Why Do Dogs Snap?

One of the most serious behavior issues that pet owners must deal with is aggression. To help control aggressive behavior, experts recommend training and socializing dogs at an early age. People and dogs communicate in different ways. Dogs snap intentionally at other animals and people. This violent behavior is caused by several factors.

  1. Fear

    • Dogs may become aggressive when they are in danger of being harmed. The response to fear does not depend on reality, but instead the dog's perception. It can also occur when a dog is placed in an unfamiliar environment or an area in which the dog had an unpleasant experience. Dogs exhibiting fear may bark, growl, or bite a person or another animal.

    Dominance

    • Dominance aggression in dogs is often motivated by a threat to it social standing in the family group. Dogs set up a pecking order among the family group. When dogs believe someone is below them in the group, they challenge the person in certain situations. Many people are unaware that reaching over the shoulders of a dog indicates an aggressive reaction to the animal. Fights that occur between dogs in the same home are caused by instability in the family group.

    Genetics

    • Genetic and hereditary factors play a huge role in why dogs snap. A protective breed like Rottweilers is expected to be more aggressive than Labrador retrievers. Terriers were bred to hunt and kill small game and still retain that characteristic. When inbreeding occurs it can create unbalanced temperaments. Hormones are responsible for aggressive tendencies in animals that are not spayed or neutered.

    Environment

    • The environment in which a dog lives in greatly influences aggressive behavior. A lack of socialization with others and bad living conditions may cause dogs to react in violent ways. Dogs exposed to constant teasing from children can irritate and frustrate the animal even more. Owners must not excessively punish dogs or give a lot of unwarranted praise.