Chapter 1

Is Your Dog Aggressive?

Love me, love my dog! This is a sentiment that we seldom hear expressed anymore, despite the fact that many people continue to feel it deeply. Dogs are our favorite pets because they can blend instantly with any family or simply create a family where there was none before. Although they are frequently bought for children, few adults can resist the unrestrained happiness of a dog whose greatest joy is to be in the company of humans. The problem is that not all dogs are friendly to all humans. As a matter of fact, many pet owners have discovered that their dogs can be quite aggressive, hostile, or even dangerous, and they do not know what to do about it.

Nevertheless, there isn’t a dog alive — even the most aggressive — that cannot capture the heart of at least one human being. Most people love most dogs, even those that are too aggressive. The reasons are understandable.

There is no such thing as a perfect dog. However, there are important positive qualities to look for when considering a new dog or evaluating your family pet. An enjoyable dog is one that is happy, outgoing, loving, social, playful, and very friendly. The dog you choose to live with should be the most loving puppy or adult in the world. He should not be shy with people or seriously frightened of new areas or noises. If he hides behind people or furniture or runs away from you, he is seriously shy or frightened. You should be able to touch a dog all over — on every part of the body — without getting an aggressive or terrified reaction.

If you already have a dog and are planning to get another, make sure your second dog is of the opposite sex. This will practically guarantee no fighting between them. If you get a second dog, do not put the two dogs together right away. First, introduce them on neutral territory, in a park or in another part of your neighborhood. Do not introduce them inside or outside your house. Keep them apart for at least two weeks if possible, so that the new puppy has the opportunity to bond with the family. This is very important. Otherwise, the new dog will bond to the senior dog rather than to the family. This is likely to create a shy or aggressive dog that is not attached to human family members in a loving way. If you cannot keep them completely apart for the first two weeks, then try to keep the puppy away from the senior dog for at least six to eight hours a day, giving him exclusive time with the family.

It is a mistake to acquire two dogs at the same time. Wait at least six months to a year between dogs. Every dog needs individual attention, which is impossible to give two new dogs at the same time. One will become shy and the other aggressive. Pet dogs need humans more than they need each other.

Getting a dog and learning to live with him is a major event and an exciting addition to anyone’s life. Within minutes after his arrival, a dog becomes part of the family and manages to burrow into the hearts of everyone he meets. The dog is a four-legged relative who plays a unique role in the human environment as friend, companion, worker, and, in some homes, protector. A dog is an endearing confidant who always listens and gives the best advice, which is to give no advice at all. A dog is one of the few constants a person can count on in an unpredictable, ever-changing world. Consequently, we humans develop strong feelings for our dogs and tend to forgive all of their faults and are often blind to them.

Some people demand protection from their dogs and do everything they can to encourage them to be unfriendly and threatening, especially to strangers. These are misguided people. They consider their dog’s intimidating behavior toward anyone outside their family to be a good thing. Unfortunately, these dog owners rarely understand the difference between protection and uncontrolled aggression. Anyone who loves dogs should learn what the difference is between a protection dog and a dog that is simply aggressive.

A protection dog is a highly trained animal that responds without question to the commands of its handlers. Professional protection trainers teach dogs to defend their owners and their property and to accept the control of their owners or handlers. A trained protection dog knows what is expected of him and, most important of all, is a totally obedient animal. By contrast, an aggressive dog is a dangerous animal because he is unpredictable and uncontrollable.

Aggressive behavior in dogs is most often inherited and can be seen early in the animal’s life, while he is still a puppy. Such puppies are all too often brought into the world by careless, ignorant, or inhumane breeders, whose only motivation is profit and who haven’t the slightest idea or concern about the harm they do.

The lack of proper socialization by this type of breeder during the critical stages of puppyhood has a profound influence on a dog’s behavior as an adult. The best you can hope for from an unsocialized dog is a pet that is less adaptive to human handling but somewhat manageable. At worst, an unsocialized dog may become highly aggressive and dangerous. Socialization is a process of human handling in a gentle, loving manner from the third to the sixteenth week of puppyhood.

Aggressive behavior can also be the result of a constantly hostile or threatening environment in any period of a dog’s life. Dogs trying to survive on their own may become aggressive or fearful because of the need to defend themselves or to fight for food or shelter. Aggressive behavior is most often the response to physical abuse. Harsh punishments, abusive training techniques, and all forms of negative human behavior almost always create aggressive behavior in dogs.

Foolish people who deliberately antagonize their dogs in order to make them protective frequently create permanent, uncontrollable aggressive behavior. They encourage or teach their dogs to bark at strangers, growl at strangers, or attack strangers. The problem is that there are 250 million strangers out there, and most of them are law-abiding citizens. Everyone is a stranger to such dogs, and without an introduction from the owner, they will threaten, chase, or attack them. Dogs such as these bark and bite indiscriminately. People who tolerate or encourage canine aggression and do nothing to change this behavior will eventually be liable for dog-bite injuries. This always results in legal problems, medical bills, and considerable emotional stress. All that is in addition to the moral questions involved when a dog owner’s negligence causes harm to an innocent person.

Of course biting is not the only form of aggressive behavior in dogs. When a dog chases joggers, walkers, stray animals, cars, bicycles, rollerbladers, and others, he is being aggressive. Barking that is intense and menacing is another form of aggressiveness whether it is from inside a car or behind a fence. Territorial marking (urinating or defecating) indoors as an assertion of dominance is aggressive. Pulling on a leash, jumping on people, nipping, mouthing, jumping on or over fences, running out the door, exhibiting sexual behaviors toward humans, and various other actions and responses are all aspects of aggressive behavior. These actions can be dangerous, frightening, or upsetting, depending on the circumstances and the degree of intensity. Making matters worse is the possibility that the dog may bite someone who attempts to stop his aggressive behavior.

The first and foremost step in solving an aggressive-behavior problem is getting past the stage of denial and admitting that a problem exists. Because most dog owners love their dogs as though they were their children, they overlook and forgive almost any form of negative behavior, no matter how upsetting or dangerous it is for themselves or others. But dog owners must learn to recognize and acknowledge their pets’ aggressive behavior. This is essential if the behavior is going to be changed or brought under control. The first steps to dealing with the problem are to stop denying it exists and to stop making excuses.

Dog owners must learn how to identify aggressive behavior, whether it is observed in a puppy, juvenile, or fully mature dog, so that the proper action can be taken. By doing so, they may prevent the problem from becoming permanent or learn how to reduce it where it already exists. Here, then, is a definition that can help anyone determine if they have an aggressive dog: Aggressive behavior in dogs, no matter what their size, type, or age, involves threatening actions and responses, especially growling, snarling, and snapping as a warning or actual attempt to cause physical injury.

It is important to understand that when a dog is aggressive, the issue is control, and he will do anything to get it. Aggressive behavior is a means to an end, with only a few exceptions.

