Dog aggression has become a much debated topic in the canine behaviour world.
Dogs are often getting a bad rep for so-called aggressive behaviour. It can cause problems between dog owners and their respective dogs, and often people just don’t know what to do or how to interpret it.
‘Undesired’ canine behaviours can have many underlying roots which humans don’t truly understand. But one possible explanation for ‘aggressive’ behaviour has its origins in dogs’ ancestry and is very instinctual. Once humans understand what is happening, it can be resolved.
Dogs’ wild ancestry
Dogs are descended from wolf populations and over time were domesticated by humans. It’s unclear when, how, where and why this domestication happened. But over time, humans did start to use artificial selection to breed dogs.
The bottom line is that modern day canines share the genetic makeup of wolves. They were once free and acted on their instincts prior to the subsequent shared evolution with humans.
Photo by Robert Larsson on Unsplash
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Domestication
No, we don’t know the exact details of how domestication came about, although there are several theories. These relate to wolves scavenging from humans and humans eventually using and breeding wolves for practical purposes.
Later, humans took a far more conscious role in dog breeding, eventually adopting dogs as pets, for companionship. Of course there are still feral and free roaming dogs around the globe, and of course many dogs are still working dogs – herding, guarding and hunting. Dogs are still evolving and co-evolving with us.
Confinement and tethering
The domestication of dogs has led to their confinement and tethering. Before dogs became domestic pets they were free to roam, and many dogs around the world still go free. And there is often a marked difference in their behaviour. Marco Adda’s study of free-ranging dogs in Bali, Indonesia concluded that adoption into Western-style households negatively impacted the behaviour of the dogs there. “Free-ranging Bali dogs were rated as less active, less excitable, less aggressive towards animals, and less inclined to chase animals or humans than Bali dogs living as human companions.”
On the podcast The Bitey End of the Dog Dr Marc Bekoff explains that aggression can often come from fear, because dogs are essentially trapped (on a leash or confined) and don’t have control over the situation. Their ancestors, wolves, were adept at avoiding serious conflict so as to survive and pass on their genes. Bekoff suggests this is why appeasements and submission behaviours developed – so that they don’t have to fight.
Human role in dog behaviour
So we have to take responsibility for our dogs’ evolved aggression and how it’s a product of domestication in certain situations. The more conscious and mindful we can be about our role in this as more dog research findings come to light, the more we can reduce conflict and live harmoniously with our canine friends.
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About the author
Vaila Erin is a writer, lover of animals, and a bit of a nomad. For her, life is about stories — observing yourself and others so that you can laugh, cry and entertain each other with its absurdities. Connect with her at vailaerin.com or via LinkedIn.
