Natural Pet Health

Aggression in pets

A pet that displays signs of Aggressive behavior can be very alarming. Many owners tear their hair out trying to control their errant animals while at the same time trying desperately to find a reason for their behavior.

Although some breeds are definitely more Aggressive than others, experts say there are usually underlying reasons for Aggressive behavior such as fear, insecurity, Stress, problems relating to breeding, jealousy, past abuse, illness and Pain.

Aggressive behavior can be limited to specific situations such as the dog that barks or attacks the postman or it can be unpredictable, which is even more worrying.

Aggressive behavior in dogs can include Biting, Barking, snarling, snapping and raised fur along the back of the neck and along the ridge of the spine.

The first ten week period of a newborn puppy’s life is the best time to teach a puppy that biting is not acceptable. And training your puppy to avoid an incidence of dog biting is crucial.

This is especially because biting comes naturally to them and it is the easiest form of dog aggression that he can resort to in situations that induce fear, anxiety and aggression. And such training is best done before strong adult teeth take the place of small nibbling ones. Curbing aggressive dog behavior among adult dogs is far more difficult than training puppies.

While training puppies, always remember that physical punishment does not work. Punishment is tantamount to making the dog more resolute in his behavior and in such cases aggression is likely to become a permanent concern.

Dog biting makes up for almost half the claims made under homeowner’s insurance policies. Nearly two thirds of the cases relate to biting incidents that occur with an acquainted dog. At the same time, healthy and well trained dogs are not aggressive and they normally do not bite.

There is evidence of a genetic disposition of dog aggression in certain breeds. However, that is not the only cause of aggressive dog behavior. There are other factors that influence aggressive behavior in dogs and the best way to guard against such a situation is to start dog training when you purchase or accept a puppy.

You may train your dog to perfection but it is difficult to remove all basic traits of canine nature. Domestication and evolutionary changes have converted a basically aggressive species into lovable and sweet animals. A well trained dog will give you his unconditional love and affection. But an action like this is no guarantee that he will not have an aggressive encounter with you at least once in his lifetime. Dog biting statistics are a standing testimony to that.

Consider the options that a dog has when he is upset, annoyed or approached when in fear of a noise, stranger or situation. He can only growl, bark and ultimately bite. Howsoever you may train your dog unexpected situations are liable to arise, which may induce the dog to bite. If there is a need to re-train your dog that is showing signs of aggression, there is an equally compelling need for learning how to protect your family and you from dog biting.

If your pet is aggressive then you probably feel the need to address it in one way or another. Hissing, growling, barking and biting other pets or strangers are all signs that your pet is aggressive.

Instinct pushes animals to protect themselves if they are in need of defending against something that seems threatening. When this happens in your house it can be greatly troubling to you or whomever is visiting. In a worst case scenario, it might even lead to an attack where somebody is injured.

It is easy to tell when a dog is in an aggressive mood. Their body posture changes and they often lower their head with their ears laying back. They might pull their lips back and show their teeth.

Dog biting is something that is very likely if a dog is in an aggression mode. Aggressive dog behavior is clearly characterized by ominous or threatening behavior. It can lead to injury of other animals and even human beings, including family members.

There are various factors that influence aggression in dogs. Dog aggression can result from some underlying medical condition, inept handling, fear, anxiety or an inherent desire to dominate the pack. Dominance related aggression in dogs is actually the most common type of dog aggression in domesticated dogs. If dominance aggression surfaces, obedience training may be needed all over again.

Understanding dog behavior is important before arriving at any conclusions about the reasons behind certain types of behavior. Much as humans feel offended at certain things and resort to aggression, dogs too respond similarly. Just as certain foods do not suit humans, there are many foods that should not be fed to dogs.

If you continue to feed your dog with a diet that disturbs his system, he is liable to show his irritation in his behavior. Persistent feeding of unsuitable diet ultimately leads to aggressive dog behavior .

Over time dogs have learnt to live with humans. Most of the times, they are docile and lend themselves to petting. They also obey commands, if trained well. There are instances where dogs have served well as companions to senior citizens and handicapped individuals.

A well-trained dog can even run errands for you. At the same time, dogs can be unpredictable too. Although dog aggression is considered as one of the abnormal behaviors in domesticated dogs, an animal is after all an animal. Dogs evolved from wolves and retain some of their aggressive traits.

They are bound to respond to their genes and behave in accordance to them at times. However, the aggressive trait is manageable in most cases and if proper care is taken you can totally eliminate the possibility of aggression in your dog.

Hyperactivity and delinquency in pets

A hyperactive, out-of-control pet is enough to drive even the most laid back owner straight to therapy.

Some animals become increasingly hyperactive and delinquent over a period of time while others are that way from the start. Either way you need to do something to calm their errant ways!

It’s important to try to understand, if possible, why your pet is behaving the way he is. For instance, some breeds of pets such as border collies, are naturally more highly strung than others. Border collies are typically bred as working dogs so if instead they are kept as pets their owners need to be aware that they need lots of exercise and attention.

Dog aggression can have various causes. The various kinds of aggression observed in dogs are categorized based on what causes it – fear aggression, dominance aggression, territorial aggression and others. Aggressive dog behavior can be induced by fear.

Fear is an emotion that we generally do not associate with dogs. However, it is a reality that some dogs can feel threatened or fearful due to certain specific objects, people or actions. If somebody, regardless of it being a human being or another animal, approaches a dog that is otherwise cringing in a corner with fear, the dog is likely to respond with aggression.