When a dog barks, it can be an uninhibited response to the presence of a stranger or a serious warning to an intruder. Barking can also be a response to another dog, an expression of excitement, loneliness, or boredom. It can also be a bad habit with no cause at all. However, when a dog growls or snarls and bares its teeth, it is a threat to a person or another dog. What could follow is a warning snap of the front teeth, a superficial bite, one or more painful bites, or a furious attack, knocking the victim to the ground with a rapid onslaught of harmful bites. Few dog owners are capable of stopping this behavior before serious injuries are incurred. Everyone should understand that an aggressive dog might very well chase or attack innocent children or adults who enter his territory. The truth is that an aggressive dog has more control over his owner and himself than anyone would like to admit.

Drawing on our extensive experience with aggressive dogs, we have classified aggressive-dog behavior according to ten categories. We hope this will make it easier to understand and work with the specific problems whether you are a professional or nonprofessional dog person. Within each category, we provide our own descriptions of the behavior, when it happens, and what we think causes it. To better illustrate some of these categories we provide a few case studies of actual aggressive-dog problems experienced by clients of the National Institute of Dog Training in Los Angeles. In these composites of various case histories, we describe the dog, his family and environment, his type of aggression, the techniques used to solve the problem, and the result.

It is essential to understand that a dog’s behavior can reveal any combination of these ten categories of aggression. In some extreme cases, he may even exhibit all ten. Which category or categories of aggressive behavior a dog exhibits depends on whether he has a dominant aggression or fear aggression. For example, a dog can be territorial-aggressive in his backyard, in his car, in his home, and next to his owner or the front door, all of which are associated with dominant aggression. But the same dog can also be fear-aggressive when he is not in his own territory, where he feels safe. Some dogs are possessive-aggressive over food, toys, people, even with their family, but become shy or fear-aggressive with strangers. Sometimes the reverse is true, where a dog is shy and submissive with his family but aggressive with strangers. Do not leap to conclusions regarding your dog’s type of aggressive behavior until you have given him the personality tests in chapter 3, "How Aggressive Is Your Dog? Tests and Signs of Aggression." The results will influence which training techniques to use in chapter 4, "How to Obedience-Train an Aggressive Dog." It can be counterproductive or even dangerous to misread your dog’s aggressive behavior and let your guard down. You must always assume he can growl or bite over one or more of the aggressive-behavior categories listed below:

1. Dominant Aggression
2. Fear Aggression
3. Territorial/Overprotective Aggression
4. Possessive Aggression
5. Punishment Aggression
6. Pain Aggression
7. Predatory Aggression
8. Maternal Aggression
9. Dogfighting Aggression
10. Redirected Aggression

Although a dominant dog is usually a friendly dog with an assertive personality, a dominant-aggressive dog is an overbearing bully. Such dogs are overconfident and tend to behave like tyrants. Their goal is to be the top dog in all situations, especially within their own families. They may bark, growl, bare their teeth, snap, or bite to prove a point or get their way. A dominant-aggressive dog may try to intimidate some family members but not all. Usually only one or two members of the family have any control over such a dog. He will always bully the least assertive person and dominate children. Dominant-aggressive dogs are usually aggressive with their families, but they are a threat mostly to strangers.

The problem with a dominant-aggressive dog is his inability to understand which strangers entering his territory should be allowed to do so and which should not. At times he may act friendly toward strangers but suddenly turn aggressive.

The body language of a dominant-aggressive dog involves his attempt to look as large and as threatening as he can. He may turn sideways to look more imposing as the hairs (or hackles) running along his spine rise and stand away from the body. He may also stand sideways to block your path. His tail and ears may rise straight up as his body posture becomes rigid and tense. Ironically, his tail may wag, creating the false impression that he is playful.

Facial expressions may vary from friendly to stern with a serious stare or bared teeth. The dog’s stance indicates there is no possibility of backing off. The body language of a dominant-aggressive dog indicates a lack of submissiveness. The most threatening aspect of aggressive body language is direct eye contact. When a human or other dog stares back for a short length of time, the dominant-aggressive dog feels challenged and may attack.

When It Occurs

The signs of dominant aggression are present in dogs as young as three months but are most apparent from ten months to three years. Male dogs are more likely to exhibit this form of aggressiveness, but it is also present in some females.

A dominant-aggressive dog may become threatening or dangerous when he rolls over on his back or when he is petted, groomed, or has his stomach rubbed as a puppy. This may also happen when a human stands over him as a puppy or an adult when he is lying down, when he is awakened from a sound sleep, or when he is pushed out of the way because he is blocking someone’s path. He may also become nasty when anyone goes near his food, toys, or other possessions.

This behavior may also be seen when anyone tries to move him off a bed or a sofa. The dog will definitely react in a threatening manner when he feels challenged in a physical or overbearing way, such as being slapped or hit in any way as punishment for house soiling, chewing, digging, or any other unacceptable behavior. People can provoke threatening behavior by pointing at the dog in anger, scolding him harshly, threatening him physically, attempting to get a leash and collar in place, or by standing over a human on the floor, especially a child. From the point of view of a dominant-aggressive dog, anyone crossing his path or entering his territory without the owner’s consent runs the risk of an aggressive response. To such dogs their territory can extend to the family car, a bed, a sofa, the kitchen floor, food (his or yours), or a specific member of his family.

Reasons for This Behavior

Genetics. Dominant aggression is almost always inherited. One or both of the dog’s parents are likely to have been dominant-aggressive dogs, passing this behavior on to their puppies through the genes. A dog’s dominant-aggressive behavior may also be the result of a combination of inherited behavior, unusually high levels of testosterone (male hormones) circulating throughout the body, learned behaviors from other dogs, and as a response to abusive treatment and harsh living conditions.

Human Behavior. Aggressive behavior in dogs is often the result of a lack of socialization and being isolated in a yard or dog run. Without the opportunity to make friends with people outside the family or with other dogs, a dog will inevitably become distrustful and aggressive. Other negative human influences involve failing to correct dogs for their aggressive behavior, especially as puppies, or allowing them to dominate the household. Some people encourage their dogs to be dominant by allowing or rewarding aggressive behavior. Some dog owners foolishly believe that dominant-aggressive behavior is desirable. They consider their pets to be protective watchdogs when in fact they are merely dangerous, aggressive dogs that cannot be controlled. Another important and common influence on this behavior is families that allow or encourage their dogs to be the pack leaders of their households. This occurs when the dog is not disciplined for unacceptable behavior and is allowed to decide for himself who is permitted to enter their property and who is not. Such a dog not only dominates all situations but appears to run the household as though he were the leader of the pack. It is unworkable and inappropriate for a dog to determine how his human family must live.

Bonnie Jordan was a lawyer living in a small, charming house on one of those sunny Los Angeles streets that are as clean and shiny as a Mercedes showroom. She was a professional whose new young dog had so deeply gotten under her skin that she could no longer imagine life without him. After putting in a tough day in criminal court, she required bare feet, a cool drink, and quality time with her new dog. Heaven is a warm hug with a furry tail. Attach a cool nose to it and you are in puppy paradise. But the day she called Matthew at his training kennel it was paradise lost.

