Excitement and Aggression
Beth Bradley
I am often called to consult on a particular type of canine aggression—an excited dog
suddenly becomes aggressive and bites. To the people involved, it seems as if the bite
comes “out of the blue.” However, the bite only seems surprising if we assume that
dogs process excitement in the same way that people do. They don’t.
From a human perspective, excitement reflects happiness, anticipation, and fun.
However, for many dogs, and especially dominant dogs, excitement is much closer to
anxiety and agitation than joy. The physiological and mental effects of excitement are
almost identical to those experienced when the dog is under stress.
Physically, excitement causes a dog’s body to decrease production of serotonin (a
hormone vital to impulse control) and increase production of cortisol—also called the
“stress hormone.” All dogs produce some cortisol all the time, as it functions in
regulating energy and glucose levels. However, during a period of excitement, a dog’s
cortisol production spikes, just as it would during a period of negative stress. While
many factors contribute to the potential for aggressive behavior, research indicates that
high levels of cortisol correlate to increased aggression. The concurrent serotonin deficit
impairs impulse control, making aggression even more likely—especially aggression
that occurs without the usual warning signs.
1
Mentally, dogs crave predictability and order. Some dogs become overwhelmed in
situations where the energy and activity seem out of control. A submissive dog may
respond by retreating or by peeing on the floor. A dominant dog, however, responds by
trying to control the situation and all its participants, including you. If things are out of
control, he will try to take control—by force if necessary.
Excitement aggression is particularly dangerous because an excited dog often does not
show any of the usual warning signs such as snarling or stiffening his body before he
bites. And, because excitement looks to us like happy exuberance, we aren’t expecting
1 Belen, Rosado, et al. (2010). Blood concentrations of serotonin, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone in aggressive dogs,Applied Animal
Behaviour Science. 123(3):124-130. DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2010.01.009
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aggression and may miss any subtle clues the dog does give that aggression is coming.
To be safe, take steps to prevent being taken off guard by excitement aggression.
• Don’t purposely encourage excitement in your dog.
• Avoid including your dog in situations that could generate too much excitement.
• Be alert for triggers that escalate your dog’s excitement level.
Most importantly, if your dog has shown any signs of aggression, consult a professional
trainer. A trainer can teach you how to correct and control your dog safely, thereby
minimizing the chances of injury to you or anyone else.
Greeting Calmly
One of the most common scenarios in which people build up excitement is when they
are greeting their dog or introducing someone to their dog. When we raise the
excitement level around a greeting it says to the dog “This is HUGE! This is UNIQUE!
Who KNOWS what will happen next?” Some dogs just can’t handle the excitement.
They are confused about why we are making such a fuss over a simple greeting—an
event dogs usually handle with a cursory butt-sniffing. A dominant dog will often snap
or bite in a misguided—and aggressive—attempt to stop the madness.
Other dogs may initially respond with jumping or mouthing. While these behaviors are
not overtly aggressive, they should be discouraged because they can cause accidental
injury. In addition, these behaviors increase the excitement level all around, initiating the
systemic changes that can escalate to the point of aggression.
When dealing with a puppy or an adult dog, it is extremely important not to build up the
excitement level when greeting.
• Stay calm and use a normal tone of voice.
• Allow the dog to smell you and calmly gather some information before you reach
toward him with your hand.
• Do not bend directly over the dog’s head. A fearful or aggressive dog will feel
threatened or challenged, and even a non-aggressive dog can give you a
concussive head shot if he jumps up while you are bending down.
• Pet him calmly and soothingly.
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• Do not make a big deal over the fact that you have just walked in the door. You
want your dog to view your comings and goings as a matter of routine.
Dogs Are Not People
An illustration of the difference between the canine and human experience of
excitement is the arrival of guests. To us, it’s exciting because we anticipate an evening
of fun. However, from a dog’s perspective, a lot of stressful things are happening.
