Defining aggression among dogs

Aggression in dogs is defined as a threatening or harmful behavior directed toward another living
creature—whether human or animal. The dog may snarl, growl, snap, nip, bite and lunge. Such behavior among dogs is not abnormal. All they are doing is to exhibit the typical behavior of a normal species that is perhaps incompatible with human life and safety. Such behavior among dogs is on the rise and can lead to gruesome situations, including death, as described below.

Only recently, a young woman returned home with a lady friend and was unlocking her door when two snarling and ferocious dogs lunged at her. Though the owner of the dogs screamed at them to stop, they went straight for the woman and attacked her.

When the police arrived at the scene, they found her in ragged clothes and bloodstains all over the walls and floor. The victim was sent to hospital for neck injuries which she later succumbed to, and the dogs went to an animal shelter.


Were they bred to be ferocious? The question: what makes dogs turn ferocious has led many
behaviorists to go into the matter at great length. They say that while some breeds are very fierce or aggressive, others aren’t. Due to domestication or taming by humans, they have lost their predatory edge and since then have also been selectively bred or mated to certain breeds of dogs to redouble certain specific behavioral traits helpful to humans.


Killer instinct: Though certain dog breeds such as rottweilers and pit bulls are deadly attackers, it is still impossible to know a killer by his breed alone. A more reliable way is to know if the dog has been neutered or not. When a dog is devoid of its sexual urges, he ceases to have any hormonal urges to roam and fight.


The return of the predatory instinct: As you know, dogs have descended from wolves that have a very distinct predatory instinct. Like most wild canine predators, wolves also killed in packs. In addition, predators kill other animals for food or in self-defense of their territory. Dogs have evolved from wild canines, and most wild canine predators kill in packs. From the many hundred cases of fatal dog attacks, one thing comes to light: that the savage instincts of a pack have returned to some domestic dogs that suddenly attack animals or people without warning.


Our responsibilities: There’s only so much that genetics can be responsible for, when attributing blame to aggression and the killer instinct in dogs. There are also our own responsibilities towards our pet dogs.

Your pet’s behavior is the net result of how you bring him up, his health and training—aspects you are responsible for. In certain cases, a pet owner, unwittingly encourages his dog to become dangerous by including rough play in his daily schedule, abusing him and praising him when the dog growls at strangers.

Aggressive Dogs

Aggression is the most troubling problem that comes between people and their pets. If you have a dog who isn’t safe with other people or dogs, or may have attacked you, this dog is not date bait. In fact, you need to address your dog’s aggression before you focus on your own love life. If you don’t address this right away, it will only get worse.

Here are a few ideas that might help:

Find a trainer or behaviorist who uses gentle methods. Far more often than not, if you treat aggression with force, the problem will escalate. This trainer will probably have you follow a plan in which your dog has to work for a living: Every time you give him food, or even a gentle pat, he needs to sit, lie down, or do something else to show that he’s earning his keep. (The thinking goes that in the wild, the top dog in the pack controls who gets food and attention. When the dog has
to work for you to get food and attention, he views you as the big dog in charge, and treats you with more respect.)

Teach your dog “watch me.” Your dog can’t get into fights or attack people if he’s looking at you. Dogs’ bodies follow their eyes. Teach your dog “watch me” by holding a treat in front of your eyes. When he stares longingly at your face, say “Good watch me!” and give him the treat. Over time, hold the treat in your hand but only reward the dog when he looks in your eyes. Build up the length of time of the eye contact, so you can ask your dog to “watch me” when trouble comes near, and he will focus on you until the temptation has passed.

Use a head collar. Head collars (brands such as Halti Collar and Gentle Leader) fit over your dog’s head, just like a halter
fits on a horse. Just as you can lead a horse wherever you want to go with a halter, so you can lead even a big dog with a head collar. In addition, the feeling of the strap over the dog’s nose is something like the way a top dog gently nuzzles
the muzzle of a lower-ranking dog, so over and over the head collar is telling your dog that you’re the boss—and he isn’t. Sometimes that gentle reminder will make an almost magical difference in a dog.

Know your dog. Know what triggers your dog, and avoid those situations. So if he’s dog-aggressive, don’t take him to the dog park: That’s just asking for an awful incident. If he growls when people come within four feet—stay five feet away.

With expert help and a lot of patience, your aggressive dog might turn the corner and become a safe, reliable citizen. And with all the dog trainers you’ll be meeting, you never know where you’ll find love.

Shy Dogs

About 15 percent of people and dogs are shy (defined as uncomfortable with unfamiliar places or people). Sometimes the people who have shy dogs—often rescuing them from sad situations—are shy themselves. These kind souls take these dogs because of the special empathy they feel.

So . . . you’ve got a shy owner and a shy dog. I bet you’re thinking this doesn’t sound like a recipe for success in meeting the perfect mate. You’re wrong. People who own shy dogs soon learn that the most important antidote to shyness is gentle, loving, non-threatening exposure to safe new people and safe new situations. While a happy-go-lucky dog might do fine just playing with neighborhood kids in your backyard, over time a shy dog needs to be taken into the real world or she will just get worse. Over the years, you’ll probably end up going more places and meeting more people with your shy dog than anyone you know who has a “normal” dog.

Here are a few rules to help your shy dog adjust to new social situations (and a few hints for the shy owner, as well).

Don’t overwhelm your shy dog. It’s important to expose your dog to new places and new things, but it’s equally important not to flood her with stimulation. Take her to small neighborhood parks, not a crowded shopping center. Walk with her quietly; don’t let her get mugged by the dogs at the
dog park.

Carry food. Most people will reach out to pet your shy dog. An outstretched hand coming over a dog’s head is the scariest gesture a human can make, and it will terrify most shy dogs. Instead, carry yummy, gooey, smelly, delicious (to a dog) treats with you. When someone wants to pet your dog,
explain that your dog is shy, but it would be great if the person would give your pooch one of these special treats. A true dog lover will be thrilled to take the gooey, slimy, smelly treat and give it to your shy dog.

Develop your own patter. Dog talent agent Paula Ratoza has a shy Doberman Pinscher who was abused before she adopted him. She says people would often make nasty comments to her, assuming his “hang dog” look was her fault. She learned to explain her dog’s history and asked people to give him a
treat. When they gave him a treat, Paula would tell Higgins “head up” and he’d hold his head up tall and proud as he took the treat. Now he knows the commands “head up” and also “head down”—recreating his old, sad look. This comes in handy when this now happy dog has a role in a television commercial.

Love your shy dog, take her places, build her confidence, and watch her blossom into a happier, more relaxed pet. Just think: The next person who helps you by giving your dog a slimy dog treat might be the kind, sweet soul who will be your perfect match. Don’t be surprised if this new dream date is just a little bit shy. After all, a shy
person has the empathy and heart to understand what your dog is going through.