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We all think we know what punishment looks like when it comes to dogs. Ask most people, and they’ll say, “Oh yeah, that’s stuff like hitting, spanking, shock collars, jerking the leash, or prong collars.” And yes, those are all forms of punishment—but they’re not the whole story.
Aggression in dogs is a complex behavior that normally stems from fear rather than inherent hostility. Understanding the root cause of aggression is crucial for effective management and rehabilitation.
Fear is the primary driver of aggressive behavior in dogs. When a dog perceives a threat—be it a person, another dog, or an unfamiliar object—it may react aggressively to protect itself.
Dealing with the death of a dog is one of the hardest experiences we face in life. At least that’s how it has been for me. If you don’t love dogs, you might not understand. The grief is deep, but a poem titled The Rainbow Bridge has offered comfort for over 65 years to grieving dog owners worldwide.
There’s an unspoken reality in the dog world when it comes to treating dogs with aggression issues toward dogs or even humans. It’s the problem of unqualified dog trainers taking on aggression cases they’re just not equipped to safely and properly handle.
The dog training industry is kind of like the Wild West. In most parts of the world, including the United States, literally anyone can call themselves a “dog trainer” or “behaviorist” without a lick of formal education or experience. One day someone is managing a coffee shop, and the next they’re charging $150 an hour to “fix” aggressive dogs with a shock collar in hand and a YouTube certification.
If your dog suddenly starts staring at "nothing," growling at invisible objects, or acting aggressively out of nowhere, you might wonder, is my dog psychotic? While dogs can display behaviors that seem eerily similar to human psychosis, the truth is more complex—and is often tied to medical or environmental causes. Let’s break down what’s really going on when dogs act "crazy" and what you can do about it.
My daughter brought something to my attention recently that I was completely unaware of. If you have a fairly recent model of Apple’s iPhone (iOS 15 or later), you have an automatic dog breed identification tool! With 350 identified dog breeds in the world, this can be pretty handy.
I show you how to use this feature below.
Almost all dog owners have been there—you call your dog’s name, give a command, and… nothing. Your dog acts like they didn’t even hear you. It’s easy to assume they’re being stubborn and get mad at them, but in reality, dogs don’t ignore their owners out of spite. If your dog regularly “tunes you out,” there’s a reason behind it—and the good news is, you can address it.
First off, let me say this—if your dog has had an aggressive outburst to other dogs or even humans, you’re not alone. Dogs, just like humans, can have moments of fear, frustration, and overexcitement. In dogs, these moments can sometimes cause unexpected aggressive behaviors like growling, barking, and lunging. The good news? There are steps you can take to manage these situations and make your dog feel more secure in those moments.
Dogs are seen as our beloved companions—I know I see mine that way—but when a dog bites someone, the legal implications can be significant. I’ve been involved as an expert witness in many dog bite cases, and from that experience I can tell you that you want to do everything you can to, 1) keep your dog from ever biting someone, and, 2) understand your liability as a dog owner.
There are two things that are absolutely essential when looking for a competent and effective dog trainer or dog behaviorist. I’m going to tell you what those two things are in this article.
Why Choosing the Right Dog Trainer Matters
Exercising caution when selecting someone to help you with your dog’s behavior issues is more important than you may think. Why? Because dog trainers virtually worldwide are required to only have the following in order to train dogs and get paid for it (and even this requirement is optional): business cards.
After working with many thousands of dogs and their owners, here are the top 15 things I’ve learned about dogs and their owners. These are presented in no particular order.
Barking is not the problem; it’s a symptom of an issue.
This is best explained with an example: When dogs bark at people or dogs, they’re usually barking because they want to scare away the scary people or scary dogs (scary to them, that is). The real issue is they are fearful of these things, and the fear/arousal is what needs to be addressed.
About ScottScott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is a dog behavior specialist. Scott specializes in the assessment and treatment of fear, anxiety, aggression and phobias in dogs six months and older. Learn More |
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Dog owners often wonder if their own stress or anxiety might be affecting their dog's mood and behavior. After all, our pets are incredibly perceptive, and many people report that their dogs seem to pick up on their emotions. But just how much of an influence do our feelings have on them, especially when it comes to anxiety?
Read MoreI get a lot of questions about handling aggressive behaviors in dogs, and one thing I hear all the time is, "When I punish my dog for being aggressive, it seems to work—at least for a while. Why does the behavior end up getting worse later on?"
I understand your dilemma. You’ve got a dog that’s snapping, growling, or worse, and you’re frustrated. You just want the behavior to stop. It’s completely natural to want to step in and do something about it, and punishment can seem like a quick fix. In the moment, it might feel like you’ve solved the problem because your dog stops what they’re doing. But here’s the thing—what seems like improvement now can backfire later.
Let me explain why.
Read MoreWilliam looked at me and asked a question that most dog owners probably think about but never seem to ask out loud. He asked, “Scott, you’re the dog expert; what do dogs think about all day?”
