Dog Aggression: 8 Reasons That May Be Triggering Your Dog

Confused by your dog’s aggression? We explore 8 common reasons behind dog aggression, helping you understand and address their behavior for a happier, calmer pup.

If you dread going out for a walk with your dog because you know your normally calm, loving, house dog will turn aggressive once they encounter another animal or person, then there could be a reason for the behavior. The causes could be due to genetics, but could also be due to an underlying problem such as stress or pain.

In order to help your pet, you will need to look at what could be causing the aggressive reactions and work from there. By looking at the main causes you could make walking your pet a more pleasurable experience for both of you.

1. Genetics

Certain breeds are more likely to be aggressive unfortunately but this is generally shown to be because a breeder paired two aggressive dogs for breeding.

2. Protectiveness

If your dog feels that you are being threatened, they will react with anger. This is because they see you as part of their pack. It’s not uncommon for dogs to become protective over new additions to the family such as a new baby or puppy.

3. Guarding

Dogs do not like their space being invaded and will have more than likely experienced aggression previously when unknown dogs come near their home. This comes from pack mentality and is not easy to prevent.

4. Predatory

Dogs love to chase and have a natural instinct for hunting. If your dog often chases people or other animals it could be due to them still having that in build predatory predisposition. Some dogs are more prey driven than other kinds of dogs.

5. Frustration

Just like a child, if a dog is stopped from doing something they want to do, they could act out aggressively to show their frustration.

6. Social threats

If a dog feels their own dominance is under threat they can act out aggressively

7. Pain

As with humans, dogs can be crabby if they are in pain. This is why dogs often act out if they are hurt and you try to help them, or if they anticipate further pain.

8. Fear

Just like humans, dogs have fears too. If they are frightened of a person or environment they can show aggressive traits. This can also occur if a dog has been allowed to do something previously but is then reprimanded. It can also occur if a dog has got its own way previously by acting in an aggressive manner.

How to treat aggression in dogs

In order to treat your dog’s aggression, you must first know the cause and remember that it is most likely to have come from anxiety or fear. Using aggressive devices such as electric shock and choke chains can make the problem worse. For puppies, it is best to expose them to other animals and people so that they don’t develop aggression later in life due to fear and poor socialization.

For older dogs, you can desensitize them slowly by introducing them to their fears carefully until they adjust to the stimuli. Be sure you treat your dog with dog treats and a lot of fuss so that they relate the experience to something good and positive. Keep calm and ensure the environment is as calm as possible, which could also come from a fixed routine so they know what to expect throughout the day.

Make your dog a safe space with their toys and blankets so that they can walk away from stress and know where to go should they feel uncomfortable with a situation.

You can also use natural supplements to keep your dog calm, but you should avoid sedatives as they can make the problem worse.