Human aggression, dog aggression sorta question?

I am a canine aggression expert. I just want to make that clear, right off the bat. I trained dogs for 30 years, and specialized in re-training aggressive dogs for at least the past decade. (Meaning, I worked almost exclusively with the most difficult and dangerous dogs imaginable. Nearly every dog I've worked with during that time was facing euthanasia due to its behaviour problems.) In addition, I was a dog bite researcher for nearly a decade, and was a canine legislative consultant for many years. I am an expert in dog bite statistics.

There is no actual difference between the dogs who behave aggressively towards humans and those who behave aggressively towards other animals. ...Just their current targets.

Aggressive behaviours are learned behaviours. It's a difficult concept for many people to get. No puppy is born knowing that its teeth can cause pain, or that the threat of using its teeth to cause pain can manipulate those around it. All aspects of aggressive behaviour are learned. It is quite natural for any creature to want to protect itself (and possibly its family members) from harm, and protect its resources. But they learn how to best accomplish that. Some dogs learn that is best accomplished by way of threatening behaviour. Other dogs learn that non-violent means are more rewarding.

The fact that aggressive behaviours are learned is so difficult for some people to truly grasp, you'll even find those who both espouse the idea that dogs are born knowing what a stranger is, or that menacing barking can frighten this stranger away, while they so eloquently discuss "bite inhibition" and how puppies learn that their teeth can cause pain by the reactions their littermates have to their mouthing during play.

I would write for days on canine aggression and how those behaviours are learned. I could even detail how owners allow and even encourage aggressive behaviours to develop. In short, if you poke a newborn puppy, all it does it recoil. More to the point, my own dogs don't behave aggressively (my recently deceased 11-year-old Great Dane, for example, never growled a day in her life, much less behaved in any way that could be described as "aggressive"), plus I specialize in correcting aggressive behaviours in dogs - both dogs that are aggressive towards people and/or other animals. The fact that I can correct these behaviours via the same techniques that should have been used to raise the dog from the time it was a puppy, speaks to the learned nature of aggressive behaviours. I often say that aggression can be learned, un-learned, or never acquired in the first place.

I don't view aggression as bad. Rather, unwarranted aggression is unacceptable in human society (especially in my home). Any threatening behaviour by a dog will not be rewarded by me, and will be redirected into a more positive and rewardable behaviour.

The escalation of aggressive behaviours is quite predictable (and, therefore, preventable). Stiffened body posture or staring will likely move on to raised lips, growling, menacing barking, lungeing, attempted bites, and finally successful bites. As I've said for years, "A successful, unprovoked bite is never the first sign of aggression in dogs. It's the last." At any point along the path of escalation, owners are free to recognize the developing problem and halt it. So many allow aggressive behaviours to continue, either believing they're "natural" or even expected. But the truth is, dogs don't become aggressive in one day. They have to frequently practice all the steps in-between their first feeling of discomfort with a situation, and the time they successfully bite someone. It doesn't have to happen, though. That is what I did for so many years... ....Correct the aggressive behaviours owners permitted and/or encouraged.

Most telling, though, are the dog bite statistics.

I did years of dog bite reserach. Where a dog has bitten, it always has a history of aggressive behaviours. Where a dog's first bite is reported against a human, it was EXTREMELY common for it to have had a history of aggression towards other animals, usually other dogs.

The thing is, the owners might have prevented so many of those bites, but they believed that a dog's past aggression targets would never change, and that somehow aggression towards other dogs means that humans are safe. They aren't.

Off the top of my head is the case of a little girl killed by the neighbour's dog she was allowed to play with unsupervised. Both the dog's owner and the media claimed the dog had no history of aggression. In fact, that dog was well-known by neighbours to be very aggressive, having attacked many other dogs, including having killed two neighbourhood dogs. The owner believed the little girl would be safe because his dog had only ever behaved aggressively towards other dogs.

Another case off the top of my head was a dog that tore a chunk out of a young teen's leg. The boy was invited to the house and the dog attacked shortly after he entered the kitchen. The owner protested to a reporter that she didn't think something like this would ever happen, because the dog had only ever behaved aggressively towards other dogs in the past.

Another case I remember was where a young boy was killed by the multiple dogs he was caring for, while the owner was away. The owner claimed the dogs were not aggressive. And it is true, like the other cases I've mentioned, there was no official bite report for any of these dogs to prove otherwise. But one or more of these dogs were well-known by neighbours to be aggressive.

