Treating fear aggression in dogs: unfamiliar dogs and humans

Authors: Landsberg G
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Behaviour, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

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Abstract: Aggression directed toward unfamiliar pets or people is predominantly a problem of fear and/or anxiety, as a result of environmental influences on the pet’s genetic “template”. When aggression is limited to, or is more intense on the home territory, there may be a territorial component. A correlation has been found between aggression to unfamiliar people and dogs that were raised in non-domestic environments (e.g. kennel, garage, barn), and a lack of experience with urban environments between 3 and 6 months; however, no association was found between environment, urban experience and aggression to other dogs.1 Aggression may be due to medical or behavioural health issues such as impulsivity with alterations in serotonin in English Cocker and Springer Spaniels.2,3 In addition dogs on a leash are reported to be twice as likely to threaten and bite.4 This may be due to an inability to escape or control access to stimuli, restricted opportunity for normal communication, owner influence, or previous experience. Treatment requires safe and effective management of the problem with preventive measures; training to achieve focused and calm behaviours in the absence of any stimuli; teaching cues that communicate to the pet to focus and relax; management products; drugs or natural products where indicated and graduated exposure training (desensitization and counterconditioning and response substitution).

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