There are several boarding kennels that take aggressive dogs, even though not all of them will accept dogs with aggressiveness issues. We’ve gathered a list of dog boarding facilities for violent dogs from several nations to make your search easier.
What should you do if your dog is aggressive?
The most prevalent and significant behavioral issue in dogs is aggression. It’s also the main reason pet owners consult behaviorists, trainers, and vets for advice.
What Is Aggression?
The term “aggression refers to a wide array of behaviors that occur for a multiplicity of reasons in varied settings. Almost all wild animals are hostile when defending their homes, protecting their young, or defending themselves. People and dogs are two examples of social species that employ hostility and the fear of aggression to maintain the peace and negotiate social interactions.
describing a dog as “Numerous things can be interpreted as aggressive. Aggression is a broad category of actions that frequently starts with warnings and can end in an attack. At any time during an aggressive interaction, dogs may give up. A dog that is aggressive toward people typically demonstrates some of the increasing intensity of the characteristics listed below:
- become incredibly rigid and still
- menacing snarl with a guttural tone
- advancing or charging at the target without making touch
- Mouthing without exerting much pressure, as if to manipulate or control the subject
- Muffler punch (the dog literally punches the person with her nose)
- Growl
- displaying teeth
- Snarl (a combination of growling and showing teeth)
- Snap
- A quick cut without a visible scar
- a quick bite that causes skin torn
- bite firmly enough to leave a bruise
- bite that results in piercing wounds
- Several bites in a row, quickly
- Inhale and exhale
Dogs frequently engage in multiple of the aforementioned actions at once and don’t necessarily do them in that order. Pet owners frequently mistake unexpected outbursts of aggression from their dogs for warning signs before a bite. But it hardly ever happens. Dogs rarely bite without offering some sort of warning beforehand, though the time between a warning and a bite might be as little as a few milliseconds.
Classification of Aggressive Behavior
Examine the circumstances that have disturbed your dog if she has ever been aggressive or if you have reason to believe that she might become hostile. Who received the majority of her hostility? What time and location did it occur? What else was happening at that moment? What had just occurred to your dog or was about to occur? What seems to make her hostility stop? Knowing the answers to these questions might help you understand your dog’s motivations and the situations that lead to her violent attitude. Before you can even hope to help your dog, you must make an accurate diagnosis.
Different categories exist for canine aggressive behavior issues. The function or purpose of the aggressiveness is a useful framework for figuring out why your dog is aggressive. By approaching aggression in this manner, you can ascertain the driving forces behind your dog’s aggressive behavior as well as the benefits she perceives from it.
Regardless of whether the visitor is friendly or hostile, some dogs may attack and bite them.
Wild ancestors of dogs are territorial.
They protect the area where they inhabit from trespassers. Wolves have a strong sense of home. When an outsider coyote or wolf enters their territory, the local wolves will attack and chase them away. The same behaviors can be seen in some canines. When other animals or people enter their territory, they charge and bark at them. This degree of territorial behavior is frequently admired in dogs. Nevertheless, some dogs will charge and bite an intruder, regardless of whether they are a friend or adversary. Territorial hostility can happen at the boundaries of her pet parents’ land or along a boundary that a dog frequently patrols. Other dogs only exhibit territorial aggressiveness when visitors or other animals enter the home. Territorial aggression is equally common in both male and female canines. Territorial behavior in puppies is rare. Territorial behavior often emerges between the ages of one and three, as puppies enter puberty or adulthood.
When they believe that one of their buddies or family members is under danger, dogs may become hostile.
A social species, dogs are. They would cohabitate in small packs of relatives and friends if left to their own devices. When one of the pack members is in danger, the others usually come to his or her aid. Given that the dogs are defending one of their own, this behavior is categorized as protective aggression. When they believe that one of their family members or friends—be they human or animal—is in danger, pet dogs may exhibit the same kind of violent behavior. Dogs can reserve protective hostility for people they see as being particularly vulnerable. When she has a litter of puppies, a dog who has never previously displayed hostility toward strangers may begin acting violently. Similar to this, a dog may first become aggressively protective when her pet parents welcome a human child into the family. While initially pleasant, this behavior becomes problematic when the dog begins to perceive everyone outside the family—including friends and relatives—as a danger to the baby’s safety. Dogs of both sexes are equally vulnerable to protective aggressiveness. Rarely are puppies protective. Similar to territorial behavior, protective aggressiveness typically develops between the ages of one and three, as puppies enter their adolescence or adulthood.
