Aggression – tips for interpreting signs

Occasionally dogs will become extremely stressed and feel threatened during an interaction. Proper safety equipment is crucial to avoid injury when interacting with dogs. Wear appropriate clothing such as sturdy shoes. Minimizing dogs’ exposure to sudden changes in the environment and acclimatizing them slowly to changes is important. Always have an exit strategy when working with dogs; occasionally, dogs will not be comfortable with interactions and may need to be placed in a secure environment until they adjust to a new situation and calm down.

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While dogs have been domesticated by people for a long time, it is important to remember that they are still animals with a very strong instinct for “fight or flight” when danger is present. When presented with a threat, many dogs will try to escape, but some dogs will choose to fight against the danger and may bite in response to the threat. It is important to follow certain safety guidelines when working with dogs to avoid injury for you and your dog. An adult large breed dog may weigh as much as a person, and all sizes of dogs have sharp teeth that can easily injure a person with minimal effort. However, small breed dogs weighing less than 25 pounds are more likely to bite than larger breed dogs.

Common steps to avoid injury include using proper safety equipment. This can vary depending on the dog, but at minimum, a strong collar and leash in good condition should be used when engaging with dogs. It is vital to have the dog in a secure environment (eg a room with a closed door or a fenced garden) and ensure that the dog’s collar is secure or the dog may be able to remove the collar and run away. In some cases, additional safety tools such as a properly acclimated and fitted basket muzzle may be necessary.

Separating certain dogs such as non-neutered males and females or female dogs with puppies from other dogs on the property and using separate housing or crates is important. This will avoid exposing male dogs to female dogs in heat and the potential problems associated with their interaction. Female dogs with puppies are often very protective and may injure a person trying to interact with their puppies. In addition, only experienced people should handle non-neutered males or females with puppies. It also is important to approach dogs carefully and slowly, not staring at them because some dogs may bite when they feel threatened by someone approaching. Better yet, let the dog choose to interact with you instead of you initiating the interaction. You should also wear sturdy shoes.

Introduce dogs slowly to a new situation or to new dogs to avoid agitating them. However, it is not always possible to avoid new situations, so it is important to recognize the signs of an agitated dog, which can include barking, growling, a tail held in an erect position and waving back and forth, pacing and erect hair around their shoulders. The dog’s ears may be erect or flattened against his/her head. An agitated dog may try to bite other dogs nearby, and if you approach, the dog may try to bite you.

Some dogs will show signs of fear such as avoiding your gaze, backing up as you approach, and hunching their back, but then lunge to bite you as you approach. This is called “fear biting” or “fear aggression”. If you notice this behavior, back slowly away from the dog to avoid escalating the situation. Then, try to determine what stimulus is causing the dog to be distressed.  Once you are able to identify the stimulus (eg a new dog in the area), remove the stimulus or wait a few minutes to see if the dog calms down. Most dogs will calm down once they adjust to the change in the environment, if given a few minutes to adjust. If the stimulus can’t be removed, it may help to distract the dog with dog food or a treat. Sometimes the dog needs to be walked away to another location. Do not stand in front of the dog; stand to the side if possible, out of the way of the dog’s head. If the dog is confined, it may help to leave him/her alone for a few minutes; many dogs will calm down after they adjust.

Preventing dangerous situations is much easier than handling a dangerous situation, especially if you are a novice dog owner or handler. Working with an experienced, knowledgeable, and credentialed positive reinforcement trainer is invaluable. Also, ask your veterinarian for tips. He/she is accustomed to safely and kindly working with dogs in difficult situations, such as when a dog is in pain. Many dogs will adapt to a new situation if given time; however, if your dog is highly distressed or dangerous to handle, it is important to contact your veterinarian for aid. Sometimes dogs can have diseases or pain that is causing the dangerous behavior.

Tips to remember when working with dogs

• Introduce dogs slowly to a new situation or to other dogs to avoid agitating them.
• When introducing dogs to new people or to other dogs, all of the dogs should be kept on leashes. This facilitates separating them if they try to fight or attack.
• Recognize signs of an agitated or frightened dog (eg frequent barking or growling, tail held in an erect position and waving back and forth or tail tucked, pacing and erect hair around their shoulders, erect or flattened ears). Back away if possible; then identify the stimulus, and either remove it if possible or wait a few minutes to see if the dog acclimatizes to the stimulus.
• Ask your veterinarian for tips and work with an experienced,  knowledgeable, and credentialed positive reinforcement trainer to learn precautions that are necessary for working with dogs; keep certain groups of dogs such as non-neutered males and females or female dogs with puppies separated.
• It is important to contact your veterinarian if your dog is highly distressed or dangerous to handle. There may be an underlying disease that is causing this behavior.