46. Aggression

47. Aggression most common behavior problem in dogs
Many types of aggression
Some innate
Some due to learning history
Some due to interaction
Most can be treated

48. Territorial Aggression
Wild canids ARE territorial.
live in certain area, defend this area from intruders.
Wolves are highly territorial.
Coyote/wolf who’s not part of a pack invades their territory, the residents attack/drive off intruder.
Some dogs display the same tendencies.
bark and charge at people or other animals encroaching on their home turf.
often valued for this level of territorial behavior.
some dogs take this a step farther: attack and bite any intruder
Territorial aggression can occur along the boundary regularly patrolled by a dog or at the boundaries of her pet parents’ property.
Other dogs show only toward people/animals coming into the home.
Male and female dogs are equally prone to territorial aggression.
Puppies rarely territorial.
Territorial behavior usually emerges at adolescence early adulthood; one to three years of age.

49. Protective Aggression
Dogs = social species.
If left on their own,
live together in small groups, packs, of family/friends.
If one member in danger, the others rush to defend
This is classified as protective aggression: dogs are protecting one of their own.
Pet dogs protect “their” pack….family members or friends
Sometimes only for those “lower” or more vunerable than themselves.
Little kids or her litter of puppies.
New baby is s “threat” to her people parents (think of the sounds that baby makes!)
Both male and female dogs equally prone
Puppies are rarely protective; emerges in adolescence or adulthood, at one to three years of age.

50. Possessive Aggression
Dogs have left over evolutionary instinct to compete for food, nesting sites and mates to survive.
Thus, many pet dogs still show tendency to guard possessions from others
Food or food bowl (sometimes even water bowl)
Toys
People
Resting spots
Usually easy to identify because only aggressive when has something s/he covets.
some dogs hide cherished things around the house; guard them from unsuspecting people or animals
Male and female dogs are equally prone to possessive aggression,
IS common in both puppies and adults.

51. Rules of Possession for Dogs
If it's mine it's mine
if it's yours it's mine
if I like it is mine
if I can take it from you it is mine
if I am playing with something ALL of the pieces are mine
if I think it is mine it is
if I saw it first it's mine
if I had it then put it down it is still mine
if you had it then you put it down it is now mine
if it looks like the one I have hidden or already ate, it is mine

52. Fear Aggression When afraid of something, get away from it
Escape
Avoidance
Aggression
Fear, flight, fight
Can be afraid of a person/animal/thing
Attacks if this is only recourse
Look for hierarchy of behavior:
Fear
Escape/avoidance
Then aggression
E.g., cowering, running away,
Note: when “aggressor” turns back, may attack!
avoid turning your back on a fearful dog.
Fear aggression is characterized by rapid nips or bites:
fearful dog is motivated to bite and then run away.
Aggression may not begin with clear threats or warning
It is the fearful posture, retreat or running away and avoidance that IS the cue!
Male and female dogs are equally prone to fear aggression
Common in both puppies and adults.

53. Defensive Aggression Closely related to defensive aggression.
primary difference: strategy adopted by the dog.
Defensively aggressive dogs motivated by fear
instead of trying to retreat, they decide that the best defense is a good offense.
exhibit a mixture of fearful and offensive postures.
may initially charge at a person or another dog who frightens them, barking and growling.
Then show avoidance/escape
defensively aggressive dog often delivers the first strike.
Only if victim retreats does defensively aggressive dog abort attack.
Male and female dogs are equally prone to defensive aggression.
Slightly more common in adults than in puppies
Older dogs have more confidence
Have had time to develop this defensive strategy

54. Social Aggression
Occurs in animals who live in social groups-certain rules in order to minimize conflict between group members. 
Canid species: adopt type of hierarchical order that influences which group members get
Food first
Resting spot first
First chance to mate, etc.
Not have to constantly fight for status; know place in hierarchy
Dogs lower down on the totem pole know to wait until the higher-ups have had their share before taking their turn.
But: ordered relationships frequently reinforced by displays of ritualized aggression.
Ritualized Aggression:
aggressive threats to remind others of their place in the pack.
dog may perceives him/herself as high or low in status
Show aggression differently to different family members
Kids = lower; show aggression

