Fear-Related Aggression

Fear-related aggression can be directed at any human if the dog feels threatened by the person. A fear response can be based on real threat or perceived threat. This means fear-related aggression may be based on actual events which elicited a true fear response or on a situation which is perceived by the dog as a fearful situation and also elicits a true fear response. In cases of perceived fear, the lack of habituation and socialization during puppies critical period of socialization is the main reason for this form of aggression.  Certain biological brain reward systems start to regulate an individuals fear reaction; these systems begin to develop within weeks 5-7 of puppies early development. It is essential to properly socialize puppies from an early age.

Puppy Socialization classes are available from WellBehave.

Fearful dogs may bite if they encounter unfamiliar persons (such as age, gender, size or ethnicity) or persons who engage in behaviours that induce fear, for example unpredictable movements of children, drunks, people who use walking aids.  Fearful dogs engage in typical behaviours such as lowered body posture and tail position, rotated ear position and retracted lips (fearful grin). See below.

Fear aggression is diagnosed when aggression is shown in combination with fearful behaviour, avoidance or defensive aggression.  Fear is usually an underlying cause for many forms of aggression and it is essential that differentials such as territorial aggression, pain-induced and learned aggressionare ruled out.Medical differentials must also be considered, therefore it is advised you seek advice from a Clinical Animal Behaviourist at WellBehave.