Understanding Dog Aggression
It’s important to realize that any dog is capable of biting under certain circumstances. It’s a myth that only vicious dogs bite. Fortunately, aggression is often predictable, and early training can prevent it from reaching a danger point.

Canine good citizenship and responsible dog ownership go hand in hand. We must make sure dogs are responsibly bred, adequately trained and socialized, and carefully monitored to identify and correct behavior problems. The best defense against dangerous aggression is a combination of proper breeding and early training.

People should breed and select dogs that are friendly to everyone, not just to people they know. We need to eliminate the market for so-called “one-man dogs”, and dogs that are “wary of strangers.” Choosing a pet for its’ guard-dog traits inevitably leads to trouble. No matter how smart we think dogs are, they simply can’t tell “good guys” from “bad guys”.

Beyond that, there are steps dog owners can take to prevent aggressive behavior in their pets. First, understand that aggression isn’t an aberration. It’s rooted in canine instincts. In the wild, dogs use aggressive behavior to hunt for food, defend themselves and guard their territory. Domestication has toned down this innate aggression, but the behaviors are still hard wired in dogs.

One of the main reasons pet dogs bite is because they feel threatened by something they can’t flee. From the dog’s point of view, aggression is a natural way to make the scary thing go away. Just because a situation doesn’t seem frightening to you doesn’t mean it won’t spook your dog. To a wary, unsocialized dog, the mere presence of an unfamiliar person may seem like a threat.

Which leads to the importance of socialization. It is absolutely vital to socialize your dog - to expose him to positive experiences with a wide variety of people, dogs, other animals, sights, sounds and places. That means babies, toddlers, teenagers, men, women, people in uniform, cats, crowds, bicycles, skateboards, shopping carts, strollers, traffic—anything he’s likely to encounter in daily life. The sooner you start, the better. Begin when your dog is less than 12 weeks old, and attend puppy socialization classes. Heavy socialization is the single smartest investment you can make in your dog.

A few other preventative measures: Teach your dog to be relaxed when people get near his food bowl or toys; train him to enjoy being handled; and provide him with plenty of opportunities for free play with other dogs.

Know the warning signs of aggression. Growling and snarling are obvious, but there are other clues to watch for: wariness around strangers; tension or possessiveness around food, bones or toys; and reluctance to be handled.

Don’t rationalize your dog’s behavior by saying, “He takes awhile to warm up,” or “He’s just protective.” And don’t assume that just because you’ve had dogs in the past, you can predict how your current pet will react. Every dog is different.

At the first sign of trouble, get help from a trainer or behaviorist. Choose an expert who uses positive reinforcement methods. Physical punishment won’t do any good and will probably make the problem worse.

Reprinted With Permission
of the San Francisco SPCA

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