Dog Aggression, Fear, Anxiety and Barking Flashcards
Aggression involves what actions
Growling, baring teeth, snapping, biting (contact)
When is aggression exhibited
During play or aroused states
Can you cure aggression
No, but you can manage it
70% of canine problem behaviour deal with the problem of_______
Aggression
Males comprise how many of aggression cases, what kind of aggression do males typically display?
80%
Dominance or territorial aggression
Most common multiple diagnosis aggression (2 forms combined)
Dominance and fear related aggression
When a dog is in conflict with regards to which aggression to display
Conflict aggression
What are the six types of aggression towards people
Dominance-related
Aggression towards children
Fear-related
Pain-related
Territorial
Abnormal or idiopathic aggression
How do dogs learn aggression? How do they unlearn?
Negative reinforcement
Can also use operant conditioning, desensitization and counter-conditioning to unlearn
What is the most common type of aggression
Dominance related aggression
Causes of dominance-related aggression? (people)
Natural tendencies to attempt dominance
Breed/sex predisposition
Inconsistencies when owner interacts with dog
Owner inability to control dog
How do you prevent dominance related aggression (people)
Avoid triggers
Positively reinforce obeying of commands
If one family member has trouble, everyone else ignores dog, that person issues commands/rewards (only source of affection/food)
Castration (?)
Desensitization
Causes of aggression towards young children
Baby = negative :
Dog dislikes baby because it takes attention
Owner punishes dog for unfriendly behaviour toward baby
Absent baby = positive :
Owner gives affection/treats when baby is absent
How do you resolve aggression towards children
Withhold affection for dog when baby absent (absent baby = neutral)
Give affection/treats in baby’s presence (baby = +)
Social punishment if growls at baby
If you are a dog owner expecting a baby, how can you prepare for the baby’s arrival?
Praise dog in presence of life-sized doll (pre-conditioning)
Why might fearful dogs become aggressive?
In response to a threat (fight/flight)
A means of coping (drive away person)
What are some fearful behaviours?
Hide/run away
Low posture
Tremble
Ears back
Licking muzzle
Tucked tail
Bark while backing away
Who is fear aggression directed towards
Specific people or types of people (men)
How does fear-related aggression escalate to biting?
Dog will growl to drive person away, if it is not working it may snap then bite
What are the causes of fear-related aggression (people)
Fear of people who they have not been socialized to (Ollie = kids)
Mistreatment by type of person
Reinforcement when person leaves
How do we resolve fear aggression (towards people)
Social punishment for aggression
Desensitize/counter-condition to subgroup
Avoid spontaneous approaches by subgroup
Avoid physical correction