55. aggressive response provoked by things
that a dog perceives as threatening or unpleasant
Taking food away
Taking a chew bone, toy or stolen object away
Disturbing the dog while she’s sleeping
Physically moving the dog while she’s resting
Hugging or kissing the dog
Bending or reaching over the dog
Manipulating the dog into a submissive posture (a down or a belly-up position)
Lifting or trying to pick up the dog
Holding the dog back from something she wants
Grooming, bathing, towelling or wiping the dog’s face
Touching the dog’s ears or feet
Trimming the dog’s nails
Jerking or pulling on the dog’s leash, handling her collar or putting on a harness
Verbally scolding the dog
Threatening the dog with a pointed finger or rolled-up newspaper
Hitting or trying to hit the dog
Going through a door at same time as the dog or bumping into the dog

56. Social Aggression
Social aggression is somewhat more common in males than in females
More common in purebreds than in mixed breeds.
Puppies rarely socially aggressive with people, but can be with other dogs, particularly littermates.
Social aggression usually develops in dogs between one to three years of age.

57. Many issues in understanding Social Aggression
Complexities involved in social aggression are poorly understood and hotly debated by behavior experts:
One belief: all social aggression is rooted in fear and anxiety,
Other side: motivated by anger and the desire for control.
Truth: both are true
When consulting a professional, make sure you’re comfortable with her treatment recommendations.
Data show that techniques for instilling fear and respect in dogs don’t work:
such as alpha rolls, scruff shakes; hanging
a very good chance that your dog will get worse rather than better—and you might get bitten in the process.
Punishment may be appropriate, but only when it’s well planned and limited in application, and used in conjunction with a reward program!.

58. Frustration-Elicited Aggression
Dogs get frustrated, and can sometimes lash out with aggression.
Dog that is excited or aroused by something but is back from approaching it
can become aggressive
particularly toward the person or thing holding her back.
E.g.,: frustrated dog might turn around and bite at her leash or bite at the hand holding her leash or collar.
Over time, learn to associate restraint with feelings of frustration
even when there’s nothing to be excited about, tends to react aggressively when restrained.
explains why some normally friendly dogs become aggressive when put behind a gate, in a cage or crate, in a car, or on a leash.
Male and female dogs are equally prone
occurs in both puppies and adults.

59. Redirected Aggression
like frustration-elicited aggression with the exception that the dog need not be frustrated.
occurs when dog is aroused by or displays aggression toward a person or animal, and someone else interferes.
dog redirects aggression from the source that triggered it to the person/animal who has interfered.
Freud’s displacement!
Result: people who break up dog fights are often bitten
when two dogs are barking at someone from behind a fence, one will turn and attack the other.
Male and female dogs are equally
occurs in both puppies and adults.

60. Pain-elicited Aggression
Typical reaction to pain
Very critical to carefully handle dog in pain, even if she’s your own.
bite with little warning, even if the reason you’re touching her is to treat her.
Also: improper use of certain pieces of restraint equipment can inflict pain on a dog and prompt a pain-elicited bite
Idiopathic Rage syndrome
Male and female dogs are equally prone
can occur in both puppies and adults.

61. Sex-Related Aggression
Even though neutered, will still occur
intact male dogs will still vie for the attention of females in heat,
females will still compete for access to a male.
Intact male dogs challenge, fight with other male dogs, even when no females are present.
Also occurs males living together in the same household.
In wild: adaptive because the strongest males more likely to attract females for breeding.
females living together in the same household also might compete to establish which female gets access to a male, but this is rare
More likely in male dogs
More likely in adult dogs (1 to 3; even IF neutered)