Many dogs exhibit the propensity to protect their belongings against intruders whether it is necessary or not.
Dogs descended from wolves, who had to compete with one another for food, nesting places, and mates in order to survive. Even though the terrible realities that our companion dogs once faced are gone, many still exhibit the propensity to guard their belongings from others, whether they have to or not. Some dogs are solely concerned about getting fed. While someone or another animal approaches these dogs while they are eating or when they are close to their food bowl, they may react violently. Other dogs are protective of their chew toys, chew bones, and other items. Others keep watch over their favorite resting places, crates, or beds (sometimes, these dogs also keep watch over their pet owners’ beds!). Dogs who protect water dishes are less prevalent. A possessive dog is typically simple to see since she only acts aggressively when she has something she wants. However, some dogs will guard their owners’ prized possessions by hiding them throughout the house and keeping them safe from curious humans or animals who are unaware that they are anywhere near a priceless item. Possessive aggression can occur in both male and female dogs, and it can happen to both puppies and adults. Please refer to our page on food guarding for additional in-depth information regarding food-related possessive aggressiveness and how to handle it.
Animals and humans tend to flee from things they are afraid of when they experience fear. The flight response is what we refer to as. However, most animals will switch to a fight reaction if fleeing is not an option. They attempt to protect themselves from the frightening object. So even if a dog is scared of a person or another animal, she may still attack if she feels like it’s her only option. A fearful dog would often assume a fearful stance and withdraw, but if cornered or trapped, she may turn violent. Some dogs will flee when threatened with physical harm yet charge when someone reaches for them. When a person or animal scares them, fearful dogs may flee, but if the person or animal turns to leave, the dogs will approach from behind and nip. This is why it’s a good idea to keep your distance from a dog that is afraid of you. Rapid nips or bites are indicative of fear aggression because a scared dog is driven to bite and then flee. Occasionally, the aggression doesn’t start out with direct threats. A terrified dog might not snarl or flash her teeth to scare the prey away. The dog’s frightened expression and her attempts to flee are the only signs of danger in this kind of circumstance. Fear aggression is equally frequent in male and female dogs, and it can occur in both puppies and adults.
Defensively aggressive dogs make the decision that the best offense is a good defense out of fear.
Defensive aggressiveness is closely related to fear aggression. The dog’s method of operation is the main distinction. Fear still drives defensively aggressive dogs, but instead of trying to flee, they determine that the greatest defense is a strong offense. Dogs who are defensively aggressive have a combination of defensive and attacking body language. They may initially lunge and growl at a human or another dog that terrifies them. The defensively aggressive dog frequently makes the first strike whether the victim moves or freezes. The dog is defensively aggressive, so it won’t usually stop attacking unless the victim runs away. Dogs of both sexes are equally vulnerable to protective aggressiveness. Simply put, dogs need to have some confidence to utilize this protective tactic, and puppies often have less confidence than adults. Therefore, it is slightly more common in adults than in puppies.
A dog that feels superior to other dogs may become aggressive toward family members.
Animals that live in social groupings, such as humans and dogs, usually adhere to particular rules to reduce conflict within the group. Canid species, such as the dog, develop a kind of hierarchical structure that determines who gets first dibs on food, the best resting locations, and mate prospects. Therefore, individuals at the bottom of the totem pole know to wait until the higher-ups have had their share before taking their turn, saving them from having to compete for access to valuable things on a constant basis. Displays of ritualized anger frequently serve to reinforce these regulated relationships. High status individuals employ harsh threats to remind the other members of the group of where they belong. While the interactions between dogs and humans who share a home are undoubtedly more nuanced than this simple depiction suggests, it’s still vital to be aware that a dog who feels superior to other canines may become aggressive toward family members. (This type of conduct is occasionally referred to as dominance or status-seeking aggressiveness.) For this reason, a dog may behave completely trustworthily around one pet parent but act viciously around the other or around the family’s young children. These dogs are frequently referred to as “Jekyll and Hyde” because, for the most part, they are jovial, sociable canines. But these dogs are fast to turn violent if they believe a member of the group has overstepped the mark. Things that a dog sees as frightening or unpleasant frequently cause an aggressive response, such as:
- removing food
- removing a chew bone, toy, or stolen item
- When the dog is asleep, don’t disturb her.
