The first step in dealing with your dog’s aggression problem is deciding whether he has one. This is confusing because some aggression is considered acceptable and even desirable in dogs. In fact, probably an important reason dogs were domesticated was their instinctive ability to warn their human owners of intruders and drive the intruders away. Guarding has always been a valued characteristic of dogs.

 In deciding if your dog has an aggression problem, it is not a question of what is normal or natural aggression for a dog, but what is acceptable to the human society in which dogs live. In most cases, the only legally and socially acceptable provocations for biting that relieve an owner of liability are illegal trespassing on the dog owner’s property; attacking the owner; or kicking, teasing, or in some other way tormenting the dog. 

 While it may be natural for a dog to want to drive away all strangers that come into his territory, or to defend himself against the man in the white coat who attacks him with needles and thermometers, such behaviors cause problems in the doghuman relationship.

 The following is a list of signals that your dog may have an aggression problem. If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you should seek help.
  1. The following is a list of signals that your dog may have an aggression problem. If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you should seek help.
  2. Has your dog ever growled or snapped at you when you tried to discipline him?
  3. Has your dog ever growled or snapped at you when you tried to take something away from him?
  4. Do you avoid touching your dog in certain ways because you are afraid you will irritate him?
  5. Does your dog snap at you when you try to brush him?
  6. Has a groomer complained to you about having difficulty handling your dog?
  7. Has your dog tried to snap at your veterinarian?
  8. Does your dog bark hysterically when someone either comes to the house or goes by your house? Can you easily stop your dog from barking in these situations?
  9.  Does your dog growl at people after they enter your home, continue barking at them, or shy away from them?
  10. Does your dog shy away from strangers when they try to touch him?
  11. Do you not trust your dog around strangers?
  12. Do you find yourself making excuses for your dog’s hostile behavior?
  13. Is your dog less than six months old and already acting hostile toward strangers?
  14. Dogs Who Are Aggressive with Other Dogs in the Household

Some signs are harder to see than others, but no matter what the signs are, you can always make excuses. Don’t deny an aggression problem.

Finding Help

If you think your dog has an aggression problem, you need to get expert help, but it probably won’t be easy to find. Anyone can call himself an animal behavior consultant or dog psychologist. There are no licensing requirements. This is complicated by the fact that someone with a Ph.D. in animal behavior may have little practical experience in handling aggressive dogs, while a dog trainer with no academic degrees may have a lot of experience and be of great help.

You can ask a veterinarian for referrals; however, be cautious about taking your veterinarian’s advice regarding your dog’s aggression problem unless he has had special training in this area beyond the normal veterinary training. His advice may be well meaning but lacking a foundation in experience and knowledge. You could also contact the nearest veterinary school for a referral. They often have a dog behavior specialist on staff.

Taking an obedience class might be helpful if your aggression problem has not progressed far and if your dog is young. If you sign up for a class, tell the instructor about your aggression problem beforehand. Be honest with him or her. The instructor may not feel qualified to handle your problem, or may feel that the class setting is inappropriate for your dog. He or she may require that you take some private lessons before entering a class.

When dealing with an aggression problem, don’t add tension to tension, or aggression to aggression. If your dog is tense and in a situation in which you think he may bite, you will only increase the likelihood of that happening if you become tense yourself. 

Your dog will sense your fears and become more stressed himself, feeling more of a need to defend himself. Instead, try relaxing your dog with happy talk, play, and laughter. Don’t increase your dog’s aggression by adding aggression with punishment that is hostile in nature, excessive, and beyond the point of instructional correction.

Normal Aggressive Response to Rude Dogs

Here’s a news flash: dogs can’t talk. If another dog is bothering them, they can’t tell them to back off, so they tell them by lunging and snapping at them. Some dogs are more intolerant of other dogs’ obnoxious behavior than other dogs. 

That’s okay. Don’t punish your dog. It’s your job to protect your dog from rude and obnoxious dogs. Rude dogs are ones who run up to your dog, get in his face, and maybe jump on him. They are overly friendly and rough.


blog blog dogs

Does Your Dog Have an Aggression Problem?