People’s voices get louder, “outsiders” are “inside” their territory, and there is a lot of
physical contact and activity. From your dog’s point of view, no one seems to be in
charge. In the midst of all this chaos, his stress hormones are through the roof and his
impulse control is tenuous. Why are we surprised when this excitement causes the dog
to snap?
Playing Appropriately
Another instance in which too much excitement can build up is during playtime.
Playtime should not be a free for all. Just as games have rules, your playtime with your
dog should have parameters that your dog understands and respects.
• Do not allow your dog to jump on you, mouth your arm, or nip you during play.
• Don’t let your dog get so rambunctious that he is unable to rein himself in when
you give a command.
• Have a clear command that signals the end of any game.
• Avoid games that put your dog in competition with you, such as tug-of-war. The
hormonal shifts caused by the excitement of the game, combined with your dog’s
predisposition for control, can transform a playful struggle for dominance into a
real struggle, which your dog may attempt to win with his teeth.
• Dominant dogs that become too excited do not belong in dog parks. Being
around other dogs barking and chasing one another will almost certainly trigger
the aggressive urge to control the situation. In fact, I am not a fan of dog parks
for any dogs. You have no way of knowing how well other people can control
their dogs or what the temperament and health of the other dogs is.
Being One Step Ahead of Your Canine Partner
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The good news is, you can stay one step ahead of your canine partner. Because you
know what precipitates the excitement, you can avoid contributing to it. Also, you can
be prepared with a game plan to short-circuit any out of control behavior.
Don’t ask questions. Why do we ask our dogs if they want to go out? Canines
don’t debate or discuss walking. The leader decides when the group will move; the
others follow. It’s that simple. Asking your dog if he wants to go out just gets him
excited and frantic. At the very least, encouraging excitement before the walk
makes it difficult for you to put the collar and leash on your dog. Worse yet, if your
dog has a tendency for excitement aggression, you are creating the perfect
circumstances for a bite. Keep your dog calm before a walk by being a calm leader.
When it is time for a walk, call your dog to you; put on his collar and leash; tell him
to heel; and walk out the door.
Similarly, asking your dog “Do you want a cookie?” or “Are you hungry?” does not
give him an enjoyable sense of anticipation, but rather a sense of excited
frustration. His frantic body language is saying, “Of course I want it! Why are you
still talking? GIVE ME THE TREAT NOW!!!” As his excitement grows, so do his
frustration and his need to control the situation. Stress rises and impulse control
goes out the window. Suddenly, using his teeth to hurry you along seems like a
good idea to him. Don’t ask your dog if he wants something before giving it to him.
The only thing that should precede giving your dog a treat or his food is obedience.
Replace excitement with obedience. To be fair, even when people don’t verbally
communicate what’s coming up, their dogs often sense it and become excited. Your
dog may sometimes seem “pyscho,” but he probably isn’t psychic. More likely, he
has learned to recognize the routine that signals you will be taking him for a walk or
feeding him. Make obedience part of that routine. Before your dog can pick up any
signals, make sure he is wearing his training collar and leash. Then, before you put
on your coat for a walk or pick up the bowl to feed your dog, give him a command to
sit or down. If, in his excitement, he disobeys the command or breaks the command
before you release him, correct him. Until your dog learns to respond more calmly to
the cues, you may have to keep his collar and leash on all the time when you are at
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home. Whenever you see your dog start to get excited, give him a command to sit
or down. If he continues his excited behavior, correct him for not complying with
your command. This makes clear to your dog that he is being corrected for
disobedience, not for being excited.
Watch for triggers. Even without your input, there may be some events and
circumstances that trigger excitement in your dog. Your dog may become
overexcited when he sees other people or dogs while you are out walking. Some
dogs are triggered by noisy or fast vehicles passing by. When you are out and
about with your dog, he should walk in heel. Be alert for triggers that will cause
excitement. Before your dog can react, reinforce the heel command and get his
focus on you. If he does not obey, correct him.
Be alert for triggers that set your dog off at home as well. If the mail delivery creates
a frenzy each day, schedule a little training practice to begin just before the mail
carrier’s usual arrival time. If your dog is working with you, he cannot work himself
into an overexcited state.
