All aggression is not alike! There are different kinds of aggression, and different situations where you may encounter an aggressive dog — or see your own dog exhibit strange behaviors.
- Dog-Dog Aggression — can be set off by a variety of things. If a dog feels that he needs to protect food, resources, or his two-legged family. An undersocialized dog may not know how to behave around other dogs, leading to possible aggression on both sides. Some dogs find it fun to bully other dogs, or try to herd them. Some dogs don’t know how to temper their bites — something usually learned as a puppy.
- Fear Aggression — a dog that is nervous and fearful may lash out to protect themselves from a perceived threat. A cornered, fearful dog may bare teeth and growl, or even bite. Things like obedience training and a regular routine can help your dog build confidence.
- Resource Guarding — also known as food guarding. A dog may try to protect food, a toy, a particular place, or even a person.
- Territory Aggression — a dog who does not welcome strangers into his domain. His domain could be the house and yard, your bed, or even the street he is walking on.
- On Leash Aggression — when two dogs meet while on leash, there can be problems. Dogs are social by nature, and really want to approach and sniff other dogs they see. When on leash, movement and access is restricted, and can lead to frustration in some dogs. This can create an association between seeing dogs on leash and a feeling of anxiety and frustration. Many dogs that are aggressive on leash are far better behaved when off leash.
- Fence Fighting/Barrier Aggression — similar to on leash aggression, a dog who is barred from investigating may become extra aggressive towards animals on the other side of the barrier. They may also transfer this frustration onto an available target, like another dog in the same yard.
- Predatory Aggression — a dog may react to an object (or person) in motion aggressively. This is an instinctive reaction; dogs in the wild often had to chase down their food.
- Pain Aggression — an animal in pain may snap or bite. They have no way to communicate where they hurt and how severe the pain is.
- Punishment Aggression — an owner who is overly dominant or abusive can teach a dog to respond aggressively to punishment.
- Maternal Aggression — a pregnant or nursing dog (or a dog who has just been spayed, or is experiencing a false pregnancy) can become protective of her nest and babies. She may bark, growl, or snap to warn you away.
- Dog Park Aggression — put a bunch of dogs (of varying levels of obedience and socialization) together and you may get trouble. Any number of aggression behaviors — like resource guarding and poor socialization — can lead to an incident. Un-neutered dogs are often involved with dog park incidents, as their scent can trigger aggression in others. Responsible owners can watch for signs of aggression and give their dog a time out every time they misbehave.
It can be easy to mistake play for a serious fight. Some dogs are very vocal when they play! Watch the tails: wagging tails usually mean dogs at play, not dogs in a fight. Listen to the tone of the barks and growls. Your dog probably has one bark for greeting visitors and playing with friends and another bark for warning strangers away from the yard.