Fear Aggression

Fear aggression is not a simple behavior that can be easily diagnosed and treated. It is an entire spectrum of behaviors, ranging from a simple snap on a single occasion to Cujo, a foaming at the mouth maniac. What produces fear aggression is a mixture of things - socialization, temperament, abuse, genetics, training, or a trauma. Untreated, fear aggression only gets worse.

Fear aggression is exactly as it sounds - aggression produced as a result of fear. Not all scared dogs will get aggressive and not all dogs will get scared in similar circumstances. Knowing this gives us an insight into how to approach the problem behavior. One way is to ensure the dog won't get scared, no matter the circumstance. The other is to prevent the dog from becoming aggressive if it does get scared. Most people address the former but not the latter. The former method is used with dogs that can be "turned around".

Early socialization is a key ingredient to preventing fear aggression. By socializing your dog as much as possible, you are showing him not to be afraid, no matter the circumstances. Socialization means taking your young dog with you into lots of different environments and exposing him to lots of different people, dogs, noises, sights, etc. Familiarity produces calmness. The first stranger your dog meets is going to be scary. The 500th won't be (if all the encounters have been positive). Setbacks to this include lack of exposure, abuse, or a bad encounter with a stranger - in particular children as they have high pitched voices, move unpredictably and tend to pull ears and tails and poke eyes.

Once the dog is a bit older, the method is the same but the approach is slightly different. Obviously, the more nice people your dog meets, the more he will begin to see strangers as nice folks. Quantity is very important here. All meetings with strangers should be as upbeat and positive as possible. Oftentimes, this means that the strangers engage in play or give treats to the dog. If your dog is food motivated, then a treat from a stranger will make all the difference in the world. If your dog is a tennis ball nut, then a few tosses from each person will help break the ice. After many weeks or months (depending on your dog) this slow desensitization may bring your dog around to appreciate and enjoy meeting strangers. Without the fear, there is no need for aggression and hence, the problem is solved.

The key to breaking this habit is twofold.

The first is to prevent the dog from becoming as fearful as it would naturally, on its own. This basically means that at the first sign of aggression, you must let the dog know that that behavior is not necessary and will not be tolerated. Timing is very important here as you want your correction to be correcting the right behavior - the aggression, not the fear. And you MUST be calm always. Your dog is a mirror of you, especially in a situation where your dog is looking to you to determine how to react to the situation at hand. If you tense up, pull the leash tight, start playing devastating scenarios in your head - so will your dog and he will bite. This is where a behavior professional becomes indispensable. You need help to become confident, as it is rarely accomplished alone - simply by deciding that you will be confident from now on.

The second is to prevent the dog from receiving positive rewards when it gets aggressive. Holding and stroking your dog only reinforces his aggressive response. In a dog's world, that which is rewarded is something good to do. If you reward aggression, you get more aggression. If you are the alpha, then you must control how the dog reacts to strangers or other dogs. All forms of aggression are met with a correction. The fear is still there in the dog but it knows that this coping mechanism is unacceptable. Giving the dog another coping mechanism is often very helpful in resolving the tension. Again, you need to determine the best coping mechanism with the assistance of a professional.

Helping a fear-aggressive dog:

* Use positive reinforcement to train the dog. Reward appropriate behavior with treats, praise and petting. Earn and build the dog's trust.

* Don't punish a dog for bad behavior. Instead, use humane, properly executed corrections.

* Don't reward a dog for aggressive behavior (this includes cooing, cuddling and petting in an attempt to soothe).

* Avoid reinforcing dog's fear with your own anxiety,corrections should be delivered in a calm assertive manner. No yelling, screaming, lunging, chasing, just a quick "touch" or leash "jerk".

* Remember: fearful dogs don't like surprises. Establish rules and order to help the dog adjust, and make sure everyone in the house follows the rules.

* As with any aggression, the person needs to become leader of the pack.