Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, discusses dog aggression in the context of fear. She shares ways to reduce a dog’s fear and adjust the resulting aggressive behavior. Fear related aggression frequently appears as a young dog matures, between eight and 18 months. These behaviors get unwittingly reinforced as humans (the most common scary stimulus) back off.
Source: Whole Dog Journal, August 2016. (partial link only)
Miller identifies several techniques to modify fear-related aggression:
- Stress reduction
- Priming
- Counter-conditioning and desensitization (CC&D)
- Treat and retreat
- Constructional aggression treatment (CAT)
- Behavior adjustment training (BAT)
- Medications
INSIGHTS: The article also includes tips to find a qualified professional and a listing of various resources.