Dogs Don’t “Suddenly” Become Aggressive Or Reactive
One of the biggest misunderstandings in the dog world is the idea that dogs become aggressive or reactive “out of nowhere.” In reality, most dogs spend a long time trying to communicate with us before they ever feel the need to escalate.
Dogs are constantly speaking to us through body language: A stiff posture, lip licking, turning away, slowing down while eating, whale eye, tension around the face — these are all forms of communication. The problem is that humans often miss or misunderstand these subtle signals.
When dogs feel unheard and unseen, they eventually resort to louder behaviors because those behaviors work.
For example, a dog who feels uncomfortable when unfamiliar dogs approach; while it’s on a walk and on leash; may eventually start barking and lunging to create space. Another example is a dog who has tolerated being handled roughly by their family’s toddler, will eventually snap because it finally learned that stronger communication gets results.
Most unwanted behaviours don’t appear magically. Usually, the dog attempted many smaller forms of communication first, but those signals went unnoticed by it’s humans.
That doesn’t make the behaviours acceptable, but it absolutely explains where it comes from.
Dogs still carry many instinctive behaviors that once had survival value. Even in modern homes, they can feel stress, pressure, fear, and conflict. The issue is that many pet owners were never taught how to recognize canine communication before things escalated.
Understanding your dog’s body language and learning to read your own dog, is one of the most valuable things you can do as a dog owner. When we learn to listen earlier, we develop trust with our dogs; and they often no longer feel the need to explode or melt down.
At K9 Friends, we are committed to helping you to do the above and build that beautiful relationship with your dog.