She sounded frantic on the phone, as she became another distraught dog owner calling for help. "Mr. Margolis, I’m Bonnie Jordan, and I am scared of my puppy." Matthew asked her what the problem was, and she said that he had recently started growling at her whenever she played with him. "What type of growl is it?" asked Matthew. "Is it a playful growl, or do you think it’s a vicious growl?" She answered, "It sure isn’t playful. He just utters this low growl from his throat and looks me straight in the eyes and takes on a kind of scary stance." What she described was very aggressive behavior.

Matthew asked her what kind of dog she had, and she immediately softened her voice. She answered lovingly, "He’s a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. You know, the one with the tail." "What’s his name?" "Pebbles," she cooed. "Well, there’s your problem right there. Change his name," said Matthew, trying to lighten the conversation. She didn’t think it was funny. He knew he wasn’t going to console her that way so he got down to business and asked her questions about Pebbles’s personality. He explained to her that most dominant dogs are fearless, and as they get older can be quite aggressive. But they can also be very loving, he quickly added. They believe they are leader of the pack and top dog of the family.

Bonnie confessed to Matthew that Pebbles was somewhat shy with new people, especially men. He asked if she lived alone and whether the dog saw many new people. He knew the answer even before she gave it. Of course he didn’t. She revealed that the dog had often acted in a fearful way, with a sort of Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. At times he was afraid, and other times he was aggressive. Matthew asked how the dog was outside with noises or bikes or things fast moving. She said kids on bikes would startle Pebbles, but he would get over it quickly and chase them.

Matthew then proceeded to get some background information on the dog. Bonnie told him that she had decided on a Corgi after going to a lot of dog shows. She purchased Pebbles from a breeder who had an ad in the newspaper. Matthew asked her why she had wanted a Corgi, and she answered, "I wanted a big dog in a small body." Matthew pointed out to her that the breed was originally meant to herd sheep and cattle and that they were tough little dogs that controlled their herds by nipping at the backs of their feet.

Pebbles had become a force to be reckoned with. Bonnie was very worried. She was a first-time puppy owner and had no experience with a dog that growled at her, and the thought of giving him up was too unhappy for words. She loved him. She told Matthew that the situation was affecting her work. She was not defending her clients as well as she should because she was feeling so stressed. Matthew told her that this sometimes happens because of the personality of the dog. "Pebbles sounds like a very dominant dog to me," said Matthew. He recommended a home visit for a consultation and made an appointment.

Matthew went to Bonnie’s home, and as he knocked on the door he heard frantic scratching on it. As the door opened he looked down to see an eighteen-pound terror jumping all over. The first thing Matthew did was give the dog a personality test, which included tests for aggression. The results were interesting. The dog was sweet, responsive, a little shy. In addition, he had what Matthew considered "a real attitude problem." He told Bonnie that the dog wasn’t that bad and that his behavior could be changed primarily by having him obedience-trained. To his surprise, Bonnie insisted on training her dog herself. Matthew told her that she would definitely be successful if she followed his advice. She must obedience-train her dog fully by teaching him to heel on a leash, to automatically sit when she stopped, to obey the commands "Sit" and "Sit-Stay," "Down" and "Down-Stay," and "Come When Called."

Bonnie asked, "Why do I have to do all that? I just want to stop him from growling." Matthew smiled and answered, "You must take and maintain absolute control of the dog and make sure that you are in charge. From now on, you must be the top dog. Your dog has to listen to you. All of these commands are very functional in your everyday life. By having the ability to execute these commands with Pebbles responding to you, you will have control over the dog." He told her she had to learn how to give proper leash correction, the "Corrective Jerk," which must be accompanied with the proper tone of voice. She said, "I don’t know if I can be that firm." Matthew shook his head and said, "You told me that you’re five foot one, one hundred ten pounds, physically fit. That you lift weights and run five miles a day. If you can do all those things, I imagine you can be quite firm. My guess is that you’re not a pussycat when you go to court." She grinned. "But he’s my baby. I don’t want to be cruel to my doggie."

Matthew explained to her that teaching her dog obedience commands and using proper corrective techniques along with socializing him would give her the control she needed to stop all the growling and posturing. Of course it meant introducing the dog to a lot more people, going to more places, such as parks and malls, and exposing Pebbles to the outside world. These things would resolve Pebbles’s aggressive problem as well as give Bonnie a beautifully trained and socialized dog.

On her oath as an officer of the court she promised that she would get started right away and keep at it until the dog was trained. Matthew told her he would look in on them after the first month to check on Bonnie’s progress with Pebbles. It was a wonderful surprise for Matthew at the end of the first month to discover that Bonnie Jordan was true to her word. She was a very diligent dog owner. She corrected Pebbles properly whenever he growled or behaved aggressively and trained him on a daily basis. She decided that she was the top dog in the family. She also decided that if Pebbles was going to listen to her, then she had to be the teacher and he had to be the student. Matthew was impressed to see them walk beautifully together and to watch the dog "Sit" and then "Stay" on command.

Matthew told Bonnie to keep up the good work and to call him in about two months to let him know the outcome. Two months later, he received a phone call from Bonnie, who was bubbling with joy. She told him that Pebbles was a new person. "He listens to me, and he doesn’t growl anymore." She told him how grateful she was that Matthew got her to train her dog despite Pebble’s young age. Even though Pebbles was a dominant dog with a strong-willed personality who exhibited aggressive behavior, his owner was able to establish the control that she needed with training and corrective techniques. As Pebbles became much less aggressive, Bonnie Jordan became much more aggressive — in the courtroom of course. And they lived happily ever after.

Fear Aggression

Most dog bites are the result of this form of aggression. Fear-aggressive dogs seem to be frightened most of the time. Their response to the people or events that scare them is to bark, growl, bare their teeth, snap, bite, or exhibit any combination of these behaviors. Some fear-aggressive dogs will bark at the slightest disturbance, such as the doorbell, the telephone, an approaching visitor, an outside noise, or the sight or sound of a passerby. Such dogs are nervous and insecure. They tend to protect themselves rather than their owners. Of significant importance is the fact that fear-aggressive dogs may be large or small.

The body language of fear-aggressive dogs gives the impression of submission when in fact it indicates fear that will quickly turn to aggression. The ears of such dogs may draw back as their tails go down, rigidly tucked between their legs. They will avoid direct eye contact, cower, sidle away, or hide under a table or behind a sofa. This behavior is seen when they feel threatened by specific people (adults or children), other dogs (or cats), new places, or even some noises. Fear-aggressive dogs often shiver with fright, retreat, and run away. When they are cornered, they may growl and then bite. All their aggressive behavior stems from a defensive posture, including chasing after people once they turn their backs on them. When people run away from fear-aggressive dogs because they are frightened, they trigger hunting instincts in the dog that result in an upsetting chase.

