What is aggression in dogs?

‘Aggression’ in dogs is often characterised as any threatening or menacing behaviour directed towards a perceived threat. The dog’s aim in these moments is to defend themselves and/or cause harm to the threat to stay safe.

Common types of ‘Aggression’ in dogs include but are not limited to:

Fear Aggression: the dog feels threatened and reacts defensively.
Possessive Aggression aka Resource Guarding: the dog aggressively protects food, toys, or other possessions.
Territorial Aggression: the dog defends its territory from intruders.
Predatory Aggression: the dog's instinct to hunt and capture prey.
Play Aggression aka Over-Arousal: During play, the dog becomes overly excited or aroused, leading to behaviours that mimic real aggression (biting or growling).
Animal Aggression: directed towards other animals, usually other dogs and humans
Redirected Aggression: the dog cannot reach a target and redirects its aggression to another object or being.
Pain-elicited Aggression: the dog experiences pain and reacts aggressively to protect itself or prevent further pain.

Aggression itself is not fixed or innate in dogs, nor is it specific to certain breeds. While some breeds have a genetic predisposition to show aggressive behaviours, aggression is ultimately a result of learned behaviour and environmental influences.

All dogs are capable of displaying aggressive behaviour.

Society often deems all forms of ‘aggression’ as socially unacceptable, especially when directed toward people or other animals. To accurately interpret our dog’s behaviour and not misconstrue their intentions, we must understand that displays of aggression are an inherent and normal facet of canine behaviour. Depending on the context, ‘aggressive behaviours’ are, in fact, adaptive and appropriate.

Let’s delve into the nuanced differences between ‘aggressiveness’, ‘aggression’, and ‘aggressive behaviour’ to unpack this topic and better understand our dogs…

Aggressiveness v Aggression v Aggressive Behaviour

Aggressiveness indicates how likely a dog is to act aggressively. It's a stable trait influenced by genetics, breed tendencies, socialisation, and past experiences.
Aggression is the dog's internal state of hostility or readiness to act aggressively, including feelings and motivations. Aggression can vary based on situations and contexts. It can be an active behaviour or a state where the dog is internally prepared to act aggressively but may not always do so.
Aggressive Behaviour is the specific actions resulting from a dog's aggressiveness or aggression. It's the behaviour that can be seen and measured. For example, if a dog bites someone when their food bowl is taken away, this is an example of aggressive behaviour stemming from the dog's aggressiveness (long-term trait) or aggression (their internal state in that situation).

To summarise:

Aggressiveness = the disposition to act aggressively

Aggression = the mindset and potential to act aggressively

Aggressive Behaviour = the conduct of aggressive actions

Aggression v Predatory Behaviour

While ‘general aggression’ itself may not be innate in dogs, predatory behaviour is.

Predatory aggression refers to a specific type of behaviour in dogs rooted in their natural instinct to hunt and capture prey. We can observe various degrees of predatory aggression across different breeds e.g., chasing small animals, stalking, lunging, obsessive focus on moving objects, etc.

Key differences between the two include:

The Intent/Goal: ‘General aggression’ aims to threaten, harm, defend or protect, whereas predatory aggression is about hunting and capturing prey
The Behaviours: Aggression involves vocalisation paired with offensive/defensive actions to control a threat, while predatory aggression is typically silent and involves stalking and chasing
The Triggers: Aggression is triggered by threats to safety, territory, or resources, while predatory aggression is triggered by the presence of prey or moving objects.
The Management Strategies: Aggression often requires behaviour modification, management strategies and safety measures. On the other hand, managing predatory aggression involves providing appropriate outlets for the dog’s instincts, such as herding, agility, or gameplay, to fulfil their innate need. This, paired with obedience and focus training, allows the dog to distinguish when they need to display manners and when they get to fulfil their natural instincts.

Aggression v Reactivity

Dog Aggression and Dog Reactivity both stem from a combination of genetic predispositions and environmental influences, but again, they have key distinctions and differences:

The Intent/Goal: Aggression aims to threaten or harm to defend, while reactivity is about responding to stimuli without necessarily intending harm.
The Behaviours: Aggression involves offensive or defensive actions to control a threat, while reactivity is an aroused response to something exciting or concerning.
The Triggers: Aggression is usually triggered by a perceived threat or challenge, whereas reactivity can be triggered by a wide range of stimuli, often due to uncertainty, excitement or fear.
The Management Strategies: Aggression requires behaviour modification training and safety measures supported by professional dog trainers, whereas reactivity can often be effectively managed through training to build the dog’s confidence and desensitise them to triggers.

Note: Reactivity does not necessarily indicate aggression however, if not effectively managed, dog reactivity can lead to dog aggression.

Read our blog post about Dog Reactivity here: Dog reactivity: What is it & how is it managed?

What causes a dog to become aggressive? Can you prevent it?

As mentioned, there are many kinds of aggression (fear-based, predatory, pain-elicited, etc.). Aggression itself exists on a spectrum and can manifest in various forms, from subtle behaviours (lip licking, yawning, tensing their body) to severe physical attacks.

There is no single cause for dog aggression; the context will always matter.

Dogs rarely bite without warning; however, many dog owners frequently overlook the subtle, early warning signs and wonder how and when their once sweet-natured dog became “aggressive”

The Canine Ladder of Aggression

Dr Kendal Shepherd*, a certified veterinary surgeon, animal behaviourist, and expert in dealing with dangerous dog cases, invented the Canine Ladder of Aggression to help humans effectively interpret dog behaviours, prevent misunderstandings that lead to aggression, and promote safer human-dog interactions.

The Canine Ladder of Aggression visually illustrates how stress accumulates in dogs when their gestures are misinterpreted or ignored. The further up the ladder they go, the more likely it is that signs of aggression become apparent. It shows us that ANY dog can become aggressive.

*Read more about Dr Kendal Shephard, BVSc., MRCVS here:https://www.kendalshepherd.com/

Although breed-inherited traits and/or genetic inheritance can certainly increase the likelihood of aggression, more often than not, aggressive behaviour is the result of improper socialisation (during the Critical Period of Development), learned behaviours, health status and environmental factors.

Early and controlled socialisation, from 3 to 16 weeks of age, is the most effective way to prevent a puppy from developing fear-based aggression, which often emerges as the dog matures. At this stage, the puppy learns to adapt to new stimuli and situations with curiosity and confidence, as opposed to being uncertain, fearful or overwhelmed.

NOTE: if a dog suddenly becomes aggressive or displays unexplained aggressive behaviours, especially in older dogs with no history of aggression, it is likely stemming from an illness or injury causing them pain. Before addressing this as a ‘behavioural problem’, it is crucial for a Veterinarian to first rule out any ‘medical-related’ issues.

Are certain breeds more aggressive than others?

Certain dog breeds have been selectively bred for roles that require ‘aggression’, resulting in a predisposition for ‘aggressive behaviour’. For example, military and police dogs need to have a certain level of inherent aggression, particularly in terms of protectiveness and defensive drive.

Other breeds include (but are not limited to): German Shepherds, Akitas, Boxers, Dobermans, Dachshunds, Maremmas, Lagottos and Jack Russell Terriers

Not every dog from these breeds will exhibit aggressive behaviour. Rather, these breeds have been bred for tasks that necessitate aggression, like guarding, hunting, or fighting. They often require experienced handlers who understand how to fulfil their instinctive drives and know how to manage them effectively and safely.

Are you dealing with an aggressive dog? Learn more about training with Kip

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