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It used to be called dominance behavior. A dog growls if his owner goes to pick up one of his toys, or steps into space the pet considers his and his alone. But today, animal behaviorists call that kind of deportment conflict aggression, with the understanding the dog is not trying to exert dominance over his human caretaker but, rather, feels inner conflict about who’s the leader in the household. He’s actually anxious and worried that he’s unprotected and feels he must step up to take care of himself. It’s akin to a four-year-old who acts out because he hasn’t had the proper structure, guidance, and limits to feel secure.
Conflict aggression most often exerts itself in the form of resource guarding. A dog will growl, or even snap, if his owner tries to move something he considers his — even if the person just tries to pick up the food bowl to wash it. Often, the condition is not something the current owner generated but comes with a dog adopted in adulthood. He carries baggage from inappropriate socializing during puppyhood, when he may not have been treated respectfully and with consistent expectations about how he is supposed to behave and how others are supposed to behave toward him. Conflict aggression may not be apparent when the pet first comes to live with you because he is feeling meek about his new surroundings. But after a bit, his real temperament will come through.
“Think of the dog as you would someone who has had his wallet stolen, says the Head of the Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic, Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM. “He might always feel anxiety about his belongings even when there’s no actual threat.”
Three steps to solving the problem
Although you might not have instilled conflict aggression in your pet, you can ease him out of it. As you do so, keep in mind that you’re never going to win by acting aggressively yourself. A dog has teeth that are an inch long, with much more pressure than yours as they chomp down. To keep his growling or snapping from turning into puncture wounds, you have to use your brain, not brawn, to get him to come around and make him feel more secure in your care.
Lots of exercise. An adult dog with conflict aggression who does not have an ailment that would limit him physically needs at least as much exercise as other dogs — an hour or more a day. If lots of physical activity doesn’t happen, you’re simply not going to be able to fix the problem. Dogs, just like people, need exercise for their mental as well as their physical health; they are bred to burn energy.
Exercise can come in the form of long walks, romps off leash in places where the dog will not risk getting hurt, such as wooded trails, and, if he enjoys it, even going on a treadmill. But one way or another, the dog has to move his body.
Avoidance of guarded resources. By “avoidance” we don’t mean you should avoid things your dog thinks he owns so as not to get on his bad side. We mean you should avoid setting up situations in which he thinks he needs to exert control. If he growls when you go near his food bowl, feed him in a quiet corner that you don’t often pass by and pick up the bowl when he’s done eating and out of the room. Toys that he guards jealously should be put away (when he is not there to see them removed). If he’s anxious about his bed, keep it away from the action. If he wants to rest on it, he’ll take himself there even if it’s not in his preferred spot.
None of this is punishment. It’s simply a way of putting an end to miscommunications between the two of you. In fact, it’s actually therapeutic for the dog. Each time the owner of a dog with conflict aggression engages in an act that the dog finds provocative, it sensitizes the pet — and worries him — even more. And it keeps up the cycle. After all, the dog does learn that when he growls or snaps or lunges, his owner retreats. You want to shut down that cycle of reinforcement so that room can be made for the dog to learn new strategies.
Clear, consistent communication and leadership. Owning your role as a leader can be difficult for softies who would prefer that their dog just go along, which, perhaps, they themselves are inclined to do. But clear, predictable behavior makes life easier for an anxious dog with conflict aggression, not harder. Your dog has a right to know what to expect and, believe it or not, it gives him the feeling that he has the power to control his environment rather than feel overwhelmed by it.
If you make your dog sit for food, he will know how to get it and who is in charge of the bowl, not to mention the kibble that goes inside it. If he doesn’t sit, put the food away. Not only will he not starve to death; he’ll learn the outcome is in his hands. If he sits, he gets the food. If he doesn’t sit, he doesn’t eat. All of a sudden, the rules become very clear.
Likewise, if you take out a toy that has remained hidden for a while butinstruct your dog to lie down before you release it, he’ll learn how to gain access. And so on. Showing predictable leadership like this both increases his chances of living successfully in your home and strengthens the bond between the two of you.
When Medication is Called For
For the majority of dogs, behavior modification on its own — more physical activity, removing objects the pet feels anxious about, and exhibiting firmness (while remaining fair) — do the trick. The animal calms down and no longer acts aggressively toward his owner. But in some cases, medication might be what’s needed to get the dog over the hump by stabilizing his mood to the point that he can pay better attention to the training.
An SSRI like fluoxetine (Prozac) can take the edge off reactivity and is worth considering if the behavior changes aren’t having enough of an effect — or aren’t having enough of the desired effect fast enough, over the course of several weeks.
