Aggressive Dog Behaviour:
The vast majority of aggressive dog behaviour is actually driven by fear and stress. I do see aggression in dogs which is driven by a more 'dominant' streak, but this is not very common, and in my experience is normally resolved quite quickly with a balanced approach. Many very young dogs I see are not showing true aggressive behaviour, but are being so rough in their play that they do not understand the pain it causes the owner.
For example a dog may learn that showing teeth and lunging is an effective way to drive off the other dog or person. It is likely that the dog did not have sufficient socialisation/control at an early age, and the owner may not have given adequate leadership from the beginning. This is why I am driven by the idea that an early preventative puppy visit can stop such behaviour problems arising in the first place. A number of dogs are put in rescue shelters due to difficult behaviour, and many an unsuspecting new owner will discover this unpleasant surprise within a few weeks of ownership. Baring in mind that most aggressive behaviour is fear and stress driven, there needs to be a balanced, thoughtful approach to the way we go about resolving it. My approach in the main is to deal with the aggressive behaviour we don't want in a calm manner, and to reward the behaviour we do want. Simple on paper, but it can take many hours together to understand your own dog's behaviour patterns, and to agree an effective way forward to resolve it. Each and every dog and owner need an individual solution.
I think it's useful to say at this point that I am constantly impressed in how dogs have the ability to make changes in very short periods of time, and are always open to the idea that you the owner can take more control in a few hours. This will often leave an improved dog after the first session, and you will also be feeling far more confident. Stopping aggressive behaviour and replacing it with a more positive approach usually takes time, and requires a good deal of commitment from you and your family. The rewards however are tremendous, and well worth the input. My job as always is to facilitate these changes, and guide you through the process. I will show you safe, calm and humane ways to resolve your dog's aggressive behaviour problems, and move into a better place for harmonious living together. I take my role as a supporter to you seriously, and I shall be asking for regular updates.
N.B. There are virtually always other issues under the surface that need addressing with cases of aggression. If for example you have dog aggression issues outside with other dogs, we will need to first of all address your control and leadership inside the home. Aggressive dog behaviour in one area commonly overspills into other areas of living. Excessive behaviour towards visitors, or pulling out of the door come to mind, along with jumping up and possessiveness.
My approach is one of support for you, not looking for holes in your methods and to make you feel small or ignorant. We will work together in cooperation with a view to finding a solution.
View my main behaviour site for more information on other behavioural concerns: www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk
As a full time dog behaviour specialist, my role is to help owners whose dogs are showing undesirable behaviour. In my work dog aggression is relatively common, falling into three broad categories: dog to dog aggression, aggressive behaviour towards people, and finally aggressive behaviour focussed upon guarding food, territory or toys etc. Both the type of aggression and the way it manifests can vary considerably. Due to the complexities involved, I shall not attempt to offer a one-stop guide in how to deal with dog aggression here, as each dog and owner will require an individual programme based on their set of circumstances. What might be just right for one dog, may be excessive or inadequate for another. Contact me for one to one help.
A long time ago I began to see very clearly the importance of early and correct socialisation with young dogs in an effort to prevent aggressive behaviour in the first place. On the basis that most aggressive behaviour has a foundation of insecurity and fear, this brings us back time after time to the fact that the dog was (probably) not socialised correctly at the right age. There are other factors that could create this behaviour in a dog, and another common aspect is that the dog may have been attacked when at an impressionable age, leading neatly back in a full circle to creating a reactive dog. The dog may now drive away what concerns it most by showing (often through learned and repeated practice) aggressive behaviour and actions.
In attacks that leave a dog nervous aggressive, we can see a long and repeated chain of events as the dog passes this fear on to other dogs through its own aggressive behaviour, and the cycle can go on and on in an almost virus-like action. This seems to be particularly so in built-up areas where the dog may not have adequate supervision or control, or the owner may lack the skills to effectively resolve the behaviour at an early stage. If you should find yourself in this position, I would pause here and say it needn’t be this way…there is help available.
It’s not unusual for people to take on a rescue dog that may exhibit dog to dog aggression (or other unwanted behaviours) once the dog has become more settled in the home. This behaviour may have been developed and practiced by the dog a long time before the new owners took it on, and this can change what should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience into a highly stressful one. In this situation, the dog’s early socialisation is well beyond the new owners influence, and one should seek the help of a recommended behaviour specialist to safely establish the best way forward.
Those that read any of my other articles would find a common thread that is never far away from most issues I cover and the work that I do, and that is the one of leadership. Refer to my Articles page on my web site to read more on this. Very often one can literally lead the dog out of this stressful behaviour by an increase in leadership and control. It’s rather like taking a new kids hand in class and saying ‘It’s ok, let me show you how to do this’. When this is done with a calm and convincing approach, it can be enough to redirect the dog onto a new task when in the same circumstances that would have previously created a scene and stress all round. Sadly, a global approach and method does not resolve all cases. Some dogs can be improved by simply implementing a number of leadership based actions in and out of the home resulting in a miraculous change, whilst others are deeply disturbed, and may take a huge commitment to turn the corner...but I have seen it done many times.
A great deal of confusion and muddying of the water has taken place over recent years in the field of dog behaviour whereby people are keen to pigeon hole you as a trainer as being either a positive or negative trainer. Some people (not usually trainers themselves) spend an inordinate amount of time targeting trainers that might have the audacity to say 'No' to a dog or to offer a brief correction for an unwanted or even dangerous behaviour.
I have always prided myself as a practical, common sense based individual that seeks to remain flexible and work with the owner and dog rather than against them to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome. It is this flexibility in my approach that enables me to identify the best method with any given dog and the behaviour/s presented to me. This is not a subtle passport for me to mishandle dogs and their owners, far from it. I constantly seek to reward the behaviour we do want to see, and my job is to induce the dog into better behaviour that creates the opportunity to offer that reward. So flexibility and balance in my approach has always been at the core.
So what do you do when you find yourself in the situation where you are struggling with dog aggression in one or more of its many guises? In the first instance it would be wise to have your dog assessed by your vet for any medical symptoms, and to then to contact me as a dog behaviourist that is both prepared and equipped to deal with aggressive dog behaviour, and has a proven track record using humane techniques in doing so. Your confidence in being able to work together with me is also essential in my view, as I will be instructing you as much as the dog. Feel free to ask me a few questions, and seek my references to satisfy yourself.
Nick Jones MA. MCFBA
Alpha Dog Behaviour Ltd
Dog Aggression Specialist
Nick Jones MA. MCFBA
Mobile- 07759093394
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