Content
- Physiological or health problems
- lack of socialization
- bad communication
- Other causes that promote aggression in the dog
- Treatment for canine aggressiveness
THE aggressiveness in dogs it is a serious behavior problem that has many causes. Many people search the internet for a viable treatment to solve it, but are they adequate?
In this PeritoAnimal article we will explain some of the causes that can give rise to aggression and also what you can do to treat and solve this problem of behavior. Remember that depending on the cause of aggression, the way to resolve it is different.
Physiological or health problems
Puppies that are not 100% healthy can develop severe aggressive behavior and it is normal for a weak dog, with skin problems or in pain to try to alleviate its symptoms.
The dog may not recognize that the symptoms derive from his own physical condition, which encourages him to be hostile towards those around him or who appear in certain situations.
Developing a fracture or other illness makes the dog feel unwell, so the priority should be to take him to a veterinarian to treat, as far as possible, the illness or condition he is suffering from.
If you are unsure about the type of condition and are not sure what motivates you, you can also consult a veterinarian as he has advanced knowledge of the dog's behavior and needs. Although it is not an ethologist, the veterinarian can guide you about the problem that your pet suffers in order to solve it as soon as possible.
Some advice would be try to relieve symptoms with homeopathic remedies, that is, natural remedies that the veterinarian can recommend. Try to avoid situations that lead to aggression, for that, look for quiet places where you can walk in a relaxed way and never force the dog's pace.
lack of socialization
When the puppy is between 3 and 12 weeks of age it must be properly socialized. This process involves getting to know dogs, people and objects of all kinds, in variety and positivity is the success of a mentally healthy adult dog.
A dog that hasn't walked, hasn't met people or dogs feels uncertainty, fear and a general lack of protection that leads to high levels of stress. To try to minimize these effects we must ensure that we comply 100% with animal welfare freedoms.
Even if you buy the basic needs of the puppy, and especially if it is a puppy from a shelter, it will take some time to get used to your new environment and home. It can also happen to puppies separated prematurely from their mother or puppies that have undergone a drastic change in family or situation.
Aggression is a system they use to face difficult situations. It's not a dominant or territorial dog, it just acts that way because it doesn't know what to do or what is expected of it.
Some tips to improve include a calm walk and free from other puppies, encourage calmness and adaptation of the puppy to the new situation and very important, the affection that the family can offer.
bad communication
is one of most common causes of aggression. It happens when the puppy is not properly educated, sometimes with excessive punishment or when force is used. In these cases the dog does not understand why we treat him this way and acts accordingly behaving in a way that is rational for him but negative for us. As the dog was brought up with aggressiveness, he uses it in the same way to make himself understood.
These are puppies that are confused, most likely suffering from serious deficiencies in their education, routine walks or emotional needs.
The fact that the dog develops aggressiveness when trying to communicate with him is a sign that communication between person and dog does not work well. In addition, it is serious behavior that can jeopardize our safety or yours on several occasions.
In this case, the most appropriate recommendation is to consult an ethologist specialist.
Other causes that promote aggression in the dog
If your dog has just become a mother, she can develop the maternal aggression preventing you or others from getting close to your little ones. It is normal and instinctive behavior as a form of protection for puppies.
On the other hand, your dog can suffer redirected aggressiveness when, when trying to face a stimulus, person or dog, he cannot do it. The great stress that you suffer causes, unintentionally, to redirect your aggression towards those closest to you, which may be you.
Another very common cause is intrasexual or intersexual aggression which is usually due to dominance over members of the same sex although sometimes it can also be for others.
We also find dogs that are aggressive for territoriality and that it manifests itself only when an intruder or stranger invades a space or object that the dog considers its own. Serious cases of territoriality can be alarming and it is advisable to consult a specialist as soon as possible.
Finally, we have the aggressiveness by possessiveness be it from another dog, person or object, although in general it is more in living beings. The dog goes through an important suffering when he sees himself separated from those he likes. It usually appears in puppies that were prematurely separated from their siblings and parents, abandoned dogs that went through extreme situations or due to the loss of their owner and subsequent change of house. In this case, we are talking about dogs that are afraid to face a similar situation again and their affective needs are usually severe. We must differentiate this fear factor from dogs that are "spoiled" by their owners. They tend to act aggressively if they understand that whoever takes care of them can leave or prefer another pet.
Treatment for canine aggressiveness
To start you should start by bringing together two basic tools:
- A civil liability insurance that covers any damage
- Use of muzzle and leash on the street
Once you meet these requirements, you should call in a specialist. ethologist. It is a veterinary professional who treats serious behavior problems, as is the case of aggressiveness in dogs.
On the internet you will find many articles suggesting practices of all kinds, but the reality is that only a professional will be able to help you identify your specific case, because sometimes we can confuse aggressiveness when in reality it is a stress high or a secondary problem that generates their health status.
Depending on the specific case, one or another procedure should be applied, the specialist is the one who will really identify what the problem is. There are cases of people who follow certain techniques to achieve results against aggression and due to lack of knowledge they end up causing more serious problems than those that already existed.
If your dog really has a serious problem, don't hesitate and go to someone who can solve it.
Also read our 10 tips for avoiding dog bite.