- Moving the dog’s body when it’s resting
- embracing or petting the dog
- reaching out to the dog while stooping
- putting the dog under duress by making it sit down (a down or a belly-up position)
- attempting to pick up or lifting the dog
- preventing the dog from doing something that she wants
- washing, toweling, or cleaning the dog’s face
- stroking the dog’s feet or ears
- nail trimming for the dog
- Leash jerking or pulling, manipulating the dog’s collar, or putting on a harness
- reprimanding the dog verbally
- threatening the dog with a newspaper or a pointed finger
- smacking or attempting to smack the dog
- rushing through a door alongside the dog or running into it
Males exhibit social hostility somewhat more frequently than females do, and purebred dogs exhibit it more frequently than mixed-breed dogs. Puppies can be hostile toward other dogs, especially their own littermates, but they are rarely aggressive toward people. Between the ages of one and three, social hostility in dogs typically begins to manifest.
It’s crucial to understand that behavioral scientists are deeply divided over the complexity of social hostility. Some people think that all social aggression stems from fear and anxiety, while others think it’s driven by rage and a need for power. Make sure you are at ease with the professional’s suggested course of therapy before consulting her. There’s a very good likelihood that your dog won’t get better, and you might get bit in the process, if the professional’s recommendations include methods for teaching your dog respect and fear, such scruff shakes, hanging, and alpha rolls. Punishment may be necessary, but only if it is carefully thought out and used sparingly. Always incorporate the sparing use of punishment into a plan that is built on trust and positive reinforcement.
When a dog is attracted or aroused by something yet restrained from approaching it, the dog may turn hostile.
Dogs can be compared to human children in that they occasionally act aggressively out of frustration. A dog that is attracted or stimulated by something but is prevented from approaching it may turn hostile, especially toward the person or object that is preventing her from approaching. An agitated dog might, for instance, whirl around and bite at her leash or the person carrying her leash or collar. The dog may come to equate restraint with frustration over time, leading her to become aggressive when restrained even when there is nothing to be excited about. This explains why some otherwise amiable dogs turn hostile when placed behind a gate, in a cage or box, in a car, or when being led by a leash. Similar to this, a dog that loves people may yet display startling levels of aggressiveness when her pet parent raises her up to let visitors enter or leave the house. Frustration-induced aggressiveness in dogs occurs in both puppies and adults and is equally likely to occur in male and female canines.
When a dog is provoked by or exhibits aggression toward a person or another animal and someone steps in to stop it, this is known as redirected aggression.
With the exception of the requirement that the dog not be frustrated, redirected aggression is quite similar to frustration-elicited aggression. When a dog is provoked by or exhibits aggression toward a person or another animal and someone steps in to stop it, this is known as redirected aggression. When someone or another animal interferes, the dog turns her aggression away from the thing that started it and toward the offender. Because of this, people who intervene in dog fights frequently end up getting bit. A fighting dog could turn and bite when someone holds or pushes it. The barking of two dogs at someone from behind a fence is another instance. One might occasionally turn around and attack the other. Redirected aggressiveness can occur in both puppies and adults in dogs, and it can happen in both male and female canines.
When hurt, a normally friendly and gentle dog may become violent. Because of this, it’s extremely important to use caution when handling any dog, including your own. Even if you are petting a dog to treat an infection or painful orthopedic issue, they may bite you without warning. The incorrect application of some training tools, such as the pinch (or prong) collar or the shock collar, can cause discomfort to a dog and cause the dog to bite her pet parent. Aggression brought on by pain can happen in both pups and adults, and it can happen in both male and female dogs.
Females will continue to fight for access to males, and intact male canines will continue to battle for the attention of females in heat.
Intact male dogs will still battle for the attention of females in heat and females will still fight for access to a male even if pet dogs rarely have the chance to reproduce. Even when there are no females around, intact male dogs will occasionally challenge and fight with other male dogs. Male roommates who live together can also get into arguments. Because the strongest males are more likely to draw females for mating, this is adaptive in the wild. In a same manner, females sharing a home may compete to see who will have access to a male for breeding. Aggression of this kind is unusual. Males who are still in reproductive health seem to experience it more frequently than intact females. Adult dogs who were neutered or spayed may nevertheless act aggressively in this manner. The canines involved in sex-related aggressiveness are typically between one and three years old.
Some companion dogs engage in traditional canine predatory actions like chasing and snatching at moving objects.
