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April 26th, 2009 by Kevin Lynch

Aggressive dogs can be quite scary. They can scare little children and adults alike. There are some breeds that are more likely to be aggressive but even so there is usually an underlying reason for aggression in dogs and finding out why your dog is aggressive can assist you in your training efforts. A dog that is calm in most circumstances will be an easier dog to own.

If you dog wishes to establish his dominance he may act aggressively. Dogs are naturally pack animals and there is always a leader in the pack. When you are training your dog you need to establish yourself as the leader. If your dog thinks he is the alpha dog you will constantly have problems. Your dog may still be aggressive towards other dogs or animals if dominance issues are the issue why he is being aggressive.

Dogs can also act aggressively because they are protecting their territory. Your dog thinks certain things are “his” including you, your home and your family. While this can be seen as a good thing in certain circumstances it can cause problems with visitors or neighbors if it gets out of control. If you dog is excessively aggressive in protecting his territory his behavior may need to be curbed.

Fear can cause a dog to lash out aggressively. Something happens that frightens him and he does the only thing he knows how to do which is to start growling, pull his ears back, tuck his tail between his legs and act fierce. This is just a protective mechanism that is often misunderstood as being direct aggression but the truth is that something triggered the fear, which in turn triggered the aggressive behavior.

Sometimes the aggressive actions are misdirected. Something happens that triggers an aggressive reaction, such as a dominance or territorial issue but the dog is unable to take out his aggression on the target. He therefore will act aggressively where he is. He may start taking out his aggression on another dog or pet for no apparent reason yet something instigated his behavior. He was just not able to act on the actual issue that triggered his aggression.

There can also be medical or biological issues for aggression. A mother dog will often express aggression when she is protecting her litter of puppies. This type of aggression is understandable however sometimes a medical issue could be causing excessive aggression so it is always wise to have your vet give your dog a thorough examination.

Most dogs will be calmer and have a better temperament if they are spayed or neutered. This will also make your training efforts easier and more efficient not to mention the fact that there are too many unwanted and unloved dogs out there. If you are not in the dog-breeding business it is just the responsible thing to do to get your dog spayed or neutered.

If you consider the reasons why your dog may be acting aggressively you can tailor your training efforts and curb the aggression. You can work with your dog’s own specific needs and have more success.