Our ED jme, comments on dog aggression and fear- as seen on ThisDogsLife.co:
" Any dog can bite, from the smallest, fluffiest puppy to the gentlest giant. Dogs bite as a reaction to something, but whatever the reason, when a dog bites, it’s shocking. Yet aggression is also the most common and most serious behavior issue seen in dogs, according to the ASPCA.
While some believe the signs of aggression are obvious, this is not always the case. Some dogs growl and snarls; they bare their teeth and lunge and snap. They announce their aggression with a deep, guttural bark before they bite. Others go directly from calm to their teeth in your skin. Whether a dog gives you warning or just attacks, a dog who bites is aggressive, right?
Not so fast, says Jme Thomas, who specializes in rehabilitating dogs with behavior problems. As executive director of Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, her home has been the last stop for dogs experiencing a variety of behaviors, including aggression. “Much of the aggression we deal with is fear aggression, meaning aggressive behaviors and actions based completely on the fact that the dogs are terrified,” she explains. But even though the reaction is fear based, the result is still aggression. “This is where it all gets difficult to understand, assess and manage — especially in a shelter system.”
For the full article, click here.
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