However, the cautionary tale here is, behavioral medications should always be used in conjunction with behavior training. This is one step that many people don’t think about, but pain or feeling unwell can be a common reason for the sudden onset of aggressive behavior.Įven if there are no medical issues causing the sudden aggression, behavioral meds (available through your vet) may represent a treatment option. Your vet can do a complete check-up to rule in/out any underlying medical issues. If your dog’s aggression seems unusual and out of character, it is advisable to see your vet. We’ll talk about each of theses three facets below. Ruling out medical conditions or assessing for medical interventions.Nevertheless, whether you try to treat your dog’s sudden aggression issues with professional assistance (recommended) or on your own (not a great idea), the basic plan of attack will be the same.Īll dog behavior issues are treated by addressing one or more of three similar components: It is especially important to obtain professional advice if your dog has bitten you or your dog has bitten someone else - particularly if the bite was severe enough to require medical treatment. Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. So do your homework, choose a reputable dog trainer or behavior consultant with a solid evidence-based ethos, who is certified by an organization with a positive-based code of ethics. In fact, aggression is one of the leading reasons people call a professional for help.īut unfortunately, the dog training industry is unregulated, and not all trainers are equally qualified or educated. Often, owners will need professional assistance from a qualified behavior consultant, positive trainer, or veterinary behaviorist to determine the underlying reason for his aggro behavior. What type of dog aggression is he displaying? What has caused your dog to act aggressively, and how can we help him? Ultimately, we need to understand the root cause of his aggressive behavior. Your pup has every right to tell you he doesn’t feel like cuddling, having his hair brushed, or sharing his food. Regardless of whether he is growling at you because he is being aggressive or he is just telling you off, you must always heed your dog’s warnings. But the more times they find themselves provoked, the greater the risk for a bite to occur in the future.Īddressing Your Dog’s Sudden Aggression: What Should You Do? In general, “grumpiness” does not lead to bites unless you continue to provoke your pooch. A grumpy response could tell us there is something more, perhaps even medically, going on. Grumpiness shouldn’t be taken any less seriously, and these signals should be respected. Any dog who is pestered or pushed beyond his level of tolerance could potentially lead to an aggressive response. Grumpiness is really just another way of saying less-tolerant than normal. On the other hand, dogs can easily feel overwhelmed, tired, like being left alone, or even feel unwell - they can just feel, for lack of a better term, grumpy. To distinguish between grumpiness and aggression, we’ll need to start by defining aggression.Īggression is a threat or harmful behavior directed towards another individual (be it a dog, human, or another pet).Ī few common examples of threats and harmful behaviors dogs may exhibit include: How Do You Know if Your Dog Is Being Aggressive Instead of Just Grumpy? We’ll explain everything you need to know, including not only some of the reasons this can happen, but what you’ll want to do about it, below. In fact, of all the canine-behavior cases I see, owner-directed aggression can be the most emotionally challenging issue that pet people face.īut don’t worry: There are things you can do to help solve your dog’s sudden aggression problem. When once-friendly Fido suddenly snaps or growls at you, it can be scary and heartbreaking.
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