Biting is not a sign of aggression. Since all dogs bite, biting is a reality of being a dog, and it comes with having four legs, hunting and killing prey, a dominant sense of smell, and being related to the other canids. Some dogs are aggressive, and those dogs bite as well. This entry is intended to help us determine if the dog in front of us, which is likely to bite, is aggressive, so that we can treat the biting correctly by addressing the underlying causes and preventing the dog from biting in the future.
“Aggressive” Dogs Aren’t Always Aggressive!
In my experience, most dogs labeled as aggressive are not aggressive. They are called that because they bite a lot and can cause harm to people. To determine if a dog is being aggressive when it bites, we must first define aggression. I will use the following definition: Aggression is the habit of making assaults or attacks, or any other offensive action, with the intent of causing damage, harm, and possible destruction.
That means a dog must consistently, without thought or provocation, attempt to attack others, and their actions must be offensive; they must intend, want, or desire to damage, injure, or kill the other to exhibit aggression. An aggressive dog moves forward and is willing to chase if necessary. Aggressive dogs tend to be confident. Their body language and stance convey a sense of high status.
Remember: All Dogs Bite
Most people equate aggression with the dog’s tendency to bite. They think any dog that bites is being aggressive. But all dogs bite, and most dogs are not aggressive. Some dogs bite out of defensiveness. These bites can be hard and can do significant damage. When they do, some people say that the dog displays “Defensive Aggression.” Defensive aggression is an oxymoron like jumbo shrimp. A dog can not be defensive and aggressive at the same time.
Defensive dogs cannot bite offensively because all of their actions are defensive, intended to keep themselves safe. You can avoid a bite from a defensive dog by carefully walking away. I use the term “fear/defensive biter” to describe this type of dog. These dogs are known to bite when a person turns their back, intending to walk away, or when a person passes closely. The tendency to bite in such situations is significantly reduced if the person moves away a few paces before turning around, or by ensuring they give the dog enough space when passing. These dogs will bite the backs of your legs, but they will not chase.
How To Help a Defensive Dog
Helping a defensive dog requires a great relationship with the dog. Defensive dogs may tend to have other issues like high anxiety, shyness, and fear. Dogs become defensive when they don’t feel safe. If the dog is prone to panic, we must have techniques to calm them down. We must increase their sense of security and comfort zone. We must show defensive dogs that things that trigger their defensiveness will not harm them. We must demonstrate that we control who and what enters their space. We must show them we notice when they aren’t comfortable and will take action to help them feel more comfortable. These things take time for the dog to understand and for their emotional habits to change. The good news is that defensive dogs are not as volatile as aggressive dogs, making it easier to keep everyone safe.
To help an aggressive dog become less aggressive and more tolerant, we must do many of the same things we do with defensive dogs. To help them, we must stay safe and keep others safe, which requires strategic planning and a strong relationship built on trust. We must focus on being clear about the behavioral boundaries and expectations, and use them to teach the dog manners, which reinforces our status as senior family members. We must demonstrate control over all resources. Aggressive dogs must learn that we will not put them in a position where their aggression is a successful strategy. To work effectively with these dogs, we must be masters of our emotions, projecting confidence without fear, be able to read dog body language, possess strong de-escalation skills, and have the ability to make effective corrections. Aggression can be complicated and very dangerous. Once a dog learns that aggression can be successful, they will never forget. In some cases, the dog will have to be muzzled to take biting off the table and force the dog to learn other ways to negotiate through life.
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