To divine the truth in that question, you might think that we need to be able to converse with dogs to discover what’s going on in their canine craniums.
Read MoreAfter working with thousands of clients, I’ve found there are four key dog owner perspectives that can predict the likelihood of success in working with dogs with behavior issues. I see the importance of these four elements of successful treatment in every case I work with. They’re all essential and are reliable predictors of success.
Read MoreDog bites are bad. Period. However, many people don’t realize when dogs aggressively bite humans, they almost never do so at full power.
Read MoreCan dog owners communicate to their dog that they don’t need to be afraid or aggressive toward specific people? I happened to run into one of these dog owners at our Bass Pro visit.
I was sitting on one of those uncomfortable benches in the shoe department trying on a couple pairs of boots when a 45ish kinda scruffy-looking man walked his medium-sized mutt within a couple of feet. The dog had raised hackles and immediately began to pull toward me and bark. You don’t need to be a dog behaviorist to know that this doggie was unhappy being near me. Don’t worry, I’ve learned not to take these things personally.
Read More“Scott, I don’t know what’s wrong with my dog. She’s always nipping and growling at me. She keeps me from getting on my bed, won’t let me get near her when she’s eating, and hates it when I try to pet her. But, for whatever reason, she loves my wife.”
This was what I heard when first talking to Mark (not his real name) on the phone. He sounded very desperate, and I thought I had a good idea of what was going on with his dog, but my premature diagnosis turned out to be very wrong.
Read MoreIf you're struggling with an anxious or aggressive dog, you might find relief in the latest episode of the Grumpy Dogs podcast. In this episode, I delve into the world of behavior medications, specifically anxiolytics, and their potential to transform your dog's behavior. This episode provides a comprehensive look at how these medications work, why they aren't a one-size-fits-all solution, and how they can complement behavior modification techniques to yield improvement in many cases.
Read MoreIs your dog sweet as pie off-leash, but turns into a barking, lunging maniac the moment you clip on the leash? This is a common issue many dog owners face, known as leash reactivity. This episode of the Grumpy Dogs Podcast aims to uncover the mystery behind this frustrating behavior and offer practical tips to manage it.
Read MoreCan dogs truly feel remorse after they bite someone, or is it just our interpretation of their behavior? Uncover the reality behind canine emotions as I address common myths about dogs and their reactions to biting incidents. I'll dive into the instinctual behaviors of dogs, shedding light on how they respond to stress and fear.
Read MoreHow do your properly socialize your fearful or aggressive dog and make them more calm and sociable with other dogs and humans? Find out in this episode of the Grumpy Dogs Podcast with me. We'll explore the critical techniques you need to master for properly socializing dogs with fear and aggression issues.
Read MoreDominance aggression is one of the most misunderstood types of dog aggression. As a result, treatment is frequently counterproductive and continues the cycle of aggression and stress for the family.
In this episode we explore dominance aggression, providing clear explanations and practical examples to help dog owners understand this behavior. We also discuss treatment strategies.
Read MoreNavigating the choppy waters of canine territorial aggression just got smoother. Our latest discussion zeroes in on the strategies needed to manage dogs with a keen sense of trepidation when it comes to visitors coming into their home.
Read MoreUnlock the mystery behind your dog's sudden growls and watchful eyes when guests arrive. Our latest episode offers a deep dive into the realm of territorial aggression in dogs, and why your four-legged friend might be more on edge in the sanctity of your home than in the great outdoors. Explore with us the trifecta of triggers that provoke this protective stance: the craving for security, the shock of unexpected visitors, and the perceived lack of escape routes. We don't just lay out the problem; we arm you with strategies to identify and quell these behaviors before they escalate to dangerous levels.
Read MoreIn this latest podcast episode, an effective strategy for handling dogs that are reactive to dogs and/or humans is explored. This strategy uses dog parks as a key element in this behavior modification technique. The traditional concept of socialization is re-evaluated, with a focus on controlled exposure to triggers from a safe distance, such as outside the dog park fence. This approach avoids direct confrontation in hectic environments, which can worsen a reactive dog's anxiety.
Read MoreEver feel like you're at the end of your leash with your reactive dog during walks? I'm Scott Sheaffer, and in today's Grumpy Dogs podcast, I'm going to share the third step in the process that will change the way you and your pooch experience approaching dogs and/or humans while out on a walk that get your dog revved up.
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Cesar Millan, it’s time to apologize to dogs. For years, you’ve pushed these four myths, and now, science is calling for a reckoning.
If you’ve ever watched The Dog Whisperer, you’ve seen Cesar Millan in action, calmly walking a pack of dogs, correcting bad behavior with a sharp "tsst," and preaching about "dominance" and "being the pack leader." His methods look effective on TV, but here’s the problem: most of what he promotes isn’t backed by modern dog behavior science. In fact, some of it is downright harmful.