Do I need help for my dog?

Aggressive behavior in dogs occurs on a continuum. It can range from being completely normal and appropriate for the situation to abnormal and inappropriate. A problem can evolve slowly over time or it can seem to appear suddenly and without warning. It may occur with other behavior issues such as anxiety, or it may be influenced by health factors.

When your dog first shows aggression it can be upsetting. Typically people are either quite alarmed, or they downplay the seriousness of it, or they go into denial and just hope that whatever happened was a one-time occurance.

If your dog shows concerning behavior it is a good idea to consult a veterinary behavior as soon as possible. It doesn’t mean that there is a pathological issue. The behavior may be perfectly normal. But most of us aren’t trained to know what is normal and what isn’t. Most of us want to take a wait a see attitude because we just would rather not accept there is a problem. But part of the reason we act like this is because we are unable to recognize if there is a problem.

Whether there is a problem or not, it’s always best to get early intervention. This is because over time behavior can develop into a problem even in perfectly normal dogs depending on what the situation is. If you knew you can manage a situation differently to protect your dog you would.

If there is a problem it tends to get worse. But the earlier you can treat the problem the easier it is to treat. So there is no point in delaying seeking help simply because you are unsure. An aounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure as they say!

A veterinary behaviorist is often the best consultant to start with when it comes to aggressive, iintence or reactive behavior. They may recommend consulting a trainer that you can work with over a period of time as well, but it’s a better step to see a veterinary behavior first who you may only need to see once or twice, and then a trainer if nedded when it come to any kind of aggression or reactivity issue.

There are a number of interventions that can help your dog’s behavior. But first learn more about the signs that suggest your dog’s aggressive behavior may need treatment.