The first step in dealing with your dog’s aggression problem is deciding whether he has one. This is confusing because some aggression is considered acceptable and even desirable in dogs. In fact, probably an important reason dogs were domesticated was their instinctive ability to warn their human owners of intruders and drive the intruders away. Guarding has always been a valued characteristic of dogs.

 In deciding if your dog has an aggression problem, it is not a question of what is normal or natural aggression for a dog, but what is acceptable to the human society in which dogs live. In most cases, the only legally and socially acceptable provocations for biting that relieve an owner of liability are illegal trespassing on the dog owner’s property; attacking the owner; or kicking, teasing, or in some other way tormenting the dog. 

 While it may be natural for a dog to want to drive away all strangers that come into his territory, or to defend himself against the man in the white coat who attacks him with needles and thermometers, such behaviors cause problems in the doghuman relationship.

 The following is a list of signals that your dog may have an aggression problem. If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you should seek help.
  1. The following is a list of signals that your dog may have an aggression problem. If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you should seek help.
  2. Has your dog ever growled or snapped at you when you tried to discipline him?
  3. Has your dog ever growled or snapped at you when you tried to take something away from him?
  4. Do you avoid touching your dog in certain ways because you are afraid you will irritate him?
  5. Does your dog snap at you when you try to brush him?
  6. Has a groomer complained to you about having difficulty handling your dog?
  7. Has your dog tried to snap at your veterinarian?
  8. Does your dog bark hysterically when someone either comes to the house or goes by your house? Can you easily stop your dog from barking in these situations?
  9.  Does your dog growl at people after they enter your home, continue barking at them, or shy away from them?
  10. Does your dog shy away from strangers when they try to touch him?
  11. Do you not trust your dog around strangers?
  12. Do you find yourself making excuses for your dog’s hostile behavior?
  13. Is your dog less than six months old and already acting hostile toward strangers?
  14. Dogs Who Are Aggressive with Other Dogs in the Household

Some signs are harder to see than others, but no matter what the signs are, you can always make excuses. Don’t deny an aggression problem.

Finding Help

If you think your dog has an aggression problem, you need to get expert help, but it probably won’t be easy to find. Anyone can call himself an animal behavior consultant or dog psychologist. There are no licensing requirements. This is complicated by the fact that someone with a Ph.D. in animal behavior may have little practical experience in handling aggressive dogs, while a dog trainer with no academic degrees may have a lot of experience and be of great help.

You can ask a veterinarian for referrals; however, be cautious about taking your veterinarian’s advice regarding your dog’s aggression problem unless he has had special training in this area beyond the normal veterinary training. His advice may be well meaning but lacking a foundation in experience and knowledge. You could also contact the nearest veterinary school for a referral. They often have a dog behavior specialist on staff.

Taking an obedience class might be helpful if your aggression problem has not progressed far and if your dog is young. If you sign up for a class, tell the instructor about your aggression problem beforehand. Be honest with him or her. The instructor may not feel qualified to handle your problem, or may feel that the class setting is inappropriate for your dog. He or she may require that you take some private lessons before entering a class.

When dealing with an aggression problem, don’t add tension to tension, or aggression to aggression. If your dog is tense and in a situation in which you think he may bite, you will only increase the likelihood of that happening if you become tense yourself. 

Your dog will sense your fears and become more stressed himself, feeling more of a need to defend himself. Instead, try relaxing your dog with happy talk, play, and laughter. Don’t increase your dog’s aggression by adding aggression with punishment that is hostile in nature, excessive, and beyond the point of instructional correction.

Normal Aggressive Response to Rude Dogs

Here’s a news flash: dogs can’t talk. If another dog is bothering them, they can’t tell them to back off, so they tell them by lunging and snapping at them. Some dogs are more intolerant of other dogs’ obnoxious behavior than other dogs. 

That’s okay. Don’t punish your dog. It’s your job to protect your dog from rude and obnoxious dogs. Rude dogs are ones who run up to your dog, get in his face, and maybe jump on him. They are overly friendly and rough.


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