The Real & NOT So Fun Stuff…
Though Wonder Dog does not train “aggressive” dogs, friendly dogs can sometimes show behaviors that are considered leaning towards the aggressive side. Some of those behaviors are most likely linked to something deeper like a protective nature, discomfort, illness, insecurity, or anxiety. Luckily, dogs rarely bite without giving some type of warning sign so it’s just a matter of reading dogs and setting them up for success.
Our Dog Pros are always vigilant at the Wonder Dog Games and Events to ensure the safety of every person and dog. However, as much as we would love to have eyes and ears on all dogs, we need a team of people who are not only helping us have fun with these pups but also help us watch for these warning signs to avoid undesirable moments.
Reality is that some dogs warm up quickly, and some dogs don’t. Either way, we want to make sure all our volunteers have all the information available to train their eyes to watch for the warning signs. If you ever see anything brewing, the first best thing to do is to tell the dog handlers to separate their dogs immediately. All dogs are on-leash and on prong collars so we can use those tools to ensure everyone's safety. Below is a list of the most common signs that a dog may be uncomfortable and might be getting ready to nip or bite:
Freezing- sudden stillness & rigidness of the body
Whale eye- when you can see the whites of the eyes (usually paired with freezing)
Barking- usually loud and paired with lunging
Low growling- usually heard from dogs who are protecting something or someone and can be paired with stillness (freezing)
Showing teeth- usually paired with freezing and whale eyes
Snarl- a combination of growling and showing teeth
Lunging- a sudden movement forward and toward a stressor, usually paired with barking
Mouthing- dogs attempt to move or control the person or dog, without applying enough pressure to puncture
Muzzle punch- when dogs jump to punch the person with their nose
Snap- very quick bite
We hope none of these ever happen of course, but in the case that a dog may be uncomfortable in their situation, it is important to know the types of aggression to hopefully avoid them.
Territorial Aggression tends to happen in home settings where the dog feels that their space is being invaded.
Protective Aggression is usually shown when a dog believes one of their family members or friends is in danger.
Resource Guarding is one of the more common types of aggressive behaviors. Dogs view everything in their environment as a resource. Some of the most common things for dogs to guard are toys, water bowls, or food. This is because, to them, their next meal is not promised. For example, dogs cannot get in a car and go to a drive-thru and secure their next meal so in their eyes, the food they have in front of them might be the last. Same thing goes for water, toys, etc.
Fear Aggression centers around moments the dog feels threatened, cornered, or trapped.
Defensive Aggression is a by-product of fear aggression where the dog feels they’re only way out is to defend themselves.
Social Aggression is seen in dogs who feel like they run the show or rule over a kingdom or person.
Frustration-Elicited Aggression is usually seen in dogs who are excited or aroused but also being held back from approaching it. This tends to build up aggression just from the pure fact that they are being held back from something exciting.
Redirected Aggression occurs when a dog displays aggression toward a person or animal, and someone else interferes so they shift focus on the person or dog who interfered who was not the intended target.
Pain-Elicited Aggression is behaviors that are linked to the dog's physical or emotional pain.
Sex-Related Aggression occurs when intact male dogs will still vie for the attention of females in heat, and females will still compete for access to a male.
Predatory Aggression is seen as classic canine predatory behaviors, including chasing and grabbing fast-moving things.
So, what does this all mean?.. Here are some Do’s and Dont’s for our Wonder Dog Volunteers!
Do’s
Ask dog handlers to separate the dogs immediately
Call a Dog Pro over & explain what is happening (even if it’s just a suspicion)
Move dog & handler to the other side of the playing field or to the other team if there are 2 dogs not getting along
If a dog is very anxious, you can always ask the handler to do 3-5 laps around the playing field to help the dog release some stress
Ask dog handlers who are waiting at the starting/finishing line to make space for the dog who is crossing the finishing line
Dont’s
Do not get in between dogs who are showing signs of aggression
Do not try to seperate dogs if they get into it
Do not try to take anything out of a dogs mouth
Do not run towards a dog and their handler to avoid any protectiveness
Do not walk backwards that can lead to stepping/falling on any dogs
As you can imagine, no one wants to hear that their dog is doing certain behaviors that can lead to aggressive behaviors which is why we make it a point that all dogs are there to work through the good and the undesired behaviors and that we are not there to judge, but to help. We love all our Wonder Dogs and believe they all deserve a chance to prove themselves and learn. One of our company values is that “We do this together!” and that extends all the way to our Wonder Dog Games and Events. However, if safety is a concern, any dogs who are showing more complex signs of aggression, the family will be addressed separately to come up with a rehabilitation plan through more lessons or other options.
Now that we’ve gone through the NOT so fun part of dog training, are you ready to work along side us in helping families enjoy life with their best friend, without all the frustrations?!
Go to the next page to find out how to get started!