Social Aggression Behaviour in Dogs
Social aggression can be defined as an aggression that stems from fear or frustration. This typically occurs when interacting with unfamiliar people or animals. The most common signs are growling, lunging, and barking. If the social aggression is allowed to continue, it will increase in intensity and can lead to biting.
Social Aggression in Puppies
It is important to prevent aggression from occurring by socializing your puppy from an early age. Socialization creates a safe environment for the puppy which allows them to develop their confidence as well as learn how they should behave in a variety of situations.
Social Aggression Signs in Dogs
The following are some of the symptoms to be aware of in dogs as they might be suffering from social aggression.
Excessive Barking: Usually short, sharp, and precise barking when there is a perceived threat or changes that occurs around the dog. The barking is often accompanied by hiding or attempts to run away.
Growling: This signal is a loud deep growl. It is usually accompanied by staring at the other person or dogs, baring of teeth, and shaking of their entire body.
This signal is a loud deep growl. It is usually accompanied by staring at the other person or dogs, baring of teeth, and shaking of their entire body. Biting: This is a clear signal that the dog is aggressive. They will often bark, lunge and bite.
What causes Social Aggression
In young animals, social aggression can be caused by lack of training. Young dogs need to be trained consistently so they learn what is right and wrong in the world around them. Positive methods of training should be used to help develop your dog’s confidence as well as teach them how to behave in different situations.
Social aggression can also be caused by mites or fleas. These annoying parasites will cause horrible itching and an allergic reaction in your dog. They can be very serious, causing swelling of the face and eyes as well as disruption of the nervous system. If you suspect that your dog has mites, it is vital that they are attended to immediately as severe infestation can lead to blindness.
If your dog’s behaviour is out of the ordinary and is deemed to be aggressive, you should seek veterinary advice. If the aggression continues, it is likely that there are other underlying emotional triggers that are causing the behaviour. It is important to talk to your vet if you suspect that your dog may be suffering from social aggression as it can be addressed with some help and advice.
What Causes Social Aggression in Puppies
Social aggression can be caused by a variety of things, including mites or fleas. There is also a possibility that your puppy is just trying to assert their dominance over the others in the household. Puppies are very ‘big dogs’ and will most likely be very dominant over the others in the house. Because they are young, puppies have a deep desire to show off, and this will often come out as aggressive behaviour.
When you are introducing your puppy into the household, you must make sure that everything is done properly and that there is appropriate socialisation of new people or animals. Using positive methods of training can help to develop your puppy’s confidence as well as their ability to behave in a variety of situations.
Is Social Aggression common?
It is difficult to say if social aggression is common, but it definitely does happen. It’s important that you are aware if your puppy might be suffering from social aggression and seek veterinary advice if it continues to be a problem. It could be due to mites or fleas, or even just a simple lack of training. The best way to ensure your puppy isn’t suffering from social aggression is to socialise it from an early age. This will help develop your dog’s confidence as well as teach it how to behave in different situations.
Social Aggression Treatment
Training: Consistency is key with training any dog. Provide them with some clear rules and abide by them. Rules will help to develop the dog’s confidence as well as its ability to behave in a variety of situations.
Sheltering: If your dog is in a shelter, as soon as possible it should be brought into an environment which is fully socialised. This will also allow the dog to understand and learn how to behave in different situations.
Medication: To deal with the underlying cause, treatment may involve anti-inflammatory drugs for allergies or pain relief if your dog has any mites or fleas.
To deal with the underlying cause, treatment may involve anti-inflammatory drugs for allergies or pain relief if your dog has any mites or fleas. Anti-depressants: If your dog is suffering from anxiety or an emotional trigger, anti-depressants may be used to help with the symptoms of aggression.
It’s never easy dealing with any type of dog aggression, and if you do ever find yourself in a situation where your dog is displaying signs of social aggression. But if you do, it is important that you seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. Ignoring the problem can lead to other problems and can cause very significant damage to your dog’s health if left untreated for too long.
Summary
Aggressive behaviour in dogs can be caused by a variety of different things, but it is important that you act as soon as possible. Seeking veterinary advice will give you the opportunity to discuss the situation and how you can help your dog to cope. In some cases, social aggression might just be a phase that your dog is going through, and with some training and love, the dog will start to show signs of improvement. It is important that there is consistency and you remain patient; if the problem continues, seeking advice from a specialist can help to put your mind at ease.