No one would want a dog that would suddenly lunge at a passerby or one that can be considered as the nuisance by other dog owners in dog parks. Dog aggression is a common problem even by dog experienced people.  Because dogs have different personalities, there are also different levels of aggression. This behavioral problem needs to be addressed at once as aggressive dogs are dangerous dogs.

When a dog is described to be aggressive what would come to mind is a growling and snarling dog with bared sharp pointed teeth and with raised hackles. However, a silent dog that suddenly lunges and bites people is an aggressive dog. A dog that blocks another dog’s path is an aggressive dog as well.

Some dog breeds are naturally aggressive. They need to be in order to survive. These dogs are further trained to be attack dogs. However, in some dogs, aggression is brought on by anger or by fear. Usually a fearful or nervous dog would shy away from the cause of its fear with the ears pulled back and the tail between the legs. But once cornered, the dog would lash out and bite. Aggression can also be caused by anger. A dog protecting its food, toys and territory would manifest an aggressive behavior.  Aggression can be dominance related. Dogs trying to establish themselves as the leader of the pack will show an aggressive behavior. Aggression can also be redirected. Children that tease a dog can go scot free because the dog is inside the fenced yard. Guess what will happen to the meter reader who enters the yard. Yes, the poor man will be on the receiving end of the dog’s anger.

Obviously, the best way to deal with a dog’s aggression is not to allow the aggression to develop in the first place. This can be done by socializing the dog. This process trains the dog to be calm and confident when faced with new situations. However, if the dog is starting to show an aggressive behavior it would be best to know the cause of aggression as this would be very important in dealing with the behavioral problem of the dog. You may need to schedule a visit to the vet to rule out medical reasons for the aggression. Enlist the help of dog behavioralists. These professionals have a wider understanding on how to deal with the issue. You love your dog and you want to have it around but it would be a good idea to keep the dog away from what triggers the aggressive behavior. This would mean that until the problem is resolved there will be no more jogging on the streets or visits to the dog parks.