An important aspect of this category of aggression develops as the dog begins to mature. The fearful, backing away behaviors change sometime between one and three years of age. At this stage the dog becomes bolder and seemingly less fearful. The fear aggression tends to combine with territorial aggression, which consequently makes these dogs more likely to attack. Fear aggression at this stage accounts for the greatest number of biting incidents. The age factor is an important aspect of accurately identifying fear aggression. A nine-month-old puppy will back away as it growls at you. A two-year-old fear-aggressive dog is more likely to lunge at you.

Dogs of this type exhibit fear-aggressive behavior when they feel threatened by the approach of strangers. They are most likely to exhibit this behavior in their homes or territories, where they feel the most secure; in enclosed areas, such as the inside of cars; while standing next to their owners in the yard, on a bed, or even while out for a walk. Fear-aggressive dogs bark, growl, or bite when approached as they cower under a table or a chair or wherever they feel trapped or cornered.

They usually respond aggressively when they are punished for such behavior problems as excessive barking, house soiling, or destructive chewing. When fear-aggressive dogs feel threatened, they either run away or stand their ground, ready to bite (the "fight-or-flight" response), depending on the circumstance. If they cannot escape they become dangerous.

Using your hands to point at your dog in anger, or threatening him with a rolled-up newspaper, or slapping the paper against your hand for effect, or actually hitting the dog while hollering at him only worsens the problem. A rolled-up newspaper is perceived by the dog as an extension of your arm. If you use your arm to punish the dog, he then becomes fearful of your arm or your hand, even when it is used to express love and affection. As you attempt to pet your dog after using your arms negatively, he is likely to cower. This reaction is based on the conditioning you have created. The dog now and forever associates your arm and your hands with fear or pain.

When fear-aggressive dogs are reprimanded harshly, they react by cowering, running away, or snapping and biting at the same time. Consider the difference in size between a human and a dog. To most dogs humans are towering giants. The human voice can also be overpowering in tone and volume. You must take into account a dog’s hearing mechanism, which is far more sensitive than that of the human ear. The combination of a human’s loud, powerful-sounding voice and exaggerated physical actions cause fear-aggressive dogs to become overwhelmed and overpowered, which almost always elicits aggressive behavior. Consequently, dogs in this situation may associate all human behaviors, including the mere presence of some people, as threatening.

Reasons for This Behavior

Genetics. Many professionals working with dogs believe that most fear-aggressive dogs have inherited this temperament type and have the potential for all of the behavior problems connected with it. This conclusion is based on years of experience and observation. Another possibility is that fear-aggressive behavior is genetic in origin but requires external influences to elicit it.

Human behavior. This unpleasant, dangerous behavior develops when a pet dog has not been allowed to socialize with people or other dogs. As social animals, dogs must be allowed to interact with other people if they are to be secure, trustful pets. Some fear-aggressive dogs are shy with men (if they’ve been raised by women); shy with women (if they’ve been raised by men); or shy with children (if they’ve been raised without children). Seeing an occasional child in the neighborhood is not the same as being raised with one or more on a daily basis.

An important cause of the development of fear aggression is making a dog overprotective by encouraging him to be unfriendly and suspicious of strangers. Another cause is responding with harsh verbal or physical reprimands when a dog displays aggressive behavior. This can cause him to bark or growl out of fear, which compounds the fear and aggressive behavior.

When a dog owner says, "Okay. It’s okay," as his dog barks or growls (out of fear), he is actually rewarding the aggressive behavior with a positive reinforcement. The owner thinks he is telling his dog that the person he is growling at is okay. But the dog misinterprets this as a confirmation that he is doing the right thing. Few owners understand that they are actually teaching the dog to bark and growl. This represents a major communication problem between dogs and their owners.

Environmental Influences. Dogs that are raised in a yard and never allowed to relate to anyone but their immediate families usually become fear-aggressive animals. As these dogs get older, they become very territorial and even more aggressive than before.

Fear aggression can also develop if a dog is raised in a kennel too long before finding another home. Purchasing a puppy and removing him from his kennel environment by approximately seven to eight weeks of age is an important aspect of his development. If a puppy is with his littermates at his critical stage of development, beyond four months of age, he may not be as adaptive to people as he is with other dogs. Such puppies appear to be outgoing in the kennel with their littermates. New dog owners, therefore, do not realize that the puppy of choice may be people-shy until they take him home. Personality testing is the best method for selecting the right puppy. See chapter 3, "How Aggressive Is Your Dog? Tests and Signs of Aggression."

Fear aggression can also develop when there are too many puppies in a litter and there is intense competition among them for warmth and mother’s milk. It is not uncommon for one or more pups in a litter to fail to get enough nourishment, motherly attention, or human handling. Other causes of fear aggression in the litter are excessive bullying by littermates or not being socialized properly by the breeder or being taken away from the mother too soon (see "Socialization," in chapter 2, "How Did He Get That Way?"). Quite often the runt of the litter, alone and forced away from the food by the others, grows up to be a fear-aggressive dog that can be dangerous and difficult to live with.

DEMPSTER

Sara Billings and Barney Hickman lived together with the idea of getting married the minute they could afford their own home. Part of their dream was to have a ready-made family by getting the perfect puppy. They wanted a big, huggy bear of a dog and decided on a Great Dane. After researching the breed, they went to see their first dog. There was only one puppy left, but it was love at first leap into their arms for the eleven-week-old puppy who was all legs and energy. They couldn’t resist him and took the gangling dog home with them within the hour. Everything they had read so carefully about choosing a puppy went right out the window.

The young, hard-working couple shared a house with several of their friends, two of whom had dogs. So there they were under one roof, five humans and three dogs. Because their new Great Dane puppy, now named Dempster, was "just a baby," they kept him locked in their bedroom during the entire day to keep him out of trouble while they were at their jobs. The young dog did not get out of the room until they came home, when he became the object of Sara’s total attention. Dempster had become her child and was totally babied by her after a ten-hour absence each day. The growing dog went from a lonely state of isolation with no one to relate to him to one of excessive attention and overstimulation.

Throughout Dempster’s puppyhood most of his human contact was with Sara, who fed him, walked him, played with him, and held him and hugged him constantly. Barney played a minor role in the dog’s life and accepted that position, like so many fathers with their children. As the months passed, Dempster began showing some of his fear-aggression tendencies by yipping hysterically whenever he was startled or picked up. This was not taken seriously and considered somewhat amusing and, unfortunately, not recognized as the beginning of fear-aggressive behavior. Intensifying the dog’s problems were punishments administered for destructive chewing (caused by teething), which is a normal problem for an adolescent dog. Barney would lose his temper and either yell at the young dog or spank him, depending on the severity of the damage to their possessions.

