog's aggression can be genetic or medical, so it's always best to make an appointment with a veterinarian to diagnose any such problem or refer you to a behaviorist colleague to solve the problem.
Tip 2: Get your dog used to wearing a muzzle
It is very often a tool that we do not want to use because of its rather pejorative connotation. But if your dog is aggressive, its use is essential.
It is important to make the dog understand that the muzzle is not negative, that it is synonymous with walks, play sessions, etc. Learning must be positive!
In addition, if your dog wears a muzzle, you will be much more relaxed and confident, and your dog will feel it during your walks! This is very important because very often we communicate our own anxieties and uncertainties and this is what sometimes triggers aggression.
Also read>https://www.toutoupourlechien.com/habituer-son-chien-au-port-de-la-museliere.html
Tip 3: Strengthen your dog's obedience
Of course, a well-behaved dog will be easier to control than a completely independent dog who only does what he likes and is on his own.
Thus, don't wait to educate your dog and reinforce the different learnings throughout his life.
The educational bases are: recall, renunciation (“you leave”) and static positions (“sitting”, “lying down”, “not moving”). If your dog has acquired his three great learnings, it will be much easier for you to evolve alongside him.
Tip 4: Learn to read your dog
A dog does not speak, but it nevertheless communicates a lot with us, do we still have to be aware of it and know how to read and interpret the different signals it sends us.
Do not hesitate to call on a professional or read our articles on this subject to know the meaning of each expression of your doggie and be able to act accordingly and adopt an appropriate attitude if necessary.
Tip 5: Have a consistent and reassuring attitude
Be sure of yourself, confident and serene because your dog must consider you as his referent, his guide and his benchmark.
If you're not confident, your dog won't be either. And don't forget that an aggressive dog is not aggressive for pleasure. If he comes to aggression, he is really in a very unstable emotional state.
Tip 6: Establish house rules
A dog that has a frame is a dog that is potentially serene and well in his paws because he feels protected, framed and therefore safe. In fact, at home, do not allow him everything, impose limits on him that he must not cross.
To give some examples:
- Don't accept his requests for attention (ignore him when he begs).
- Always stay on the initiative of contacts.
- Teach him to go and stay in his place, especially when guests arrive.
- Ban a room in the house.
- Regulate access to the sofa.
- Don't feed him at the table.
- Give him his bowl once or twice a day, for a maximum of 20 minutes.
- Do not leave the bowl in self-service.
- Etc
Tip 7: Socialize your puppy
Finally, you will have understood it because it is a little the common thread of this article: socializing your puppy is essential to hope to have a balanced adult dog, with good canine codes and a good adaptation to changes .
Do not hesitate to call on a professional dog trainer to help you find dogs compatible with quality socialization.
And don't forget: socializing must be regular and always positive! If you think that such and such a situation will not be beneficial for your dog, then prefer to avoid it. However, don't lock your pup in a bubble either! Trust yourself and trust him.