What Triggers Aggression in Dogs?

While dogs tend to be sociable, welcoming creatures, they are not immune to bouts of aggressive behavior. Most dogs, at some point in their development, will exhibit some degree of aggression toward other animals, possibly even humans. It's important for dog owners and those working with dogs to understand why dogs sometimes react aggressively.

  1. Prey Drive

    • Every dog has a prey drive, but some breeds are more prone to display it if they are near small animals or children. This behavior is often triggered by a game or general playfulness, but can escalate to aggression if the dog becomes overstimulated.

    Dominance

    • Dogs exhibiting dominance often show aggression. Dominance can also cause displaced aggression in which a dog will turn its aggressive behavior toward someone or something that did not originally cause its frustration. Dominant-aggressive behavior is seen most often amongst unaltered dogs living in a multi-canine home.

    Dog Aggression

    • Aggression toward other dogs is very different from aggression toward humans. Some dog breeds, such as the bull terrier, are naturally more inclined to exhibit aggression toward other dogs and should be carefully monitored in their interactions with other dogs.

    Intact Dogs

    • Intact dogs may be triggered to behave more aggressively in group situations than altered dogs. In most cases, spaying or neutering helps to diminish aggressive tendencies in dogs.

    Illness

    • There are certain medical disorders and diseases that may trigger aggression in dogs. The most common of these is rabies, brain tumors, lime disease and injury.