Put Your Pup in his Place

But what if aggressive behavior seems more random or more threatening? What if your dog can play with you all day, yet growls or bites suddenly during playtime or threatens if he is disturbed from his nap?

If the incident occurs during playtime, and no new dogs or people have entered the fray, you may simply have done something to offend your dog's sense of hierarchy. Dogs are very social animals and they come with an innate sense of caste. It's similar to "getting out of line" when talking to a parent, except in this case, you may have used your body language in a way, deemed by your dog, to be inappropriate for your status in the family.

Yep, your dog may think he's the boss, and that is not only inappropriate, it's dangerous. For instance, a dog who considers himself the dominant one or the leader of the "pack," may take offense if you straddle him or try to flip him over onto his back, thereby putting him into a "submissive" position. Some "dominant" dogs may not like to have anything, including your hand, placed over his head. Anything you do that he perceives as a threat to his position of dominance may trigger a growl or even a bite.

You see how this can become a problem. Punishing such behavior may actually make the situation worse, as your dog may not deem you worthy of inflicting punishment, since he considers himself the ruler of the kingdom, and therefore the one who should be doling out punishment. Dealing with a dog with dominance issues may require advice from a qualified professional.

Should the problem persist and grow worse you may have to consider either getting rid of the dog or putting it to sleep. These are drastic measures, especially when it comes to putting a dog down, but don't lose hope. You can always do your best to re-train your dog to see you as the "alpha". It won't be easy. However, with a little time and patience, you can be someone who your dog respects and won't push around.