Are Australian Shepherds aggressive? (and how to stop aggression) - Bubbly Pet (2023)

FAQs

What is Aussie Rage Syndrome? ›

Also called sudden onset aggression, rage syndrome is a neurological disorder, not a temperament defect or training/socialization problem. Affected dogs go into a kind of seizure that makes them attack anyone or anything that happens to be in the vicinity.

' Clearly signal that you do not approve the behavior, by saying “Owww!” and teach people to stop touching, talking to, or playing with your dog each time they start biting. Shunishment games, “punishment” by taking away attention, uses your dog's desire to be with and touched by you as a way to stop unwanted behavior.

Dogs will give a warning growl in situations involving things like resource guarding, stranger danger, feeling cornered, or feeling stressed. Dogs use these warning growls to communicate to you or another animal to “back off” because they are uncomfortable.

But although it may seem like your dog is biting you aggressively or showing other aggressive behaviors out of the blue, most dogs only exhibit aggressive behavior for one of five basic reasons: Your dog is ill, frightened, possessive, showing dominance, or frustrated.

Dog aggression can be related to fear, prey drive, socialization issues, and guarding territory, among other things. Most aggressive behavior in dogs stems from fear and anxiety, rather than the desire to hurt others. A certified animal behaviorist can help you safely deal with your dog's aggressive behavior.

Stop it or remove your dog from the situation before it escalates. Do not discipline your dog with physical, violent, or aggressive punishments. Opt for positive reinforcement before resorting to the use of aversives. Remember to reward your dog for good behavior.

The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.

To show he loves you. If your dog isn't just hitting you with his nose but actually nuzzling, that's a sign of affection and that he's comfortable with you. Your dog also has scent glands around his face, so nuzzling you is a way to mark you as his territory.

Growls are one very clear signal and something that we can act on to prevent problems. Please don't punish your dog for growling. Instead, say a prayer of thanks that you learned he was uncomfortable before something worse happened.

Are Aussies high anxiety? ›

Your Mini Australian Shepherd might seem like the most anxious dog in the world, but if they become distracted by a lot of affection, a favorite toy, or some tasty rawhide, they aren't dealing with severe anxiety. Many owners provide their somewhat nervous dogs with calming treats to help anxious dogs relax.

The Aussie's desire to cuddle

Dogs in general are known for being happy, cuddly, sweet, and soothing for a human to pet. Some breeds are, by nature, more affectionate than others. While the Aussie will typically reserve cuddling for one person or a group of trusted people, sometimes he won't want to cuddle at all.

Some breeds that have a predisposition for anxiety are: Australian Shepherd. Bernese Mountain Dogs.

It's important to keep in mind that there is no such thing as a cure for aggression. Aggressive behaviors are managed and reduced through proper treatment with a veterinary behavioral professional. It's also essential to understand that aggression is a behavioral problem, not an issue of obedience.

Through his research, Fields outlines the nine primary triggers of the human rage circuit and puts them into the handy mnemonic LIFEMORTS: Life-or-death situation, Insult, Family, Environment, Mate, Order in society, Resources, Tribe and Stopped (being restrained or cornered).

The episodes characteristic of rage syndrome can usually be stopped with anticonvulsant medication, such as phenobarbital. While some dogs only need a single dose, other may need lifelong treatment with periodic blood testing to monitor the results, as well as any side effects.

Certain breeds seem more prone to suffer from rage syndrome, including Cocker and Springer Spaniels (hence the once-common terms – Spaniel rage, Cocker rage, and Springer rage), Bernese Mountain Dogs, St. Bernards, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and Lhasa Apsos.

While male dogs who are neutered do experience an increase in aggressive behaviors right after the procedure, neutering can make them much less aggressive over time. In fact, neutering has bee proven to create a much happier and calmer male dog over time.

The best thing a pet parent can do when their dog has escalated aggressive behavior is to remove the dog from that situation or remove the trigger that the dog found threatening. If you're the reason the dog is directing the aggressive behavior, step out of sight.

As mentioned, Aussies may be prone to protecting their territories. Although territorial dogs may appear bold, there is likely some element of fear aggression at play in dogs who act aggressively when people approach their territory. Affected dogs will bark and growl when people approach their perceived territory.

How do you fix sudden aggression in dogs? ›

The safest and most effective way to treat an aggression problem is to implement behavior modification under the guidance of a qualified professional. Modifying a dog's behavior involves rewarding her for good behavior—so you'll likely be more successful if your dog enjoys praise, treats and toys.

Biting habits of Australian shepherds should be interrupted as soon as you notice them develop, which is generally during late puppyhood, but even an adult Aussie can learn to put energy into more appropriate habits.

For a dog who is acting out of fear or frustration (for example, a dog who is barking and lunging on leash), using the word 'no' to stop the behavior without helping to alleviate their fear or frustration will often lead to an escalation in behavior, such as growling, air snapping, or biting.

While there's little doubt that dogs are capable of feeling primary emotions, which include feelings such as happiness, sadness and fear, there's far less evidence that dogs experience what are called secondary emotions, which include guilt and shame, says Scientific American.

There are multiple reasons that a dog may exhibit aggression toward family members. The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression.

By working on obedience training, you can use basic commands to keep your dog focused on you in situations in which it is uncomfortable. If you are able to control your dog's behavior, it is less likely to bite. In addition, training provides structure for your dog and boosts its confidence.