The first serious incident took place just before Dempster’s first birthday. By then he was allowed the run of the house and the backyard. He was outside with the other two dogs that shared the house and had become his playmates. A large bag of dog food was left in the yard by mistake and the dogs began competing for it. The competition turned into a loud, dangerous dogfight, with Dempster injuring the other dogs. Luckily, Barney was home and able to break it up before it became ugly. From then on, the dogs were permanently separated for fear of Dempster’s size and strength. Soon afterward Sara and Barney were finally able to rent a house of their own and moved out.

Moving brought with it a new problem. Whenever Dempster was left in the yard he barked without stopping at anyone who approached their house. Because of the complaints of their neighbors, Sara and Barney had to keep him indoors during the day when they were at work. Soon afterward, he began growling at Sara whenever she approached his toys and assorted possessions. Other problems developed. The large dog began shying away from anyone he didn’t know and growled at them as they came near him or his house. He would bark and back away and hide behind Sara whenever he was confronted with anyone not part of his family. Dempster seemed to be more frightened of men than women and cowered at the sight of them.

The most serious incident to occur involved Sara’s cousin, who was a houseguest for several days. Dempster dragged a blanket off the bed with his teeth and unexpectedly tossed it on the young woman’s lap. When she tried to remove it, the full-grown Great Dane growled furiously and stood in front of her, staring in a threatening manner. From then on, Sara’s cousin was very frightened of the dog and would not come back for a visit. That was the incident that motivated them to get help. They found Matthew and went for an evaluation.

After an extensive interview and several behavioral tests, Matthew concluded that Dempster was a fear-aggressive dog who had been insecure and shy as a puppy. He had bonded with the woman of the house because she exclusively raised him and babied him to the point that he could do anything he wanted with no corrections. Matthew prescribed six to eight weeks in his kennel, where the dog would be socialized and obedience-trained.

Dempster’s reconditioning began with socialization. From the beginning he was exposed to many different people who were responsible for everything pertaining to his well-being, which included feeding, cleaning his space, grooming, training, and so on. His first training lesson involved getting him out of his dog run. The 140-pound dog did not want to cooperate and, due to his change of environment, became fearful whenever they tried to get him out. Matthew determined that his first trainer should be a woman. She began by talking gently and reassuringly to him in order to establish a bond of trust between them. She slowly and patiently convinced him to walk to the gate at the front of the run. Once this bond was established it was soon transferred to the others who dealt with him on a daily basis.

When he was a puppy Dempster had been punished by being grabbed by the scruff of his neck and dragged from "the scene of his crimes." Having his neck touched had become associated with pain and severe reprimands. This made him extremely aggressive whenever his trainer tried to get a leash and collar around him. At first a lasso-type leash was tossed over his head from a distance, which gave the trainer control. Once he accepted the leash and collar, Dempster became much more cooperative and responsive to the teaching process. The dog progressed quickly.

Feeding Dempster was another problem in the beginning. He would not allow anyone to place his food down in front of him. He was extremely territorial and possessive. However, because of the ongoing obedience-training, his handlers were able to command him to stand back as they placed his food on the ground without fear of his lunging at them. He obeyed.

As the weeks passed, he developed confidence in himself and in his trainer. Matthew observed that the dog had adjusted well to the socializing and training techniques and was ready for the next step, which was to work with another trainer, this time a man. At first Dempster became very upset and howled and hollered all the way from his run to the training area. Once he was given training commands, however, he responded properly and obeyed. He was becoming less fearful of men and more tolerant of most strangers. The large dog had also become more adaptive to new and different situations.

After eight weeks of intensive socialization and training, he was sent home, where his training continued with a once-a-week visit. Both owners were taught how to execute the training commands and worked with the dog successfully, establishing the proper dominance over him. He was taken into new and different situations outside his home, where he was continually being socialized.

Although he was still territorial and possessive, he had improved enormously. He was allowed to have his toys only if a game of fetch was on the agenda, which forced him to relinquish the objects on command. With a new set of rules to live by and a new attitude about who was boss, Dempster was no longer the frightened dog he had been, and life became much more enjoyable than before. It was a happy ending.

Territorial/Overprotective Aggression

The territorial/overprotective–aggressive dog barks threateningly at anyone entering his domain. He may growl, lunge, and even bite someone he considers a stranger or an intruder. Such a dog may claim the yard, the family car, a sofa, or one room in the house or the entire house. A territorially aggressive dog may even claim the area where his owners are standing on the street. This behavior may vary with different members of his family. His aggressiveness may also be a response to unexpected, intrusive sounds, such as the ringing of the doorbell or knocking at the door. Even the suggestion of an intruder triggers the aggressive behavior. He may become aggressive while out for a walk when approached by a person who appears to be a stranger.

The dog’s physical warning signs are clear. His body posture displays raised ears, a forward stance, a highly focused, intense facial expression, and an elevated tail (possibly wagging). The dog may bark or growl and may jump up and down.

The sudden motion of a stranger (even a child) will elicit predatory behavior, which involves chasing, knocking down, and possibly biting anyone running away from or toward him.

This form of aggression occurs when the dog reacts to a violation of his territory. He will threaten anyone who appears to be violating his space, which could be his yard, his house, his car, his personal possessions, including his sleeping space, or wherever his owner happens to be standing. He may protect his house by blocking the doorway or by chasing people away from his immediate surroundings. He is most likely to bite when a stranger, such as a letter carrier, meter reader, or delivery person, actually crosses the line and enters his domain.

This is especially true once the territorial/overprotective–aggressive dog has matured, which occurs between the ages of one and three years. Occasionally, a foolish but well-intentioned dog lover will place his or her hand in the open window of a car to pet a dog that is sitting inside. That person risks being bitten by any dog, but especially one that is highly territorial or overprotective. Such dogs also become aggressive when strangers go near their owners at home, in a veterinarian’s office, or even on the street.

Genetics. Breeding has a great influence on the territorial/overpossessive–aggressive dog’s behavior. If the parents were aggressive, in many cases the dog inherits their aggressive behavior.

Breeds such as the Akita and the Airedale have a tendency to be territorial-aggressive, along with a number of other breeds in the working, terrier, and sporting groups. A dog’s natural protective tendencies come into play with breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler, Chow Chow, and various others.

Lack of Proper Socialization. Keeping a dog away from most people, tying him up, continually confining him in a dog run, and never allowing him in the house are important causes of aggressive behavior of this type. When there is no interaction with people and other animals, the dog’s natural territorial aggression becomes exaggerated. Territorial/overprotective aggression is often the result if the dog experiences little or no human contact and is encouraged to bark and growl because the owners want a guard dog.

The problem may also develop if there is more than one dog in the family, causing them to become socially dog-oriented rather than socially people-oriented, which is a serious problem. Dogs of this temperament may be shy with men (if raised by women), shy with women (if raised by men), or shy with children (if raised without children). It is important to understand that a dog who is raised with children in his neighborhood is not the same as a dog who is raised with children in his family. The children in his family are considered by him to be part of his pack and therefore accepted, defended, and often obeyed. Children who are not members of the family are usually regarded by such a dog as just smaller strangers and therefore not to be trusted or allowed into his territory.

