Aggression

1. Aggression

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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 threatsor 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.

8. 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

9. Social Aggression • Occurs in animals who live in social groups-certain rules in order to minimize conflict between group members.  • Canidspecies: 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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!.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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)

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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  

20. 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.

21. 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%)

22. 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%

23. 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% ).

24. 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.

25. Can aggression be “cured” • 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