It appears you have inherited some behaviour issues. The first thing you have to do is gain your dogs trust. FOOD will do this. Good behaviour is rewarded with a small piece of tasty but healthy doggie treat, (dried liver or chicken pieces). Start simple - basic commands - Sit, Stay, Down, Come. Until you and your dog have this sorted out who is the 'pack leader' (boss) you will continue to have behaviour issues. You must always stay calm and use slow nonthreatening movements whilst training, at least 30 minutes a day. No sudden movements and use quite but firm commands - no obedience no treat. Whilst you are having biting problems I would not take the pup to obedience until she has settled. You seem to be on the right track. If she is still biting through training then as suggested use a muzzle. No treats - put her immediately on a chain in her kennel or secure her in her room and ignore. Try again in an hour and repeat until she learns. That's the fun part of being a companion for a dog, learning together mixed with play with obedience and lots of love. Good luck.

I was going to ask this at one point too! Its not a stupid question at all.

I agree with Curtis, dogs know humans and dogs are different, but they don't know how to treat us. We are still part of there pack no matter if we are dog, human or even cat. Dogs still know the difference, but that does not mean they know humans are above them automatically. They soon learn it in my house hold, but that does not mean a softer person who has no idea of training will not let there dog take over without even knowing it.

Does that make since?

WOERDEN: Kindly email me...I would love to read your books! I have always felt that any dog who displays animal aggression has the potential to redirect the behavior towards humans. Not that I witnessed every aggressive animal bite humans, but never trusted this type animal fully.

I would like to see the statistics on bite reports. My own experience with rehabilitating animals was positive. Case in point: One of my beloved GSD's who was an out of control, emaciated, wandering dog, was confirmed to be a cat killer, and aggressive towards people and other dogs. After working on him for months, and then continuing for years, he ended up sleeping with, and protecting "his" cats.

Since there are countless numbers of aggressive dogs, without the possibility of retraining, the only logical answer is to euthanize them. Sad, unfortunate, but true. What is the alternative?

I feel that through scientific research, statistics and training the dog owners, these types of behaviors could be reduced. The unsound, neurologically impaired animals resulting from bad breeding practices could also be eliminated with intelligent breeding guidelines, and redesigning the breed back to the original "model".

Where do we view the statistics on bite reports? And, I wish there were more trainers like Woerden...What can we collectively do to start the process of change? How many centers in this country are devoted to retraining aggressive dogs?

Great Question Emilie....smart young lady...

Wow. Many TDs on answers. Scary. This is not a 'stupid' question, dear. It is a very intelligent question.

So, awaiting my TDs, dogs do NOT see humans as other 'dogs'. Do humans see dogs as other 'humans'? Oh yes. All the time.

I don't think dogs think we're giant dogs...They aren't the brightest but they aren't that simple either.

I think they know we're humans, duh. BUT that doesn't change how they act towards us. Although we're NOT a dog, we're still part of, or the leader of, the pack structure. YOU know your dog isn't a human, but it's still part of the family/household. I'm sure you don't pet your family members the way you do your dog either. Same difference, dogs recognize we're different but part of the team/pack, and they recognize that we're different enough to be treated differently than other dogs.

No- its a good question- because that does get confusing.

Dogs can recognise humans as a different species. I mean- its pretty obvious- we arent as hairy, we smell different, we dont act like dogs, etc.

But- dogs dont know how to act like humans, they cant think like humans, and they generally cant predict human behaviour- so they treat humans as they would treat other dogs in the pack.

They are able to recognise the difference in species- which is where you can get some dogs who are bad with other dogs but fine with people, and vice versa.

Hope this helped.

Because the people who think dogs are humans don't understand dog/human aggression. Haven't you noticed the ones who think all aggression is the same are the ones who either over-indulge their pets, or think dogs are just stupid animals?

I really can tell the difference between human and dog aggression. Especially with the American Pit Bull Terrier. Ever noticed they're so sweet and adorable with children but will often times be dominant with dogs? Yeah, difference.

But that's just my opinion.

Dogs do not see us as different types of dogs. but they live as a pack with us like we are dogs too. Dog aggression and human aggression are completely two different things for that reason.

My dog loves people to death but would seriously hurt another dog if given a chance

We can't be dogs. We are in a totally different species:)