Dominance aggression is one of the most common behavioural problems that I come across. It is also the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed problem. This behaviour is actually a ‘complex of behaviours’ which is aimed at control. The dog is trying to control situations by intimidating its owner and this is the key concept behind dominance. There are two different types of dominance aggression and these are 1) where the dog feels like it has total control and has no problem in getting the owners to comply and 2) where the dog tries to gain information about its social environment and the roles of each individual by pushing the boundaries and trying to control.
Dominance aggression has many causes but is thought to be an anxiety related disorder. It is correlated with social maturity (age at onset is 18-24 months old) and therefore also the rise in hormone levels. Testosterone is thought, in males, to exacerbate the problem.
The control complex involves other aggressions too. A dominantly aggressive dog will also be showing any or a combination of the following: food-related aggression, possessive aggression, territorial aggression, protective aggression, re-directed aggression.
It is wrongly believed that all dogs must be submissive and that an owner must dominate his/her dog in order to avoid problems in the future. This theory has started out from the belief that the dog must be dominated as a wolf is in its natural pack. As already mentioned, however, (in the domestication notes) the wolf and the dog do differ in the amount of aggression and visual communication that is displayed between individuals. Dogs rely on deference not overt aggression as hierarchy is no longer as important for the domestic dog’s survival as it is for the wolves.
A very common exercise during puppy classes is that of the a-roll where the owner forces the dog onto it’s back in an attempt to dominate and show the dog who is boss! This is not needed. We mustn’t begin to mimic dog behaviour when we lack the ability to communicate fully with them in their own language. A mother will be aggressive to her pup if she needs to be but she also understands all the signals that the pup is giving her, thereby knowing where to stop. It is the same with the scruff of the neck. Some trainers tell their clients to grab the dog by the scruff of the neck, as the mother would, to scold the pup and tell it who is boss. The mother, though, has sensory receptors in the gums of her teeth to guide her in the amount of pressure to use……….we don’t have such intricate receptors in our hands and so we are more likely to cause damage to the puppy. There is no need to overtly show your dog that you are boss by using physical contact as you most probably will give your animal the wrong message and he may begin to feel threatened. This is where you may get aggressive reactions in an attempt to defend itself rather than dominate. Physical methods may lead to 3 things:
1. the owner getting bitten and usually in the face
2. a very intimidated animal that begins to show fear responses to the owner’s presence
3. rupture in the owner-dog bond
What is important is to put boundaries while the dog is still young and from then on know the signs of dominant aggression. Remember dominance is not the same as dominant aggression. It is perfectly possible to live with a dominant dog as not all dogs are likely to be submissive as this is also a character trait. It is, however, impossible to live with an animal showing dominance aggression as this problem can become extremely dangerous for all involved.
In my experience it mainly arises from the inability of the owner to set boundaries at a young age thereby giving mixed signals to the dog. Dogs that are also ‘spoilt’ or are seen as the babies of the family are also likely to develop this problem. It is true that the a-role is still a very prestigious one for a dog and if given the opportunity it will try to instinctively grab the position. A pack is never left without a leader. If the leader for some reason dies or is denounced there is always another wolf that will take over. So a dog that lacks a leader will also put itself in the position to take charge. This individual is also a very stressed and anxious animal and confused at the same time as it tries to attain the role while communicating inter-specifically in a different language to its own. A dog, therefore, does still need a leader to avoid the build of stress and therefore guaranty it a carefree life, however it does not need an aggressive oppressive leader but rather a respected guider.
Dominance aggression is also thought to be hereditary and therefore also has a genetic base. When two dominant dogs breed, as is often the case when breeding for morphology and not temperament, the offspring are very likely to be much more reactive individuals and hierarchically sensitive. There are also specific breeds that are more likely to develop this problem and these are:
Table 1: The symptoms of dominance aggression
| Problem Behaviour | Symptoms displayed by the dog |
| Dominance aggression: | | Growling, snarling or biting when stroked on head | | Growling, snarling or biting when corrected | | Growling, snarling or biting when eating | | Growling, snarling or biting when playing with toys | | Growling, snarling or biting when owners instigate eye contact | | Growling, snarling or biting when guarding passageways | | Growling, snarling or biting when owner handles feet | | Growling, snarling or biting when pushed on rump | | Growling, snarling or biting when disturbed by owner during sleep | | Growling, snarling or biting when pushed from bed or sofa | | Growling, snarling or biting when punished | | Growling, snarling or biting when mounting | | Growling, snarling or biting when straddling people | | Growling, snarling or biting when leaning on peoples feet and legs | | Pushes people | | Places paws on owners head neck and shoulders | | Talks back by barking | | Stares with dilated pupils and body tenses. Owners usually say that the dog changes and becomes a different animal prior to aggression |
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Any of the above, or a combination of few or many, must immediately show you that this animal is trying to control its owner and environment. If you recognise any of the above then seek professional help immediately.
Marilyn
