Most people have probably seen dog training shows on TV that include aggressive dog behavior. That doesn’t make it any less scary if your own dog shows aggressive behavior. Whether it comes out of the blue or you just have a generally aggressive dog, that aggression has a reason behind it, and understanding that is the first step in reversing the behavior.
Perhaps the worst fear of any dog owner would be seeing a family pet suddenly lunge at a child. Often this would result in the dog being removed from the home, and sometimes even euthanized. But aggressive behavior does not have to be a death sentence for your dog. The Calm K9 has been dealing with aggressive behavior in dogs for decades and knows the path to move your dog away from aggression and toward love and happiness.
What Are Some of the Causes of Dog Aggression?
There are several possible reasons why your dog is acting out, and the cause will often make itself clear in the particular behavioral displayed. Let’s go over some of the causes:
Fear
If your dog isn’t feeling like she has a safe space, she will revert to aggressive behavior in order to protect herself. While some dogs are great with children and will allow kids to do almost anything they want to them, other dogs may become fearful when taunted or teased by kids who have no idea they might trigger an aggressive reaction.
Illness or Injury
As the old adage goes, the most dangerous animal is one that is hurt. If your dog has been injured in some way, especially in a way that isn’t immediately obvious to you such as a minor bone fracture, there is a good chance aggressive behavior will occur. Unfortunately, our pups can’t tell us when something hurts, and if we aren’t able to see what is wrong we may assume their aggressive behavior is due to an entirely different cause.
Possessiveness
As is the case with the rest of the family, your pooch has a few things that he cherishes. While he may be fine with someone grabbing his toy in order to continue the millionth round of fetch, trying to take that rawhide chew may elicit a very different response. We all have things we like to call our own, and dogs do too.
Frustration
Frustration aggression often occurs in dogs that spend a lot of time restrained in some way, whether it be on a leash or within the confines of a small enclosure. Too much time spent in a situation like this can cause the dog to get increasingly frustrated, which may manifest as aggression.
Asserting Dominance
In canine society, as with most others, there is always a hierarchy. This hierarchy is established through shows of force between members that can be seen as incredibly aggressive and scary from an outside perspective, especially when those behaviors are directed toward a human. While this is a less common root cause of aggression, it nevertheless produces unwanted and even potentially dangerous behavior.
Restlessness
This is one of the most common reasons for behavioral issues in dogs. Depending on the breed and age of your dog, she needs a lot of active time every day. Without enough physical stimulation she can become restless and unsettled, even agitated. Providing her with plenty of opportunity for play and free movement can be an easy cure for this type of behavior.
The Calm K9 Treats Aggressive Dog Behavior
At the Calm K9, Curtis and Meredith have been treating aggressive behavior in dogs for over 20 years, and they know that every single dog has the potential to be a great friend and pet. No matter what the root cause of your dog’s aggression, The Calm K9 has seen it and dealt with it before, and knows just the right way to make your dog feel the way they need to in order to stop these behavioral issues. Almost no dog is beyond saving, and you and your dog have the right to a loving, fulfilling relationship. Call The Calm K9 today at 321-442-1609 and see what we can do for you!