Environmental Influences. Tying a dog to one place in the backyard and keeping him there most of the time brings with it the possibility of creating this form of aggressive behavior. In very short order his tiny bit of real estate becomes his entire world, creating in him the need to aggressively keep intruders away.

Aggressive behavior will also develop if passersby are allowed to go near the fence where the dog is confined and tease him or throw things at him or if lawnmowers and other engine-driven equipment designed to clean yards or swimming pools comes close by. These and other provocations can cause dogs to react aggressively.

Dog Owners. Encouragement from dog owners is a major reason for dogs behaving with territorial/overprotective aggression. Those who do this want their dogs to protect them but make the mistake of verbally and physically praising the dog when he barks or growls. It is impossible for dogs to distinguish when this behavior is appropriate or inappropriate. They cannot tell the good guys from the bad guys. This attitude is a major cause for the escalation of dangerous, aggressive canine behavior.

Certain games and types of play teach and encourage aggressive behavior. Games such as tug-of-war and wrestling on the floor tend to promote aggressive behavior in dogs. Tug-of-war teaches a dog to hold objects with his teeth, to shake them, and to bite them. As this takes place, he is praised and consequently rewarded for behavior that in another setting becomes dangerous. This is true for all dogs.

Possessive Aggression

If a person or other pet goes near the dog’s food or anything he considers to be his possession, the possessive-aggressive dog barks, growls, bares his teeth, snaps, or bites.

When It Occurs

Approaching such a dog or getting close to his food bowl when he is being fed will set in motion his aggressive behavior. Touching him or attempting to take his playthings or any object he is involved with, such as a shoe, a towel, or a book, will cause him to growl or bite. There is no age limit for this behavior, and it is not gender specific. This form of aggressiveness may be seen in any dog or puppy, male or female. The older the dog, the more intense will be the aggression. A possessive-aggressive dog may become antagonistic because he regards a specific bed, chair, or even the floor where he is lying as his exclusive property.

Reasons for This Behavior

Survival Instinct. Aggression based on possessiveness is rooted in a natural tendency to protect food from competitors within the litter or pack structure or from competing predators. As in the case of most canine behaviors, the need for such behavior in the human, dog-owning environment does not often exist. However, the instinct continues to influence behavior.

Territory. Because of abnormally exaggerated territorial instincts, possessive-aggressive dogs do not allow anyone to go near their possessions or their food.

Dominance. An overly dominant dog will behave aggressively when asserting his possession of specific objects, places, or persons.

Other Reasons. This behavior is sometimes found in abandoned or stray dogs that have experienced harshness. Another common reason for the development of this behavior is the owner’s failure to correct the dog for aggressiveness, instead allowing it to continue from puppyhood into adulthood. Too often dog owners believe "puppies have a right to growl or snap" when their food or toys are taken away. Such dog owners irrationally identify with their dog’s "feelings." There are dog owners who actually consider this potentially dangerous behavior to be amusing or cute and do all they can to encourage it.

KEEFER

On a typical sunny day in Los Angeles a very pleasant couple drove to Matthew’s training kennel with Keefer, their five-year-old Springer Spaniel, whom they jokingly called their son. They coasted into the driveway on an impulse to satisfy their curiosity about Matthew, whom they had seen on television a number of times. In a conversation with Matthew they raved about how well behaved Keefer was and what a good, loving dog he was . . . except for one slight behavior problem. He showed his teeth and threatened to bite them with a low, throaty growl if they tried to take something away from him. They didn’t believe this was much of a behavior problem and had a casual attitude about it.

As they continued their discussion they also revealed that Keefer was not friendly with anyone outside his family. In order to demonstrate to the well-intentioned dog owners the seriousness of their dog’s problem, Matthew placed a bowl of food on the floor for the chestnut-and-white spaniel. Keefer began to sniff at it. As Keefer examined the bowl, Matthew reached down and began to take it away. As he did, the beautiful spaniel transformed from their "loving son" into a snarling, snapping demon displaying frightening and dangerous behavior. The young dog owners were shocked and somewhat heartbroken. As difficult as it was to accept, there was no way they could deny what they saw. They left the dog at Matthew’s training kennel and signed a six-week commitment. They later told him that halfway home they turned around to retrieve the dog but thought better of it. They called the kennel they minute they got home to see how the dog was doing.

Matthew assured them the dog was fine, he was not suffering. As a matter of fact, he told them, Keefer was settling in well for a dog that had never been away from home. They were sure that in a couple of days they would need to pick him up because he would refuse to eat due to being separated from his family. But the dog ate well and didn’t seem to mind his new accommodations one bit. Matthew told them, to their chagrin, that they were the ones suffering, not Keefer. The dog did well during his six weeks at "boot camp."

At first the dog stayed in the back of his individual run and watched all the trainers and handlers coming and going with other dogs. His own trainer convinced him that being taken out of the run (on a leash) was the only way to satisfy his curiosity about all the activity around him. Once he was taken to the front area of the kennel, where all the obedience-training took place, and saw all the familiar faces that talked to him, fed him, and groomed him, he seemed to relax. Obedience-training came easily for him because he was smart and a quick learner. Soon he began to look forward to going to the training area in order to perform. It was an upbeat, positive experience for him every time.

Once he learned the basic obedience commands, it was time to address the problem of releasing objects that were in his mouth. At first he reacted to the trainer’s actions as a game. Once he understood the trainer was serious, Keefer’s possessive-aggressive behavior reared its ugly head. He growled and bared his teeth with unmistakable menace. However, Keefer was in for a rude awakening. He did not get the reaction to which he had become accustomed. What he got was a sharp leash correction each and every time, and that surprised him, to say the least. His aggression was not met with fear, nor did it get him what he wanted. Instead, he was reprimanded by those whose authority he had come to accept and thrive on. As the weeks passed, objects were set in front of him to admire but not touch. This was to teach him that things on the ground were not necessarily there for him. An obedience command was given if he so much as looked at the objects purposely set before him.

Once Keefer was able to walk by without paying any attention to what was on the ground, the trainer proceeded to the next step. Keefer was encouraged to select an object to play with and carry around in his mouth. However, on a "Drop" command, he was taught to drop the object and allow the trainer to pick it up. This was first done with two people so that no one would get bitten. One person focused on correcting the dog as the other one extracted the toy from his jaws. Keefer could hardly believe that anyone would try to take his prize away. Despite this, the minute a growl was heard he was corrected.

The trainer would tell the second handler to approach the dog and give the "Drop" command. If Keefer refused or hesitated to release the object, he was given another leash correction. Corrections depend on the size and type of dog and the degree of aggression that has to be managed. A spray bottle filled with water is all some dogs need to get the message while others require a firm leash-and-collar correction. The types of toys or objects used for this training are also important. A large toy may be necessary so that there is enough showing to safely hold on to without getting bitten. If your dog is very aggressive, over two years of age, and sixty pounds or more, consult a professional dog trainer before attempting to use the "Drop" command and the corrections described above. The consequences of a mistake could involve the loss of a hand.

