Unpacking “aggression.”

"Aggression" is one of the most misunderstood behavioral phenomenons in dogs and one of the most mishandled (even by a number of trainers). It’s also one of the most misinterpreted...

For example:

- assertive or strong energy puppies (often getting interpreted as "aggressive"),

- submissive grinning (a tactic dogs use to diffuse the intensity of a situation, throw up a doggie peace sign, and convey the message, "I got no beef; I humbly respect you"),

- a wagging tail (a wagging tail does NOT mean a "happy" dog! when a dog is escalating and rising in state of mind.. sliding into an aggressive or reactive state, their tail is "wagging"),

- vocal or super mouthy play,

...to name a few.

The first year of any dog's life is a most critical and impressionable one for many, many reasons. Many dogs don't receive what they needed within this first year. They are, by nature, a social species of animal.... as are humans. It's all about relationship, association, exposure, feeling safe and secure- in their own skin/ in their home/ in the world at large, etc. Of course, trauma can do a number on a dog and contribute to their personal filters and "default" settings (this does not have to mean "physical abuse", it can also mean abandonment, neglect, needs not being met and provided for, etc).... and the dog can also be with a person whom they don't feel is "leadership" material. What I mean by this term is, a human they don't feel safe, secure, or comfortable looking to for their cues and guidance. A person who has little to no relevance to the dog. Someone who doesn't represent a source of energy they feel they can "lower their guard" out in the world with. Someone they feel who can handle whatever may come their way, and who also has their back. An energy discrepancy between the dog and human (e.g. a stronger energy dog with a softer energy human) can contribute to this, as well.

Aside from this, what most people see as "aggression" is oftentimes a form of *self-advocacy*, especially in the case of the more sensitive dogs. These dogs tend to slide into a state of overwhelm and extreme discomfort when their personal and intimate space is encroached upon without existing rapport or relationship. Unfortunately for dogs, they're cute, furry, and people want to touch and move in for "pets" (with little to no regard about how the dog feels about this). If and when the dog doesn't have an advocate in their human, they feel the pressure of having to advocate for themselves. Now, on the upside of things, once the dog does this - space is then yielded, and relief and comfort is restored. On the downside of this, people interpret this as "aggression" and dogs get mislabeled, misjudged, and their world either becomes smaller (less accesses, less socialization, less exposure, living more isolated lives) or they lose their homes, get bounced around with that "story" attached to them wherever they go like a bad stain .... or even end up euthanized because of this. It's important to note that dogs will also practice what works; and, since this method works (space almost always given, especially in the case of people)- it can become self-reinforcing and practiced the longer the dog has to advocate for themselves.

As with any given behavior, aggression is multi-layered and could be born of a great number of things:

- health or medical issue / imbalance,

- pain or discomfort,

- self protection and preservation,

- feeling unsafe and unsupported,

- lack of advocacy,

- trauma,

- energy discrepancy and imbalance between dog and human (strong and soft),

- attempt to avoid further conflict or circumstantial escalation,

- fear or anxiety,

- frustration build up (from one or more of their instinctual,

individual, and/or breed-specific needs not being met or

provided for),

- prey drive (every dog will have a different level of this),

- sex drive,

- maternal protection,

...and so on.

Dogs are always in communication with us, and do so via body language, posture, and vocalization. There's also an emotional component feeding behavior that, oftentimes, does not get spoken to and folks don't get educated on.

The problem with dogs is that the great majority of the human population caring for them doesn't understand them. We don't understand them as dogs, and we certainly don't understand how to communicate with them effectively or read and interpret what *they* are saying. The more signals and messaging gets missed, untended to, etc... the faster a dog may go from Point A to Z, skipping all the other signals in between (e.g. "hello... I don't feel so good about this.... um, hey- I'm really uncomfortable here... HEY... I'M REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE HERE...." messaging to "YOU WON'T LISTEN TO ME, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE YOU"). Unless one is blessed with a super soft energy, marshmallow type of dog with the tolerance of an angel and whose personal motto is "love, peace, and chicken grease"...... this can lead to just a big ol' mess (oftentimes the dog bearing the brunt of this).

Aggression can be a form of communication, a manner of expression, reflective of an internal condition, reflective of an internal or external conflict, a response, and/or a reaction, so it behooves us to understand the signs. It can happen in a split second... and can also be the final blow of something that's been building over time. As with any behavior, its treatment is highly dependent upon its cause.