Pet dogs still exhibit certain traditional canine predatory characteristics, such as pursuing and snatching at moving objects. Wolves and coyotes, two huge predators, are closely related to dogs. Many dogs enjoy chasing automobiles, bicyclists, inline skaters, and people who are jogging. They might also pursue livestock, wild animals, and pets. Some dogs will attack and even bite people if they get the prey they’re chasing. Due to the rarity of a warning before to an attack, predatory aggression differs significantly from other types of hostility. Predatory violence might appear out of the blue because a predatory dog won’t growl or bare her teeth to warn her prey first. When predatory behavior is exhibited toward a human newborn, it can be very upsetting. Sometimes a predatory dog will react lightning-quickly to the sound of a baby crying or the motion of moving a baby out of a crib. Fortunately, aggressive companion dogs rarely exhibit predatory behavior toward humans or other dogs.
Family Members, Strangers or Other Animals
Understanding your dog’s behavior requires knowing who she is aggressive toward. Dogs frequently exhibit aggressive behavior toward strangers. According to certain research, 60 to 70 percent of all pet dogs howl ominously at strangers and act hostile towards them. There is also a lot of aggression toward canines that are unfamiliar. Dogs rarely exhibit violence toward household pets or people of the family. Dogs that are aggressive toward kids, especially kids in the household, are the most worrisome. Because of safety issues, it is extremely difficult to address hostility against children, and it is unlikely that a dog with this issue would ever learn to be trustworthy.
Some canines are only hostile to a particular type of person. Only the vet, the groomer, the mailman, people in wheelchairs, and people using canes and walkers might be targets of an aggressive dog. In some circumstances, it is simple to restrict a dog’s contact with those who irritate her. For instance, you can simply groom your short-haired dog at home if she detests going to the groomer. However, in some situations, it is impossible to avoid the target population. It could be challenging to keep your dog away from young children if, for instance, you have a dog who is not fond of kids and live in an apartment complex adjacent to a preschool in a densely populated urban area.
Aggressiveness against humans, aggression toward dogs, and aggression toward other animals are all very distinct behavioral patterns. For instance, just because your dog is aggressive toward other dogs doesn’t make her more or less inclined to be aggressive toward people.
Risk Factors
Because you, as the pet parent, are ultimately accountable for your dog’s conduct, there are a number of things to take into account when determining whether to live with and treat your violent dog. These variables include the degree of risk associated with having your dog around and the possibility that she may behave differently:
- Size. Regardless of other aspects, large dogs are scarier and more destructive than tiny dogs.
- Age. It is thought that younger dogs with aggressiveness issues will respond better to therapy than older canines.
- History in bites. Already-biting dogs provide a known risk and insurance liability.
- Severity. Dogs that flash their fangs, growl, or snap when threatened are more safer to live and work with than dogs that bite. Similar to how dogs that have only caused minor scratches, bruises, or small punctures are less dangerous than canines that have caused significant injuries.
- Predictability. The dogs who attack with little to no warning and who exhibit unpredictable, inconsistent aggression are the ones who are most likely to be put down due to aggression. Dogs that warn their owners before biting offer humans and other animals time to flee and prevent harm. As strange as it may seem, it’s simpler to coexist with a dog who acts aggressively constantly than one who does so occasionally, like when you push him off the bed.
- Targets. How frequently your dog is exposed to the objects that make her aggressive might have an impact on how simple it is to control and correct her behavior. If you live in a rural area with a securely walled yard, controlling a dog that is aggressive toward strangers is pretty simple. If the dog’s owners are childless and have no close friends or family who have kids, it will be easier to control an aggressive dog around kids. For pet parents who despise dog parks and prefer to exercise their dog on remote hiking trails, a dog who is aggressive against unfamiliar dogs presents minimal trouble. On the other hand, it can be difficult and unpleasant to live with a dog that constantly has ear infections and bites family members when they try to give her medication.
- Triggers. Are the situations that cause your dog to act aggressively simple to avoid or nearly impossible? The remedy is simple if your dog only defends her food while she eats: Do not approach her when she is eating. If your dog protects her empty food bowl in the cabinet while you’re cooking because she’s there, that’s a different matter. Your dog poses a much greater threat to other people if she bites any passing strangers than if she just bites people who try to kiss her.
- Simpleness of training your dog. How simple it is to inspire your dog during retraining is the final factor to take into account. Under the supervision of a skilled professional, behavior modification is the most secure and efficient method of treating an aggression issue. Since rewarding positive behavior is a key component of behavior modification, your chances of success are higher if your dog enjoys praise, treats, and toys. It can be particularly difficult to train dogs who aren’t motivated by the typical rewards, and the chances of such a dog improving are slim.
