Aggression from an unfamiliar dog is frightening, and an unaccompanied one may be even more so. It takes most pet owners by surprise when their beloved family dog suddenly exhibits aggressive behaviors towards them.
If you’ve known your dog for a while and have grown accustomed to their personality, sudden changes in temperament can be both off-putting and emotionally challenging.
While unexpected aggression is usually not a cause for alarm, we recommend that every pet owner seek professional assistance in determining the root cause. Until then, it is not a good idea to try and soothe your dog’s anger on your own; give them space and observe them instead.
Dogs can express their emotions in various ways, but some signs will always represent the same thing. Aggression and irritability, for example, have similar tells, making it difficult for inexperienced pet owners to figure out how their dog is feeling.
The ability to distinguish between aggression and irritation before your dog exhibits those behaviors will allow you to respond appropriately to your dogs’ needs. By paying close attention to clues, you can diagnose the problem more accurately.
Aggression in a dog is actively threatening behavior directed at you or another person. You can recognize aggression by keeping an eye out for the following threatening warning signs:
- Direct eye contact
- Ears laid back or stood up straight
- Curled lips or bared teeth
- Harsh or excessive barking
- Tail held straight and stiff, or only wagging at the tip
- Lunging
- Growling or snarling
- Biting
You must remain calm and still if you notice any of these warning signs in your dog. If you run or make any other sudden movements, you risk the dog biting you. Avoid making eye contact and smiling (revealing your teeth); your dog will interpret this as a challenge. Back away from your dog and speak softly and soothingly to them.
While aggression indicates a dog’s intent to harm, grumpiness conveys that they are less tolerant than usual. Your dog lets you know that it doesn’t want to be bothered, and you must respect its wishes. If you or anyone else continues to bother the dog after its warning, it may respond aggressively.
When a dog is more irritable than usual, look out for the following signs:
- Avoidance behavior or removing themselves from a situation
- Warning growls
- Warning nips
- Low-pitched yelps or barks
As long as no one further provokes the dog, this behavior should eventually resolve itself. Allow your dog space and respect its desire not to engage; your dog will ultimately return to expected behaviors. If it doesn’t, you should consult with a professional dog trainer.
Brain Training For Dogs – Eliminate Your Dogs Bad Behavior!
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- Force-free gentle methods that are proven to work
- Course created by a CPDT-KA certified trainer
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Finding the Cause: How to Handle Sudden Aggression
Recognizing aggression is only the first step towards treating it; you must then determine the cause. A happy, loving family dog suddenly displaying aggression is not normal behavior and is most likely due to some external or internal factor. While the reasons are not always obvious, there are often subtle warning signs that point to their presence.
Redirected Aggression
Diverting aggression away from the original target and towards the closest person is a behavior observed in some humans. It stands to reason that aggressive dogs can not keep their anger in check and wind up hurting their owner.
It can hurt when your dog bites you out of displaced aggression, but keep in mind that they usually do not mean anything by it. Fortunately, unless fighting with other dogs or barking at bystanders is a new behavior, redirected aggression is the least likely to be caused by underlying factors.
Medical Issues
Pain or illness can influence your dog’s behavior. Your dog’s sudden change in demeanor can be due to a hidden medical problem, as it is the best way for them to communicate their discomfort. There are far too many health problems that could potentially affect your dog to list them all, but here are a few you can watch out for:
- Ear Infection – Keep an eye out if your dog becomes aggressive when exposed to loud noises. If they do, an ear infection is most likely the culprit.
- Dental Problem – If your dog becomes irritable at lunchtime, he or she might have a dental problem. Examine their mouth to see if their breath smells bad or if there’s abnormal plaque buildup.
- Brain Damage – Problems with your dog’s brain are a common cause of aggression, but they can be challenging to detect. Sudden behavior change usually comes along with other symptoms such as lethargy, weight gain, or seizures. In that case, your dog may have developed a tumor or experienced recent head trauma.
Punishment
Physical punishment is ineffective in changing a dog’s behavior. It will almost certainly foster distrust between you and your dog, causing it to fear you and potentially lash out in self-defense. Positive reinforcement, rather than negative reinforcement, should be used to train a happy and well-behaved canine.
Instead of scaring or harming your dog for doing something wrong, give them treats for doing something right. This will foster a much better relationship between you and your dog.
How to Resolve Sudden Aggression
As a pet owner, you have several options for dealing with your dog’s behavioral changes. The first option is to take your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup. If their aggression came out of nowhere, then they may be experiencing pain, which a veterinarian can treat. If your dog is healthy, they may prescribe behavioral medications to help ease their nerves.
The medication isn’t a cure-all for your dog’s aggression, but it can help keep them calm while you work on coping strategies for whatever is bothering them. The second, and likely the most crucial, step is training. Properly training your dog is the key to eliminating their aggressive responses to stressful situations and creating healthier coping mechanisms.
Behavioral training takes patience and consistency; any mistake or lapse in schedule could cause a severe setback for your dog’s ability to control their aggression. Consistency is key when training your dog.
Behavior training is not something that an inexperienced pet owner should attempt on their own, especially if they have already had a bad experience with their dog. To guarantee that your dog can return to the happy demeanor you’re accustomed to; it’s best to hire a professional. That’s where the employees at Off The Leash Dog Training come in!
Our expert dog trainers are well-versed in canine psychology and can work closely with your dog to healthily develop management systems to combat their aggressive behaviors. Contact us at admin@offtheleashdogtraining and schedule your appointment for professional dog care advice today!
Brain Training For Dogs – Eliminate Your Dogs Bad Behavior!
- Learn how to reveal the hidden intelligence inside your dog
- Force-free gentle methods that are proven to work
- Course created by a CPDT-KA certified trainer
If you follow our link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
