Aggressive dogs can certainly be a reflection of their owners, but there are often many other issues that can factor into whether a dog is abnormally aggressive. According to researchers from Michigan State University, dogs with aggressive or anxious temperaments often have owners with negative personality traits.
There are multiple reasons that a dog may exhibit aggression toward family members. The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression.
Aggression in dogs can be due to guarding territory, resources, or a family member; fear; frustration; prey drive; or pain. In all of these situations, a dog may be pushed too far and can transition quickly from reactive, fearful, or guarding behaviors to being aggressive.
Most scientific studies indicate that it is very possible to rehabilitate a dog after they bite another dog or person.
An aggressive dog poses a danger to us and other humans. It tells us the dog is unhappy. Even in a mild form or in a small dog, aggression typically signals the dog is tense and not enjoying his life at that moment – or, sometimes, not at all.
Because of sexual and social maturity, dogs normally start to show aggression to people between 6 - 24 months of age. Why? The dog gets big enough to be able to scare people with aggressive behaviors while simultaneously perfecting their skills in how to do this during this period in their development.
Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your dog follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds. (Be sure that the room is “dog-proofed” before you leave your dog alone in it. Don't leave him in an area with things he might destroy or things that might hurt him.)
In most cases, absolutely nothing happens to the dog except that it might be quarantined for a few days (frequently at the dog owner's home). If the attack is brutal or other conditions are met, however, the local animal control authority or court may issue orders requiring that the dog be confined or destroyed.
It's important to keep in mind that there is no such thing as a cure for aggression. Aggressive behaviors are managed and reduced through proper treatment with a veterinary behavioral professional. It's also essential to understand that aggression is a behavioral problem, not an issue of obedience.
Fear- or anxiety-related aggression may be confusing as the dog might display defensive or offensive body language. "Fear or anxiety related aggression is perhaps the most common form of aggression in dogs."
Lastly, never punish your dog for aggression. Dogs don't understand punishment and thus are more likely to act out or act more aggressive when punishment is used. Instead, the best way to train away aggressive behavior is to reward good behavior.
Probably the most notorious breed on this list, the pit bull has a reputation for unpredictability and aggression, even against its owner or his family. State and local governments have been vigorous in restricting ownership of this dog with breed-specific legislation.
When Lunging and Biting is a Sign of Resource Guarding. If your puppy is lunging or biting when you reach for a toy, their food, or another type of resource (such as where they are resting on the couch or in a dog bed), this might be a sign of resource guarding.
Dogs often rely on what I can only call appeals to our sympathy when what they feel threatened by is us. Ignoring or being oblivious to these signals can lead to a bite as directly as pushing forward in the face of growling and snarling can.
Straight off the bat you should be correcting your dog's growling and/or snapping with a firm “no” at the onset of the behavior. When he stops growling, reward him with a “good boy”, or in the beginning, a treat if it's handy at the exact moment of training so that he knows what he is being rewarded for.
Remember: No Yelling Or Hitting
It should go without saying, but don't bonk your dog on his nose if he bites. Hitting your dog is abuse and it's ineffective. Your pup could become afraid of you or act aggressively toward you, two horrible outcomes.
Never use your hands to punish your puppy, such as holding the pup's mouth tight. You may have heard suggestions to prevent biting such us blowing in your puppy's face, flicking your puppy on the nose or smacking him/her. These are also poor choices that will have further ramifications.
For a dog who is acting out of fear or frustration (for example, a dog who is barking and lunging on leash), using the word 'no' to stop the behavior without helping to alleviate their fear or frustration will often lead to an escalation in behavior, such as growling, air snapping, or biting.
ARE MALE DOGS MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN FEMALE DOGS? Both male and female dogs have the ability to show aggression but the statistics show that “entire” (not neutered) male dogs are more likely to show aggression than female dogs or neutered males.
By the time they are 6 months of age, puppies have typically lost all of their baby teeth and growing in all of their permanent ones. In addition to being hardwired to explore and play with their mouths, puppies are also even more inclined to nip and chew at this age because of the teething factor.
You can generally know when your dog is lacking exercise when he or she becomes bored, lethargic, or frustrated. This can manifest itself as destructive behavior or aggression.