Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Aggressive Dogs 

Name: Santha
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: Outside U.S.
Country: Australia
Date: Fall 2011
Question:
What type of aggression classification would you give a dog that attacks other dogs with out any signs or provocations?


Replies:
Santha,

In my experiences of breeding and raising several (related) Jack Russell Terriers, I've observed it is a matter of perceived threat. By this I mean either the aggressive dog IS threatened in some way, or the aggressive dog PERCEIVES a threat when one might not actually exist, and the dog lashes out.

I've seen that most of the female dogs I've had did not get along with each other. My explanation for this is that each of them has a relationship of trust and concern with me, and they see another female dogs as a threat to that "relationship". Oddly, all of the female dogs I have had have gotten along ok with each of the males I've had.

Threat to relationship is one possible cause. Threat, or perceived threat, to territory or survival (food) could be another reason for sudden unpredictable aggression. Finally, if a particular dog is punished in some way, the dog may later lash out at one of the other lower-status dogs in an effort to regain its "self esteem".

These opinions come simply from observation, but it includes over 25 individuals and 12 years of observation.

Thanks for using NEWTON! Ric Rupnik

Santha

The following URL presents the following list of aggression categories:

http://books.google.com/books?id=vPStaifkTDIC
&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=aggression+classifications&source
=bl&ots=l1Tuu2JWJe&sig=Yx1jHMVMvsDvHzsLyx3ba5sjEec&hl=en&sa=
X&ei=FuWRT6HlMsn06AHP89ifBA&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=
aggression%20classifications&f=false

This article quotes a page from the book titled: The Power of Positive Dog Training By Pat Miller

The categories are:

Status Relations agression

Fear-related agression

Maternal-related agression

Play aggression

Displaced aggression

Pain aggression

Territorial aggression

Possession aggression

Protection aggression

Barrier aggression

And

Redirected aggression

There are probably several types of aggression at play here.

I believe you are better positioned to pick the types of aggression you are seeing.

Sincere regards, Mike Stewart


Click here to return to the Veterinary Topics Archive

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory