Aggressive Behavior in Dogs on a Leash

Leash aggression creates potential danger to you, your dog, other animals and other people. Dangerous leash behaviors include aggression toward other animals or people, and biting the leash, which can result in the dog getting loose or accidentally biting the handler. Some dogs even bite the person leading them in order to get loose.

  1. Experiences

    • Dogs often learn leash aggression. Dogs often perceive another dog that approaches quickly as a threat. Allowing your puppy or dog to approach or jump at another dog can result in a fight, which teaches your dog to fear meeting other dogs. Sometimes a dog receives a frightened or angry response from people while on a leash and becomes fearful of approaching people.

    Temperament

    • Some dogs have fearful temperaments. Fearful dogs often show aggression when leashed, according to the Vetinfo website. A dog on a leash cannot flee. Forcing your fearful dog near other animals or people can result in the dog acting aggressive as a way to keep the perceived danger away.

    Dominance

    • Dogs have social orders, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Some dogs have dominant temperaments and respond aggressively to other dogs who get too close. Dominant dogs may also respond aggressively to people who stand too close, who attempt to pet them, or who reach over them, perhaps to shake your hand.

    Response

    • Sometimes dogs become aggressive as a response to their owners' behavior. Keeping the leash too tight can increase a dog's aggressive behavior, according to Vetinfo. So can acting anxious. Pulling on a leash works to "load" or excite many dogs by frustrating them. According to Northwestern University, punishing a dog in an aggressive way--such as jerking on the collar, hitting or yelling--increases the possibility of the dog acting aggressive in response.

    Solutions

    • According to Vetinfo, using a loose leash helps avoid frustration and avoids "punishing" your dog with jerking or pulling. To help make early encounters positive, train your dog to walk on a leash without pulling before going on a walk in public. Reward good behaviors, instead of punishing bad ones, to decrease aggression. Dominant, fearful and aggressive dogs may require muzzles when walked in public, or may have to be walked only on your own property.