Why is Your Dog Aggressive?

Understanding what’s causing your dog’s aggression is a great way to start to deal with it.

It’s scary to have an aggressive dog, even if their aggression is never directed at you. However, aggression doesn’t mean that your dog is somehow bad. Their aggression could be motivated by many different things, and when you can pinpoint why exactly your dog is behaving in an aggressive manor, you will be able to come up with a plan to deal with that aggression. That’s why our dog training experts in Madison have come up with the following list of common causes of aggression in dogs:

#1. Health Issues

If your otherwise friendly dog has suddenly started to snap, growl or bite, then there may be a health reason for the sudden change in behavior. There are a variety of illnesses that could cause your dog to become aggressive, including thyroid disease, a brain tumor and rabies. Any time your dog’s behavior changes suddenly, you should consult your veterinarian before doing anything else.

#2. Dominance

Some dogs will behave aggressively to demonstrate their dominance. This type of aggression is your dog’s way of showing you that they are in charge, and it will often be displayed when they feel like their dominance is being contested.

As we stated earlier, dog aggression could be triggered by many things, and it’s important to pinpoint exactly what is causing your dog to behave aggressively. Would you like to learn about more common causes of aggression in dogs? If so, please stay tuned for our next blog.

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