This week we are gong to explore a challenge many owners face, often for very different reasons: aggression and irritability. Most dogs demonstrate reactive behavior at some point in their lives, and like any other symptom, it can have many underlying causes.

Before we dive in, please know this, if your dog shows aggression or irritability, they are not a bad dog, and you are not a bad owner. This is communication. Our goal is to understand that communication so you can better advocate for your dog.

When we look at aggression or irritability through the lens of communication, your dog is using the tools they have to get what they need. If they repeatedly demonstrate a behavior, let’s use growling as an example, it’s likely because it has worked for them in the past.

A growl often makes people uncomfortable and has traditionally been punished, but I would encourage you not to punish or reprimand your dog for this. While we don’t want a dog to feel the need to growl, our goal is not suppression. The goals is for your dog to be comfortable, confidant, and have their needs respected.

When we suppress agitated behavior without addressing the cause, we increase the risk of escalation.

Imagine a middle-aged do who has lived in a quiet adult home, is well-exercised and has always done well with people. Now place that dog at a busy family gathering with young children, loud noise, rough petting, being cornered, and unpredictable interactions.

This can quickly become overwhelming. The dog may growl to ask for space, especially if their subtle cues or attempts to retreat have not worked. If that goal is punished and the dog remains in the situation, they may escalate to snapping or lunging the next time they feel the same pressure.

This isn’t a “bad” dog, this is a dog doing its best to cope.

Now consider a different response. At the first growl, the dog is calmly removed to a quiet space and given something comforting (many dogs find great relief in a familiar kennel or retreat area).

This is also an opportunity to educate others about how to “listen” to the dog’s signals.

The goal is simple:

In the future, that dog is more likely to use earlier, safer communication, like growling, because it worked.

In an ideal world, we would prevent situations that push dogs to this point. But life isn’t always predictable or controllable. If the dog has a history of struggling in a situation, settling them before known stressors is ideal, but not always possible.

For many dogs, the ability to de-escalate is a learned skill, and one that can be difficult depending on their past experiences.

When reactive behaviors:

…it is time to seek additional support.

In veterinary and training communities, this is often referred to as reactivity or behavior change.

When reactivity is persistent, a team approach is often most effective: 

In middle-aged to older dogs, irritability, unpredictability, or aggression can be early signs of illness. Pain, whether from injury or chronic conditions, is a very common contributor.

If an underlying medical issue is not well controlled, training efforts have limited results. Many skilled trainers recommend veterinary evaluation before or alongside training. This is a strong sign of an informed approach.