Once Keefer understood that he was no longer in control, he started to give up the toys without protest. After each correction, he was given his reward, which consisted of verbal praise for doing a good job. His reward became much more important to him than the toys he left behind or dropped from his mouth. These techniques continued throughout his six-week stay at the kennel and needed to be carried through for the rest of his life. If Keefer were ever allowed the upper hand again, it would not take long for his possessive-aggressive behavior to start up all over again. His "parents" were amazed at his progress and, of course, thought he was the smartest dog in his class. On completion of his training they took him home. It was a beautiful day when they all left, and they gave Keefer a graduation party as soon as they got home.

It is important to understand that as Keefer was being trained, so were his owners. Along every step of the way his owners were taught how to execute each command and correction so that the dog would not merely behave properly with the trainer but with his owners, who were not only in charge but were, in effect, his trainers for the rest of his life.

Life was good. There were no more trainers, no more lessons. Wrong! The doorbell rang the following week, and there was his trainer from the kennel. Training was not finished. It continued in his home, in his territory, and even in his neighborhood. It all went well and Keefer’s family was filled with pride and pleasure at their dog’s new attitude and behavior. They could not talk about anything but the change in the dog as they all began to relax and enjoy their new lifestyle.

The dog barks (or talks back to its owners), growls, bares its teeth, snarls, and bites when being hit, yelled at, or overly dominated.

When It Occurs

This form of aggression is aroused when people hit their dogs with their hands or rolled-up newspapers, chase them, or corner them, allowing no avenue of escape. Dogs in this predicament will respond aggressively to being hit as a form of punishment. The same is true when they are deliberately frightened as a reprimand for so-called bad behavior. Some people become enraged or frightened by their dog’s aggressive behavior despite the fact that they are the cause of it by hitting or harshly scolding him.

Reasons for This Behavior

The primary cause of punishment aggression is hitting, yelling, pointing at, or standing over a dog in a threatening manner. Many dogs will respond aggressively to threatening human body language in combination with verbal abuse and physical punishments. Some dog owners mistakenly punish their dogs for behavior problems, such as housebreaking mistakes, destructive chewing, or digging. This almost always provokes an aggressive or frightened response. Grabbing a dog by the scruff of the neck in anger creates aggression. Abusive handling, such as grabbing the dog by the jowls, holding his mouth closed, cuffing him under the chin, or using your hands in any other threatening manner can all result in dog bites. The same is true of abusive training techniques, such as grabbing, spanking, hitting, cuffing, or any other negative use of the hands. These not only create aggressive responses; they prevent dogs from accepting your hands for obedience training or expressions of affection. A punishment-aggressive dog will cringe when you try to pet him. Dogs that have been hit will literally bite the hand that feeds them.

The dog growls, snaps, bites, or howls when touched on a pain-sensitive area of his body. Because some dogs are more tolerant of pain in specific areas of their bodies than others are, this form of aggressive behavior is not always apparent until it is too late. Some dogs have a high tolerance for pain, and many do not.

When It Occurs

A dog may behave aggressively and bite if he is handled improperly when he is sick or injured. This may happen even when a member of his family is handling him. Pain-aggression behavior, however, is most often seen in dogs when they are being bathed, groomed, medicated, trained, or in the course of veterinary examinations. Even friendly gestures, such as petting or rubbing, can promote an aggressive reaction.

Grooming can hurt pain-aggressive dogs when they are combed or brushed too hard. This is most likely to happen if their coats are matted or tangled. Professional groomers and knowledgeable dog owners use a detangling liquid or coat conditioner to soften knotted areas of the fur. Despite this, a dog may howl even if he is touched gently in a pain-sensitive area.

Nail-clipping accidents are a common cause of continuing pain-aggressive responses. Some dogs respond aggressively to being bathed or to specific aspects of a bath, such as getting wet, being lathered with shampoo (perhaps the soap burned his eyes), or being rinsed, toweled, or blow-dried.

Genetics. Pain sensitivity in specific areas of the body is frequently an inherited characteristic in puppies and dogs and if so, can be altered only by behavioral reconditioning.

Medical Problems. Many aggressive behaviors are merely involuntary reactions to the pain caused by a medical problem that may not be obvious, such as hip dysplasia, arthritis, bladder stones, skin disorders, ear problems, and various other problems. Any one of these will cause a dog to snap or bite when he is handled or even lightly touched. A dog cannot tell you he is in pain. His natural response to being touched in a painful area is either to run from you or to try to stop you from touching him by growling, snapping, or biting. These reactions are instinctive and do not allow the dog to consider that he may be biting the person who loves him the most. Medical conditions require professional diagnoses and therapies from a veterinarian. The obvious solution to this problem begins with addressing the possibility of a medical problem.

Medicating a dog in an area of the body where he may be in pain, such as the ears or the anus, could cause growling or snapping. Ears occasionally become infected or invaded by parasites, and anal glands may become impacted or infected, all of which will make these areas painful when touched.

As dogs get older they become less tolerant of pain because of failing health, frequent illness, arthritis, or simply the aging process itself. Older dogs can become cranky and intolerant of being handled to any great extent.

Grooming. A reaction to pain when being groomed is very common. Usually the professional groomer or dog owner is unaware of a dog’s sensitive areas until he or she touches them. Of course, the improper use of grooming tools will also cause a pain-aggressive reaction. A dog’s coat requires that it be maintained with specific grooming tools designed for its type, texture, and length. Using the wrong scissors, brushes, combs, electric clipper heads, or nail cutters will definitely hurt a sensitive dog, and he may express pain with his teeth.

Marj was a four-year-old with a classic, blunt-muzzle Boxer face. She had the chiseled features of a champion framed in a polished, mahogany coat that reflected its deep luster in natural light. A blaze of smooth white fur spread across her broad chest like a splash of silk. She was a beautiful, healthy dog in every way except for her infrequent and unexpected flashes of aggressiveness. She had bitten people on three separate occasions. She bit the lady of the house when she touched her ear; the man of the house as he tried to run a comb through her coat; and she bit a neighbor known to her for a long time, when he attempted to pet her through the fence.

The dog’s family was a middle-aged couple with no children who had rescued her from an animal shelter at the age of three. After the first biting incident, they assumed she had been abused or hit in her previous life. For a while they thought they could change this behavior by treating her with kindness and understanding. As time passed they discovered that she didn’t want to be touched and she didn’t want certain people in her territory. This included various friends and relatives. Although Marj was for the most part a lovable dog, her owners noticed that she was not very sociable when away from her home.

After the third biting incident, it was clear that the situation was beyond their control and getting dangerous. They called Matthew and became clients after the initial interview and temperament tests. His first encounter with the dog was in the owners’ car. Although Matthew approached the vehicle in a nonthreatening manner, the dog became extremely agitated and bared her teeth with a menacing snarl. There was no way to talk the dog out of the car or to get in without being attacked. On Matthew’s instructions the lady of the house slid a leather leash and metal training collar around Marj’s neck and then handed it to him. This gave him immediate control over the dog and he was able to open the door slowly and entice her to walk out on her own. She did this without incident.

