Just because an animal looks sweet, it doesn’t mean that he or she isn’t an aggressive dog deep down. Being able to overcome these unwanted behaviors, though, means that you will need to find out what is setting your dog off in the first place. Dogs have lots of different kinds of aggression and just as many triggers for each of those types.

Every dog has the potential to be good, but something is causing yours to behave in a threatening way; by eliminating that cause or teaching your dog how to deal with it, you’ll overcome the issue altogether.

What is it that can cause a dog to behave so improperly? Have a look at the following list and see if any of these issues brings out the beast in your little beauty:

• Territorial aggression - here, the aggressive dog will growl, bark, or bite people entering his or her domain. You may find your dog barking or growling at your house guests, someone delivering mail, or even a person who is walking by your house on the sidewalk.

• Dominant aggression - this aggressive dog will “bully” animals or family members that are smaller than the dog or that the dog feels are “beneath” him or her in the family hierarchy.

• Fear aggression - Aggressive dog actions of this kind occur when the dog is in a situation of great fear where he or she feels threatened. If you corner this dog, he or she will likely try to bite you.

• Possessive aggression - this aggressive dog has the most Jekyll/Hyde-like behavior because he or she will seem perfectly content until you try to take food or a toy from him or her.

• Punishment aggression - An aggressive dog with this problem wasn’t usually born this way, but instead became vicious as a result of being mistreated through abuse, too much dominance, or negative reinforcement.

• Pain aggression - an aggressive dog with this problem does not necessarily have a behavioral problem, but is instead acting directly out of pain and instinct. The dog will bite or snarl involuntarily due to illness or injury.

• Predatory aggression - many dogs have a strong instinct to track and hunt prey, and this urge can bring out the aggressive dog in an otherwise calm pooch. Anything that moves becomes a target for this kind of dog, including joggers, children, small animals, birds, cars, bicycles, and just about anything else that isn’t bolted down.

• Maternal aggression - In this case, the new mother is overly protective of her litter of pups and can behave like an aggressive dog if she feels that those puppies are threatened. Be warned that a mother dog may interpret just about anything as being threatening to her young and may act on this presumption.

There are lots of different kinds of triggers that can set off dog aggression in even the kindest breeds. By identifying the reason that these behaviors occur, you’re able to focus your behavior modification training to properly assist your dog.

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