Does your dog exhibit aggressive dog behaviour? If so, it is highly likely your dog feels vulnerable or under threat in that particular situation, and he will use his instinctive communication system to make his feelings known. These warning signals can include growling, the showing of teeth, raised hackles, barking, snapping, and biting. These signals are a clear message that your dog does not feel safe or protected and will either attempt to avoid confrontation or take on the challenge of dealing with the ‘threat’ himself. Often the results are traumatic for both dog and humans and the dog is often blamed and sometimes sentenced to death (euthanized).
Dog Aggression is a symptom of an underlying issue—usually fear. Dogs that have been attacked or even simply bullied by larger dogs as puppies can often exhibit aggressive behaviour to other dogs later in life. If a dog has had a frightening experience with a human he or she may exhibit people aggression as it may feel it is the only way to defend againsts perceived future threats.
Early warning signs: Growling and/or barking at strangers are the earliest signs of aggression. If these early warning signs are recognized and dealt with immediately, the worse case scenarios of the dog injuring another animal or human can be prevented. It is important to deal with the problem at this early stage to prevent any seriously damaging situations later.
If your dog is exhibiting signs of aggression to people or other dogs, seek help immediately by contacting your local Bark Busters Therapist to discuss your situation and how we can help.