Don’t expect miracles. It will take time before your dog is able to control his
response reliably. Use praise to reinforce good behavior, but don’t praise so
energetically that you initiate an excited response. The key is to be insistent that
your dog obeys the commands, consistent in correcting disobedience, and
persistent over time.
Accept reality. If your dog has already shown aggression when excited, you cannot
take any chances. You must accept that your dog will always need some limitations
on how, when, and if he can interact with people and other animals. Do not place
your dog in situations that increase his excitement and stress.
• If visitors are coming to your home, crate or kennel your dog in a separate
area, away from the action.
• If you are out in public with your dog and see his excitement level escalating,
remove your dog from the situation calmly, but firmly, with obedience
commands.
• Never allow strangers to pet your dog.
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Your dog will have to be involved in a training program most of his life. This problem
never goes away completely. If you relax your training, your dog will begin to test
you. You and your trainer will determine the type and frequency of training needed
to ensure you stay on top of the situation and recognize setbacks or improvements.
You can’t change temperament. Although effective training can change your
dog’s behavior, it cannot change his temperament. If he has even a slightly
aggressive temperament, then encouraging or allowing excitement increases the
likelihood of a bite. You have no room for error with a dog that bites. Most likely,
your dog will always have to be closely supervised around other people and animals
because to your dog, they are inherently exciting. Unless your trainer advises
otherwise, do not give your dog second chances to interact with others. Every
“second chance” to interact is a “second chance” to injure someone. In addition,
every bite puts your dog in increasing danger of being removed from your home
and/or euthanized because of his aggressive behavior.
Conclusion
Excitement aggression is, unfortunately, a problem that is never completely solved.
However, with proper training and some common sense, it is a problem that can be
effectively and safely managed. By limiting excitement, anticipating triggers, and using
training to modify your dog’s response to exciting stimuli, you can minimize the chances
that your dog will have the impulse or the opportunity to bite.
The consequences of getting the training wrong are significant and sometimes
irreparable. For this reason, you must get some professional training to ensure you do
not make mistakes that exacerbate the problem. A professional trainer can teach you
techniques, recommend a game plan, and help you identify the necessary precautions.
These tools are useless, however, unless you use them. Ultimately, you are responsible
for implementing the techniques, the plan, and the precautions so that you and your dog
can share a calm, happy, and safe life together.
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About Beth Bradley
As one of the top professional trainers and competitors in the United States, Beth is
committed to improving the lives of dogs and people through training. She teaches
group classes and private lessons in basic and advanced obedience, competition dog
training, puppy training, Schutzhund training, personal protection, Canine Good
Citizenship, and therapy dog training.
Beth also trains and places service dogs for children with autism and custom trains
“cross-trained” companion/protection dogs for families and individuals. She consults for
shelters in the tri-state area and for New Jersey law enforcement on cases involving
canine behavior and temperament.
Beth began studying animal behavior and dog training at age twelve. She has worked
and studied under many renowned animal behaviorists and trainers. After graduating
from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice, Beth
worked as a New Jersey State Animal Control Officer. In 1989, she founded her own
company and has made dog training and consulting her full-time career since 1995.
Competing with her dogs, Beth has earned national and international titles,
championships, and honors in both Schutzhund and AKC Obedience. In 2003 and
2009, she represented the United States in the FCI World Trials. In 2015, Beth will
compete as a member of the US team at the WUSV trials in Finland.
Beth is the author of Real World Dog Training, and has produced a number of training
DVDs and videos. In addition, Beth trains and handles dogs for movies and television,
with recent credits including Board Walk Empire, the Batman franchise, Damages, Blue
Bloods, The Good Wife, and The Blacklist.
CONTACT BETH
Phone (201) 247-8472
http://www.dog-trainer.biz/ www.servicedogsandautism.com http://www.crosstrainedk9.com/
Follow Beth on Twitter @BethBradley1968