A well-behaved dog is often a happier dog, so getting the root of aggressive behavior in dogs is important to you as well as your dog. Most people have seen the signs of aggressive dogs like bared teeth, growling, and biting, yet often people do not understand the reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs.

There are many, many types of aggression. Some of the types of aggressions which are n most commonly seen:

Aggression Due to Dominance

Most dogs are content to let people be in charge. As puppies, they quickly learn to look to us to let them know what we want them to do. Some dogs seem to have a harder time with this. A dominantly aggressive dog will consistently growl, snap, or bite when a person does something, or asks the dog to do something, which the dog does not like. A dominantly aggressive dog has an inappropriate response to normal situations. The dog is trying to control the situation with her reaction, rather than allowing a person to have control.

Fear Aggression

Fear is another one of the reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs. There are some specific signals that a dog is afraid, and those signs need to be taken seriously, because fear is one of the most misunderstood reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs. A dog in a state of fear will usually lash out because it feels cornered. The dog will usually show signs like growling, ears pulled back, and the tail between the legs. When a dog lashes out because it is afraid, the behavior is often mistaken for direct aggression rather than a reaction to the stimulus.

Territorial Aggression

The desire to protect the home or den was probably one of the fundamental reasons why man and dog became such close companions. Aggressive behavior may occur when a dog feels that someone has intruded on its space or is threatening its family.

Aggression related dog behavior problems are ones that should be stopped from the moment a puppy is born. These include biting, jumping, barking uncontrollably and other things that are considered playful for a puppy. This type of puppy playfulness can turn into dog related behavior problems that are not only a danger to your dog, but that could also be a danger to your family and guests that visit you.

When you are working on modifying dog behavior, it is very important to look at your overall relationship with your dog. It is best to do dog obedience training after you and your dog have had a chance to attachment.