No matter how much you love your pooch, aggressive behavior in your dog can be alarming and challenging to handle. While it's normal for dogs to exhibit certain protective or territorial behaviors, aggression can sometimes escalate into more serious issues. This can affect their relationship with you and other people, animals, and their environment.

If you’re worried about your dog’s behavior, it’s a good idea to book an appointment with a vet. You’ll also find that some pet insurance providers offer pet insurance policies that include behavioral treatment, giving you expert help and advice. You can also compare lifetime coverage policies so that you can cover your pet for both their physical and mental well-being throughout their life, as well as third-party liability, just in case anything does go wrong.

It’s important to understand the underlying causes of aggression in your dog and learn how to manage it to help ensure the safety and well-being of both your dog and those around them.

What is Aggressive Behaviour in Dogs?

Dogs can show aggression in various ways, from barking and snarling to snapping or even biting. While some behavior is expected, such as barking, it’s important to identify actual aggression so that you can address it. Dogs can sometimes show assertive or dominant behavior, but true aggression is typically driven by fear, anxiety, territoriality, pain, or frustration.

Although it can seem that some dogs are born with aggressive tendencies, they’re more likely to be born with inherited tendencies that can develop into aggressive behavior if they’re not controlled, as per the RSPCA.

Common Causes of Aggression in Dogs

When a dog snarls or bites, it can be easy to mark it down to the dog’s personality. However, there are so many potential underlying causes of aggression in dogs, such as their environment or fear. If the issues are properly addressed, it can effectively minimize or prevent aggression and help you build a better relationship with your pet.

There are different types of aggression in dogs:

· Fear-based Aggression — This occurs when a dog feels threatened or frightened, and they may react aggressively as a defense mechanism. Common triggers include unfamiliar people, environments, or situations that the dog perceives as dangerous.

· Territorial Aggression — Dogs are naturally territorial animals and might display aggression when they feel their home or a certain area is being invaded by an unfamiliar person or animal. This behavior is usually seen when a dog guards their food, toys, or space.

· Protective Aggression — Dogs may become aggressive when they think there is a threat to their family or loved ones. They will often try to protect their owners or other pets from perceived harm, which can lead to aggressive behavior.

· Frustration-induced Aggression — This type of aggression happens when a dog can’t do what they want, such as when they are confined to a lead or can’t get to something. This frustration can build up and result in aggressive outbursts.

· Redirected Aggression — This can happen when a dog becomes aroused or agitated by something (such as another dog). Due to restrictions such as a lead, the dog may redirect their aggression toward a nearby person or animal. It’s common when a dog is restrained on a lead but still wants to act on their instinct to chase or attack.

Signs of Aggression in Dogs

A common sign of aggression in dogs is barking or growling. While some dogs growl in play, a deep, low growl usually indicates that the dog is becoming agitated and could be preparing to act defensively.

If your dog growls at a person or another animal, it's important to respect their space and remove them from the situation. Dogs sometimes bare their teeth as a warning to other dogs or people to stay away. They may also snap or lunge toward whatever is upsetting them, particularly if they feel cornered, threatened, or territorial.

When a dog becomes stiff and rigid, it could indicate that it’s ready to defend itself or assert dominance. Raising their hackles (when the fur along a dog's back stands up) is also a sign that the dog could feel threatened or agitated. Your dog may also stare at a person or animal without blinking, which could indicate that they are becoming aggressive or preparing for a confrontation.

When to Seek Professional Help

While some mild aggression can be managed with training at home, your dog may need professional intervention if their behavior is severe enough. You might want to get help from a vet, dog trainer, or dog behaviorist to get to the source of your dog’s aggression and prevent it from escalating. It’s time to seek help quickly if your dog starts biting, even if they don’t break the skin.

Dogs that react aggressively out of fear may require specialized training and desensitization techniques. A professional can help build your dog’s confidence and teach them to respond calmly to stressful situations. A vet may be able to establish whether your beloved pet is acting aggressively due to an underlying health condition, such as arthritis, neurological issues, or hormone imbalances.

How to Prevent Aggressive Behaviour in Dogs

While the behavior of some dogs is rooted in genetics or medical conditions, you can avoid most cases of aggression through proactive measures. To help your dog become comfortable in different environments, it’s important to socialize and expose them to various people, other animals, and environments.

You can teach them that new encounters aren’t a threat by rewarding positive behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. Yelling or physically disciplining your dog can cause them more stress and anxiety, so use consistent and calm correction methods to reassure and praise them.

As per the PDSA, it’s best to keep your dog on a lead when they’re in unfamiliar places. Stop your dog from bounding over to another dog, as you don’t know how they will react, and it could cause stress or potential aggression between the two animals.

Dealing with Aggression in Multi-Dog Households

While living in a multi-dog household has many rewards, you may find that your dogs show aggression towards one another. Whether it's competition over resources, dominance struggles, or miscommunication, aggression between pets can create tension and even lead to fights.

One of the most common causes of aggression between pets is resource hoarding. To minimize conflicts over food, toys, and sleeping areas, you can make sure each dog has their own designated areas, toys, and bowls and teach them the ‘leave it’ or ‘wait’ command.

Keeping Your Dog and Others Safe

To prevent your beloved pet from developing aggressive tendencies, it’s important to socialize it in its formative weeks and use positive reinforcement when introducing it to new environments. You should also keep your dog on a lead in new areas and use commands to prevent it from approaching other animals or people without your permission.

Establishing clear rules, supervising interactions (especially in multi-dog households), and preventing resource guarding will help you maintain harmony. If you do find that your dog is showing aggression, avoid punishing them and instead focus on redirection and behavior modification.

It’s a good idea to seek advice from a vet, dog trainer, or dog behaviorist to get to the root of the problem and make the necessary improvements. You should then see a positive change in your dog so that it feels much happier in itself and around others.

Understanding & Managing Aggressive Behavior in Dogs