Aggressive Dogs

Remember that dogs do not bite for fun. There is always a reason, although the reason may unfortunately not be clear to us! We must look out for warning signs and deal with them quickly, because once a dog learns to be aggressive, that aggression is not going to go away of its own accord.

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions, your dog has the potential to become aggressive:

Does your dog

growl at you, other people, or other dogs?
snarl at you or other people?
snap or snarl when you try to take something away from him (a toy, blanket, or food)?
shrink away or cringe when approached?
stare at you with glassy eyes?

Get help! Ask your vet what to do about signs of aggression.

Does breed matter?

Some breeds are well known to be more aggressive than others, having been bred over the years to encourage this aggression.

Is aggression inherited?

Aggression can certainly be inherited. While a particular dog breed may generally be mild mannered, an unusually aggressive parent can pass its aggression along to its puppy. This is definitely something to watch out for when you are buying a puppy!