ANSC 415 Aggression in Dogs

Agonistic Behavior

• normal

• competitive interaction between two or more individuals — related to conflict

• it’s a normal behavior pattern but i can cause problems

• most animals have an aggression or bite “threshold”

Non-Affective Aggression

• NO autonomic activation

• ex.- play, maternal, predatory, sex-related, those associated with underlying organic cause

Affective Aggression

• intense, patterned autonomic activation (sympathetic and adrenal response)

• ex.- pain, fear, competitive, protective, learned and redirected

Biological Bases of Aggresion

• Genetics: breed predisposition

• Role of Transmitters: decreased serotonin in brain & increased vasopressin

• Hormal Effects:

  • androgens at time of sexual differentiation (in embryo) may increase potential for aggression

  • Testosterone — territorial, inter-male aggression

  • maternal aggression

Disease Related Aggression

• Neurological Control

  • seizure disorder

  • tumor

• Illness/Pain

  • irritable, sickness behaviors

• Disease

  • hypothyroidism

  • medication

Environmental Bases of Aggression

• Environmental Causes

  • crowding, presence of conspecifics, environmental stressors (hunger)

  • presence of prey species

  • restraint

• Lack of Socialization

  • leads to fear- related

  • impulse control issues

• Learned (Trained)

  • patrol dogs, Schutzhund

Targets of Aggresion

• aggression may be targeted toward many different types of individuals (animals that are aggressive toward one are not necessarily aggressive toward others)

  • con-specifics

  • humans

  • other species

  • prey

Types of Aggression

• Hunt/obtain food (PREDATORY)

• SOCIAL:

  • food/resource guarding

  • facilitate access to breeding

  • minimize future interactions

  • territorial

• Maternal aggression

• Pain-induced

• Fear-induced

• Re-directed (FELINE)

Canine Aggression Continuum of Signs

START

• cut off signals/appeasement signals

• alarm bark/growl

• snap/lunge

• contact bite— grab and let go

• puncture/laceration

• multiple bites/slashing

• tissue loss/amputation of digits

• all out attack/death

END

Early Signs of Stress and Arousal

• yawning

• lip licking

• sweaty paws

• dilated pupils

• urination

• wide-eyed stare

• ears pinned back

• tense, tightly closed jaw

• tucked/low tail

• stiff posture

• many more!

Appeasement Signals/Cutoff Signals

• look aways!

• paw raises

• sniffing

• sneezing

• scratching

• blinking

• shaking off

Feline Aggression Body Language

Threats/Continuum:

• LOW intensity — crouch, hold ears back, growl, flicking tail

• MIDDLE intensity — flattens ears, hisses

• HIGH intensity — arched back, inverted U-tail position, lowered head

Feline Aggression

• predatory aggression/play aggression

• redirected aggression

• petting induced aggression

• learned aggression (conditioned)