62. Predatory Aggression Canids = predators
pet dogs still show some classic canine predatory behaviors
chasing and grabbing fast-moving things.
running people, people on bicycles and inline skates, and cars.
Other pets, wildlife and livestock.
Some dogs bite and even kill if they manage to catch the thing they’re chasing; others the chase is more important than the catch
Predatory aggression very different from other classifications of aggression
rarely any warning before an attack.
Comes “out of blue”
Elicited by innate predatory cue
Sometimes the sound of a baby crying or the movement of lifting a baby out of a crib can trigger a lightening-fast reaction from a predatory dog.
Equal in males and females
More likely in adults, but may begin to observe early on in pups

63. Family members or Strangers?
Must determine whom your dog is aggressive towards
common for dogs to behave aggressively toward unfamiliar people.
60 to 70% of all pet dogs bark threateningly at strangers and act unfriendly when around them.
Aggression toward unfamiliar dogs widespread.
Less common for dogs to direct aggression toward family members or other pets in the home.
Children are most problematic, especially child family members
Adults too trustworthy
Instincts too strong
Some dogs aggressive only to a certain category of people.
veterinarian or groomer, mailman
Wheels: wheelchairs or individuals using canes and walkers. In some cases
Races or genders of people
Ages of people
Often due to experience!!!!!
Treatment
Socialization under controlled settings
Otherwise, keep dog away from triggers

64. Aggression Risk FActors
Size of the dog 
Age  of the dog
Bite history  
Severity  of the bite
Predictability  of who targeted
Targets : How often your dog is exposed to the targets of her aggression
Triggers  
Identify triggers and treat
Or keep away
Ease of motivating/redirecting your dog  

65. Are some breeds more aggressive?
Yes and no
Goes back to risk factors
Size
Hunting, herding tendences
Training and experience
Age
individuals still carry their ancestors’ DNA in their genes, which means that members of a particular breed might be predisposed to certain types of aggression.
neither accurate nor wise to judge a dog by her breed.
Far better predictors of aggressive behavior problems:
dog’s individual temperament
history of interacting with people and other animals.

66. Blackshaw, 1991 According to Blackshaw: most common dogs to bite are
Bull Terrier (16%)
German Shepherd (15%)
Cattle dog breeds (9.2%)
Terrier Breeds (9%)
Labs and Goldens (8%)
Poodle and Cocker Spaniel (5.7%)
Rotweiler (4.6%)

67. Different reasons why bite:
Goes back to type of aggression
Herding dogs
Hunting dogs
Ancient breeds more likely to bite outsiders and family
Types of aggression
Dominance: 31.6%
Territorial: 29%
Predatory: 12.3%
Intermale: 12.3%
Sibling Rivalry: 7.9%
Fear biting: 6%
Idiopathic rage: 0.9%

68. Interesting to review list:
German Shepherd (12%)
Rottweiler (7.5%)
Cattle dog (4.7%)
Chihuahua (4%),
Labrador (3.8%)
Dobermann (3.4%)
Cocker Spaniel ( 3.2% )
Bull Terrier ( 3.1% )
Boxer (3%)
Poodle (2.9%)
Border Collie, Golden Retriever and Staffordshire Bull Terrier (all 2.8%), Australian Silkie Terrier (2.3%)
Collie varieties (2.2%)
Maltese and Welsh Corgies (both 2.1%)
Dachshund and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (both 2%)
Shetland sheepdog ( 1.4% ).

69. Who to get for help Always Work with Your Veterinarian
Rule out health conditions
Don’t be afraid of drugs as a helper
Always Work with a Professional Behavior Expert
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB)
veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB)
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) in your area.
If you choose to employ a CPDT, be sure that the trainer is qualified to help you.

70. Can aggression be “cured”
Not “cured”, but treated
behavior modification techniques may reduce or eliminate under certain circumstances
But still dealing with instinct and learning history
no guarantee that an aggressive dog can be completely cured.
Pet parents responsible for their dogs’ behavior and must take precautions to ensure that no one’s harmed.
Sometimes, only solution is euthanasia
What is best for dog
What is safe for dog