Dogs have lots of teeth that they use to communicate
Aggression in dogs can be really scary. Since April is dog bite prevention month, lets talk first about why dogs bite. The two most common reasons are pain and fear. Dogs have many ways they communicate that they are uncomfortable, and unfortunately many people misinterpret or just don’t understand what their dogs are saying. Understanding your dogs body language and how they use their eyes, ears, tails and body to communicate becomes the first step to preventing a bite.
Pain
The most common and misunderstood reason dogs bite would be pain. More often than not, I can watch a dog move or refuse a behavior and immediately notice pain signals in the dog. Often these behaviors also lead the human part of the equation to think the dog is becoming “dominant” (not a thing) or just being a jerk. (also not a thing). If you pull a muscle in your back or are sore from a hard workout and someone unexpectedly grabs you, you may take a swing at them. Your dog will do the same thing. If I am seeing unexpected snapping or growling from a dog who is otherwise compliant then my first thought goes to “pain.’
Signs of pain
Seemingly normal dog behaviors can also give me pause. Behaviors such as, excessive licking, most think of allergies and then recommend a steroid or histamine medication. These might work for a short time, but the licking comes back. Usually the licking is generalized to one area that feels painful like a flank or feet. This self soothing behavior can be very misunderstood for painful dogs.
The most misunderstood behavior I see, chewing. Yes, chewing is normal, when it becomes excessive, I get worried there maybe another issue. If your dog constantly goes to get a chew after playing or going on a walk, and chews through the item. If your dog destroys toys because they are chewing bits that should not be chewed, or items that should not be chewed. Might be time to get a pain workup.
A big red flag are dogs who are reluctant to get off a comfortable spot or guarding comfortable spots like the couch or bed. Those of you with back pain can relate the most to this one. Those moments when you finally get comfortable and you have found some relief from your painful spot, then someone bumps you or asks you to move. You absolutely want to bite them. If your dogs are experiencing that level of pain, they also do not want to be moved or messed with when they get settled.
Check out this post on Pain and behavior to learn more!
Fear
The second reason for biting would be fear. So often I meet dogs for the first time and they are very clearly telling me they are uncomfortable while their parents tell me they are “friendly.” There are many adjectives we can choose from between “friendly” and “aggressive.” Lack of aggression does not mean your dog identifies as a social butterfly. Most of the cases I see as a Behavior consultant includes dogs who have a bite history or the parents have seen behaviors that might lead to a bite in the future. Once I start explaining the body language I see, pet parents are better equipped to set their dog up for success.
Ears and tongue flick also say “get away!”
Sometimes its just weird
In a small percentage of dogs, we see “idiopathic aggression” which means the aggression comes “out of no where.” These are not the dogs who are clearly giving signs that they are uncomfortable and are asking the other being to leave them alone for no real reason. These are the dogs who walk into a room and choose violence. Many people suspect these episodes are due to seizure activity or a brain tumor that has gone undiagnosed. Prognosis for these pets are very poor since there is often no discernable trigger, and the dog seems “out of it”. Management can help in these cases, but generally expensive diagnostics are outside of many peoples budget and humane euthanasia becomes the most favorable outcome.
If you are seeing behaviors in your dog that you may not understand or might be dangerous, it is important to contact a professional. The dog training industry is highly unregulated and anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. An unqualified professional without history working with aggression can make things much worse for you and your dog.