There are different classifications for canine aggression. Some classifications do not take into account the full range of dog behaviors and consider dominance as a reason for almost all types of aggression, while other classifications present a broader spectrum and are based on more precise and detailed data.
Find out now what is happening to your dog and why he acts this way
Below on our site you can find a classification that considers much more than dominance as the main cause of any problem of aggression, discover the 12 types of canine aggression:
1. Abusive Assault
This type of aggression occurs from an insecure dog towards clearly physically or psychologically weaker dogs. It is a type of aggression frequently displayed by young dogs and intermediate in the social hierarchy, towards puppies and weaker adolescent dogs.
This type of aggression is not related to dominance as many think, but is caused by aggressive behavior reinforcing itself. Anthropomorphizing, it would be equivalent to bullying that frequently occurs in schools, in which some children or adolescents physically or psychologically mistreat others.
Although it may be frowned upon from a human perspective, it does have some utility within canine families (as long as it's not overdone) for puppies learning to signal appeasement and submission. So, they learn to handle aggressive situations without resorting to brute force and avoiding physical harm.
Generally, this type of aggression is presented with behavioral displays and Physical violence is very rare.
This type of aggression is rarely seen in truly dominant dogs. In fact, most dominant dogs never show this type of aggression. On the contrary, bullying between dogs usually shows that the abusive dog is of intermediate hierarchy.
two. Fear Assault
Occurs when a dog is very scared but cannot escape from the situation that causes fear. Then, his most likely reaction is to be aggressive so that other dogs respect him and do not approach him.
This type of aggression can also occur when the dog is physically punished. Some people think that this has to do with dominance, but it is not. The level of punishment that each dog can withstand without becoming frightened varies, and as a result, each dog will respond differently to different punishments.
Keep in mind that if a dog responds aggressively to a punishment it is not due to dominance. It can be because of fear or because of pain (another type of aggression that you will read about later). On the other hand, dogs that have not been properly socialized may exhibit fear aggression when confronted with everyday situations.
3. By possession of resources
This type of aggression is one of the most common. Some trainers, behaviorists and veterinarians confuse it with dominance aggression, but it is not the same thing. Resource aggression often occurs to varying degrees, first with warning signs such as growling and in later stages with biting.
Can occur when a dog defends something it has at the time of the aggression, such as food, a toy, a certain space, a person's attention, etc. This type of aggression can occur in both dominant and submissive dogs, so it should not be attributed to dominance. Also, it is much less common in dominant dogs.
In aggression for possession of resources, the dog simply protects a resource that he has or fights for a resource that he wants to have, without this affecting his hierarchy. The resource watchdog is the one who protects what he already has.
An example of the second case (dogs attacking for a resource they want but don't have) occurs when males fight over a female in heat. In those cases, also the dogs of medium hierarchy, or even submissive, participate in the fight.
4. Territorial aggression
In this type of aggression, dogs attack to remove a stranger from their territory It is a particular type of aggression for possession of resources, because only strangers are attacked. Dogs and people who are part of the family are not targeted in this type of aggression.
This type of aggression is less frequent in puppies than in adult dogs. In addition, it is more frequent in dogs of some breeds, for example those of the shepherd type, in which artificial selection has fixed the predisposition to greater territoriality.
5. Maternal aggression
It is very common in all mammals and other animals, and has a strong instinctual base. Occurs when the mother attacks to defend the cubs from her
This type of aggression occurs because of the mother's fear that her cubs will be hurt or die, and occurs when the stress threshold that the female can withstand in the presence of her cubs is exceeded. Therefore, a situation that does not cause problems when the female is alone, can trigger aggression when the puppies are also.
The best way to deal with this aggression is to manipulate the environment in such a way as to avoid stressful situations for the femaleThus, both the mother and her puppies will be calm and there will be no reason for any aggression. Since this type of aggression is temporary and strongly instinctive, it would be foolish to try to modify it through training.
