Stranger Danger
Aggression or reactivity toward new people is one of the most common and misunderstood behavior problems.
CAUSES
The most common cause of aggression and fear around new people is a combination of 3 things:
Inadequate early socialization
Genetics
Lack of proper training and rule-setting
When you take a dog that was isolated and not socialized before 16 weeks, combine it with a genetic predisposition to fearfulness or low tolerance of strangers, and then add an overly permissive owner who allows barking, lunging, and growling at people and you have the perfect storm to create a reactive or aggressive dog.
“BUT MY DOG IS ONLY AGGRESSIVE TOWARD CERTAIN PEOPLE!”
This is very common, and there are lots of reasons your dog may be more aggressive or reactive toward certain people than others. People have varying energy levels, physical sizes, volume, body language, and interest in the dog. A calm, small person ignoring your dog will likely trigger less of a response than a large, loud person who immediately tries to pet your dog, or children who move quickly and are loud and unpredictable.
GENETICS
Some breeds are more genetically prone to being less tolerant of strangers. Think of Akitas, German shepherds, Great Danes, mastiffs, rottweilers, etc. For these breeds it is even more imperative to heavily socialize between 3 and 12 weeks to help override their genetic predisposition as well as set and enforce very clear rules.
NOT PROTECTIVE
No, your reactive dog is not protecting you. This is wishful thinking. It’s easier to believe that your growly dog is just “protecting” you from every single person in the world instead of admitting your dog is aggressive and insecure because you haven’t trained properly. Dogs who are actually trained for protection work do not growl and lunge at every person they encounter. They are confident, calm, and composed until given the command to strike - they have to be TAUGHT to protect. They are selectively bred for the confidence and drive to protect and then heavily trained.
REACTIVITY TRAINING
First, an evaluation is needed to determine how far the dog will go. Are they just reactive or will they actually bite? How many times will they bite? I always recommend working with a trainer when dealing with an aggression or reactivity issue. Dogs need to be taught that aggressive behavior won’t be tolerated and also taught how to exist and cope with new people. This should not involve a bunch of treats and distractions, but rather a full evaluation, a lot of play, time off leash, and treating the dog like a normal dog.
IF YOU’RE IN SPOKANE…
And have a reactive dog you want to fix - let’s talk!