Canine Aggression Warning Signs
Posted by Hot Dog Collars on 02/24/17 4:53 PM
Do you have a good dog
or a bad dog? That question and its answer are actually misleading as we
should really be looking for abnormal behavior, not "good or bad.” A
responsible owner recognizes this behavior in their dog and works to address
the issue before it escalates into a dangerous situation.
Check out the 11 dog behaviors below to see if your canine is
showing aggression signs.
Neutral Behavior
Licks nose: A calming
signal
, a dog will lick its nose to show comfort and happiness.
Sits and paws owner:
A
signal
of communication
, dogs’ paw at their owners to get their attention, whether
that’s wanting head scratches or reminding you that it’s time for them to eat.
Turns head away from
affection
: Dogs will do this to get a
better understanding
of your intentions.
Nervous Behavior
Walks away when called: This behavior can be classified
under
passive or active disobedience. The dog may not come to you because
it feels vulnerable doing so or does not understand why it must.
Crouched with tail
tucked between legs
: This is a sign of submission, usually when the dog is
feeling vulnerable or anxious.
Ears flattened:
This can be a sign that the dog wants to be friendly or is anxious.
Frightened Behavior
Ears Flattened
Against Head:
If the pup’s ears are flattened against its head, it’s
frightened and may nip or snap.
Stiffens, hackles
rise
: A fight or flight response, when a dog stiffens and its hackles rise,
they’re signaling that they’re ready to physically defend themselves.
Growls: A defense
mechanism, a dog’s growl warns others to
keep away.
Nips and Snaps: Nipping
or snapping, whether at you or other dogs? The dog is signaling to stay away. They’ll
typically first signal in the air to demonstrate that next time they’ll bite.
Bites: Bites are reactionary.
A dog will bites if they’re frightened and believe they need to defend themselves.
They’ll also bite if they’re territorial, trying to protect their food or
favorite toy.