After several simple behavior tests Matthew determined that one of Marj’s biggest problems was that she had a very low tolerance for pain or the fear of pain. He felt this was probably the major source of her aggressive behavior. She was also excessively territorial. Once she was removed from the car, and the obligation to defend it, she mildly walked into the kennel area of Matthew’s "summer camp" for training and reconditioning.

Because Marj seemed to respond better to women than to men, a woman trainer was assigned to her for the first part of her stay. Getting Marj out of her kennel run the first few times was touch-and-go until the dog accepted the trainer as a dominant person in her life. Obedience-training was the strongest link to making the situation safe for everyone involved. The dog was first taught to "Sit" and then "Sit-Stay." These commands were used extensively when getting the dog out of the run and returning her. She was expected to "Sit" and "Stay" as the gate was opened and the leash and collar were placed around her neck.

A release word was then used to signal that it was okay to move out of position. Once she accepted the routine, she was fairly happy about coming in and out of her run. At this point the training and the reconditioning process could get into full swing. Like most dogs, she began to enjoy the training lessons and looked forward to them. They gave her a sense of accomplishment. She wanted to perform well and be rewarded with praise. She was like all other dogs. What she did not like was the daily inspection of her body and her weekly bath, which was an important part of the reconditioning process. It always involved a second person, who would touch her in various parts of her body while she was expected to stand still and accept this or be corrected by her trainer.

Reconditioning her aversion to being touched involved a slow, patient process of desensitization. This involved creating positive associations with the very thing the dog feared the most. It began by touching her in an area she feared the least, her left haunch, and only for a quick pat and a short rub. Lavish verbal praise and a tiny tidbit of cooked liver then followed it. This was continued throughout each day of Marj’s stay at the kennel. As she became more tolerant of being touched, the trainer and the handler extended the process to her legs, her tail, her ears, her torso. By the fifth week of her stay, she was allowing a wide variety of trainers and handlers to touch her, pat her, and even pull on her coat and tail.

Once the six weeks were completed at the kennel, the training continued in Marj’s home, where she learned to accept both family members as dominant. Home training consisted of teaching the dog the conventional obedience commands, such as "Sit," "Stay," "Heel," "Down," "Come When Called," and "Place." As she was taught basic obedience commands, her reconditioning for pain continued. Marj soon learned that she did not have the upper hand in her home and was expected to live with a new set of rules.

The dog barks, chases, nips, or bites people who are in motion.

Dogs with predatory aggression chase cars, bikes, motorcycles, or anything that moves quickly. Joggers, rollerbladers, and even those strolling by, who are not protected by the exterior of a vehicle, are very likely to be chased or bitten. Dogs such as these almost always chase after those who become frightened and run.

This form of aggression pertains to hunting or stalking prey. Some dogs hunt and others do not, but the instincts are present in all dogs to some degree. Once a prey animal is detected, the dog watches intensely, follows slowly, stalks with serious hunting behaviors, gives chase, and then attacks as the target runs in fear. Dogs with predatory aggression will chase any variety of moving objects. Predatory dogs usually attack animals or people when they move away rather than when they approach.

This form of aggression represents an instinctive urge to hunt by stalking, chasing, and biting the quarry.

Maternal aggression is directed toward humans as well as animals and is characterized by barking, growling, snapping, and any behavior meant to discourage your presence. This behavior stops or at least diminishes dramatically once the mother’s puppies are weaned. It usually stops entirely when the last of the litter is gone or off on its own as an adolescent dog.

This behavior is most frequently seen in a female nursing or rearing a litter of puppies. Aggressive behavior is aroused whenever anyone, human or animal, approaches her whelping area, nest, or her puppies.

Reasons for This Behavior

Maternal aggression is essentially protective in nature. It is instinctive for all canine mothers to protect their young and guard their whelping areas.

Barking, growling, biting, lunging, chasing, and wrestling are the frightening behaviors displayed in a serious dogfight. Swift, twisting motions and frightening sounds of snarling growls and throaty howls of pain are characteristic of these terrible encounters. Dominance, fear, and territory are usually the issues involved. All of these behaviors can be seen in a form of rehearsal or learning in the play behavior of puppies but without the frightening threat of injury. And of course there is always a certain amount of aggressive behavior between dogs that is simply a part of play or investigative interaction that does not usually progress to a dogfight.

Most fighting occurs between dogs of the same sex. Males usually fight other males. Females usually fight other females. There are exceptions to this rule, however. Dogfighting behavior is triggered when one dog observes another in the distance as it approaches its territory. This will happen if the aggressive dog is in a yard, a car, standing next to its owner, on or off a leash. Aggression such as this can be instigated at home between dogs living together or between visiting dogs over the issues of territory, the intrusion of personal space, or possessions.

Reasons for This Behavior

Dogs that fight are competitive and territorial, with the issue of dominance versus subordination as a primary focus. This form of behavior is often the result of little or no socializing during puppyhood. Young dogs living together may develop fighting behaviors over food, various possessions, and the attention of their owners.

Some dog owners, without knowing it, create this form of aggression by giving one dog more attention and affection than another. Aggressive behavior is often seen as one dog stands next to its owner receiving attention and is then approached by another dog in the family. The aggressive behavior is often interpreted as an expression of jealousy but is more accurately defined as competition for the owner’s affection and attention. (Jealousy is a complex human reaction.) In this situation, with two dogs of the same sex, the owner should favor the most dominant dog to avoid aggressive behavior.

Dogs that show this form of behavior bark, growl, snap, or bite a person or animal that interrupts aggressive behavior that is focused elsewhere.

When a dog is about to fight or is already fighting, he may bite anyone who attempts to interfere. If you pick up a dog to protect it during a fight, he may bite you as he tries to get at the opposing dog, or the opposing dog may bite you in an effort to get at the dog you are holding. Their owners often lift small dogs up in order to protect them. In some cases, the attacking dog redirects its attention to the owner and lunges at him or her.

As a dog prepares to fight, his emotions affect his body chemistry and redirect its efforts from its normal requirements. Adrenaline is produced and secreted and circulates throughout his system, providing added energy and strength for the threatening physical ordeal. When dogs fight, their concentration is so sharply focused, it is almost impossible to communicate with them unless they are trained to perfection. The same is true of their emotional intensity. Interrupting a dogfight may cause a dog to redirect his aggression because he is no longer aware of whom he is biting.

Copyright © 2000 by Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Margolis
Excerpt posted with permission from http://www.twbookmark.com

Many thanks to Time Warner Bookmark (Little, Brown & Company, Warner Books, A Time Warner Company) at: www.twbookmark.com. We appreciate their cooperation with OfSpirit.com to share this chapter of their book with our visitors for education, entertainment and empowerment.