Fear Aggression in Dogs: Expert Tips and Strategies

One of the most common problems I am asked to give seminars on, or help pet owners with, is “aggression”. However this label can be very misleading.

Aggression is a response to something in the environment. So the important part of helping the animal is to try and find out what is motivating the behaviour.

The most likely cause of aggression is linked to fear. Other causes such as pain or an underlying medical condition may also be involved. Consequently a visit to the vets is crucial.

For dogs, owners often try and expose them to the things they are fearful of. They think that this will help them overcome their fear. Unfortunately, in most cases, this only makes the situation worse. Forcing the dog into a frightening situation can be dangerous and usually makes them more sensitised. This creates more tension which can lead to a bite.

The Canine Ladder of Aggression, designed by Kendall Shepherd, shows how aggression can progress (see Fig. 1). Being able to identify canine body language is a key method of helping prevent problems.

Fig. 1. This illustration shows how a dog can progress through each stage of stress and fear and how its reaction can change as it feels more threatened. Copyright to Kendal Shepherd.

What can we do for fear aggression?

The list below gives some of the strategies that usually form part of a behaviour plan:

Identify the underlying cause.
Teach owners how to train the dog a set of alternative behaviours. This helps them cope better.
Teach the dog some relaxation cues.
Provide a structured desensitisation and counter-conditioning training plan.
Advise on dietary modification.
Help and support the owner as they often get stressed too!

http://www.theyellowdogproject.com has some great resources for dogs that need more space when out on walks.

These books may help for dogs that exhibit anxiety and fearful aggression towards other dogs:

Feisty Fido: Help for the Leash-Reactive Dog: Help for the Leash Aggressive Dog

McConnell PH.D., Patricia B (Author)
English (Publication Language)
59 Pages – 01/01/2003 (Publication Date) – McConnell Publishing Limited (Publisher)

Fear and Anxiety in Dogs: Understanding, prevention and treatment

Amazon Kindle Edition
Clark, Caroline (Author)
English (Publication Language)
160 Pages – 10/24/2022 (Publication Date) – The Crowood Press (Publisher)

I may receive commission when you click Amazon links on this page and make a purchase. However, this does not impact my recommendations, reviews or comparisons.