6. Aggression originating from the game
Violent play can escalate into aggression relatively easily. This occurs because the game carries a certain load of stress (as a motivator) that increases aggressiveness within it. In turn, aggression increases the level of stress, resulting in a positive feedback loop between stress and canine aggression.
This aggression is more common than is thought and occurs in species other than dogs. When you know how to channel it, it can be used in dog training, especially to train schutzhund dogs and other sports with protection dogs.
7. Displaced or redirected aggression
Displaced aggression occurs when the dog furiously tries to attack something or someone, but is prevented by some physical barrier. The frustration then causes the dog to redirect his attack towards other dogs, people or objects.
It is a relatively common type of aggression in dogs that live behind a fence and cannot get out. It also occurs very frequently in dogs that live on a leash.
Less frequently, it can be seen in dogs that go outside on a leash but have never been properly socialized. When trying to attack other dogs they are controlled by their owners. If the leash is too short or if the owner holds their dog by the collar, redirected aggression towards the owner may occur.
8. Pain assault
Pain is the cause of many aggressions that apparently have no reason. A toothache, inflammation, hip dysplasia and many other ailments can cause the dog to react aggressively.
Many times these aggressions are the first symptom that the owner detects. If your dog suddenly becomes aggressive, there is a chance that the aggression is from pain. In these cases, the first thing you should do to solve the problem is take him to the vet so that he can make the corresponding diagnosis.
9. Aggression due to physiological changes
Physiological changes caused by disease, age or changes in the dog's environment, can cause aggression.
The diseases that cause this type of aggression do not cause pain (those that do fall into the previous category). For example, the dog that gradually loses its sight may often be startled by people or dogs that approach it. When surprised due to his visual impairment, he reacts by running away or attacking.
On the other hand, the passage of time also causes physiological changes that can lead to aggression. It is one of the reasons why you have to respect the tranquility of older dogs.
In addition, environmental changes can also cause physiological changes leading to aggression. In some cases, for example, the dog's diet can increase or decrease the animal's predisposition to aggression.
10. Frustration aggression
Frustration aggression occurs when the dog doesn't get something he wants badly. Then, stress caused by frustration escalates aggression, which increases frustration which in turn increases stress again, creating a vicious cycle until presents aggression at its maximum intensity.
This type of aggression is common in many species and Very common in humans It is also very common in dogs. In fact, it is so common and predictable when the environment is properly handled, that it is often used in some protection dog training methods.
eleven. Predatory Aggression
Predatory aggression is the result of the release of the hunting instincts of dogs. Occurs when the movement of prey or something that simulates prey triggers the predatory pursuit and final attack.
This aggression is often directed toward small dogs, joggers, bicycles, and other small animals. You can also see it in dogs that chase cars. It is movement that triggers the natural predator behavior patterns that exist in every dog.
This type of aggression also includes aggression by social facilitation This occurs when one or more dogs join the initialattack. For example, a dog attacks a bicyclist and other dogs in the vicinity join in the attack even though they may not have initially reacted aggressively to the bicyclist's presence.
12. Status Aggression
This aggression is intraspecific (only occurs between dogs) and has to do with the stabilization of hierarchies within a group. It occurs when two dogs fight to establish hierarchies. These fights are usually rituals (with a lot of noise and little damage) and occur between dogs that are not clear about their hierarchy with respect to the others.
Thus, status aggression is usually initiated by young dogs or by adult dogs that they just met On the other hand, it is very little frequent in groups in which hierarchies have already been established. In addition, the dominant dogs (the so-called "alpha") and the dogs that are at the bottom of the hierarchy do not usually participate in these conflicts because their position is clear.
Also known as dominance aggression, but the latter name reflects ignorance about dog behavior because hierarchies tend to stabilize by behaviors of submission and not of dominance. That is why many modern researchers prefer to speak of status aggression.
That is to say that the hierarchy in a group of dogs is usually determined because the submissive individuals carry out submissive behaviors and not because the dominant ones appeal to physical domination. This is an evolutionarily stable strategy, common in several species, that prevents social animals that have dangerous weapons (dogs' teeth) from killing each other to establish hierarchies.