Level 3: One-four shallow punctures from a single bite and potentially small lacerations from pulling the biting dog or victim body part away. Level 4: One-four deep punctures from a single bite and lacerations or bruising from the dog holding on or shaking.

If you catch your dog or cat engaging in an incorrect behavior, try a loud noise such as clapping your hands or a loud “no”. Remember, reprimands need to occur while the behavior is happening, preferably just as it begins, and never after.

Without enough activity, the Aussie can become high-strung, destructive, or snappy. As a working breed, they've got plenty of energy to burn, and they need your help to do it.

Are Australian Shepherds manipulative? ›

Australian shepherds need lots of exercise and grooming especially when shedding their coat. They will pick up just about anything if not trained not to do so but many breeds are like that. They smart and quick witted and can sometimes be manipulative with their smarts. They love attention and can't get enough love.

Your pup may nip at your heels when you aren't moving fast enough on a walk or you have something they want, such as their food bowl or favorite toy. While you may not mind the occasional nip, your guests probably don't like it, especially if there are children around.

While it may sound obvious, growling at your dog is not likely to improve its aggressive behavioral problems, a new study suggests. Hitting it is probably worse. Researchers say dog owners who kick, hit or otherwise confront aggressive dogs with punitive training methods are doomed to have, well, aggressive pets.

Stop whatever it is you're doing or the person/animal eliciting the growl is doing. If you know that your dog growls right before a bite, then move away and get safe. If you know the growl doesn't mean a bite is imminent, stop what you are doing.

Many dogs simply tolerate patting but don't enjoy it, and many dogs find human touch to be scary or awful. And when something is scary or awful, the polite canine way for a dog to make this clear to the world is by a growl, a snarl, a snap, or an inhibited bite. Yes, you read that right.

At 2-3 years of age, Mini Aussies are considered mentally developed and will be better at regulating their energy levels. In other words, they will start to calm down! That said, Aussies are naturally active dogs and will remain so into old age.

As a high-prey-drive herding breed, Aussies are usually extremely visually sensitive. This is important to remember during the socialization process. Aussies notice things that other breeds don't, and the socialization process should be extremely far-reaching for this reason.

Known as “Velcro Dogs,” Aussies may form an almost fanatical attachment to their family. This can lead to his mistrust of, and misbehavior toward, strangers. It's important to properly socialize your Aussie as a puppy and to keep introducing him to others outside his immediate family.

If your Australian Shepherd barks seemingly incessantly, it is far too easy to dismiss it as your pooch is simply barking to hear his own voice. Your pup might actually be barking as a form of manipulation, in that he knows that the more he barks, the more likely you are to give in and give him what he wants.

Australian Shepherds are known for their high energy level and need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. If you're not able to provide them with plenty of exercises and mental enrichment, they may become bored, destructive, or anxious.

Are Australian Shepherds separation anxiety? ›

Aussies are very sociable dogs. They can feel lonely when they're left alone often and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety. This is when dogs feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety over being apart from their owners.

Are Australian shepherds aggressive? No. These dogs are not naturally aggressive and make excellent family pets in many homes — they're active, loyal, and loving dogs. So if you're looking for a new canine best friend, an Australian shepherd could be one of the best dogs for you and your family.

The behavior associated with Rage Syndrome includes outbursts of aggression that are intense and at times unpredictable. These episodes also tend to be large dramatic responses relative to a seemingly benign situation. Affected dogs often freeze, stare, and may rapidly escalate to biting.

While there is no cure for rage syndrome, the condition can often be managed through a combination of medication, behaviour modification, and environmental changes. Treatment options may include: Medication: Antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications may help to manage aggression in dogs with rage syndrome.

Aggression in dogs can be due to guarding territory, resources, or a family member; fear; frustration; prey drive; or pain. In all of these situations, a dog may be pushed too far and can transition quickly from reactive, fearful, or guarding behaviors to being aggressive.

Aggression directed toward typically another animal, yet occasionally a person, which is motivated by the desire to hunt, capture, kill, and consume species viewed as prey. Predatory aggression is typically silent or absent of vocalizations and the bite is often damaging or uninhibited.

Use counter-conditioning. You may be able to relieve your cat's petting-related aggression by offering a reward for not biting. For example, after each stroke, offer your cat small bits of cooked chicken or other food he really likes.

Straight off the bat you should be correcting your dog's growling and/or snapping with a firm “no” at the onset of the behavior. When he stops growling, reward him with a “good boy”, or in the beginning, a treat if it's handy at the exact moment of training so that he knows what he is being rewarded for.

Training for Aggressive Behavior

Many types of aggression can successfully be treated. However, true behavior change takes commitment and time, typically months or longer. And one must be practicing strict management while implementing a training plan to prevent rehearsal or regression.

Even though it might seem scary at times, it is a behavioral problem that can be solved with proper socialization and training. Underneath that snarling and snapping, your dog might be just a scared, poorly socialized pup. When given a chance, any aggressive or nervous dog can change for the better!

Can dogs grow out of aggression? ›

Will my dog outgrow the aggression? Puppies may go through a biting phase that they will often outgrow. Unfortunately in most cases, true dog aggression often escalates as the dog ages. While it may be natural to make excuses, all dogs are capable of causing serious harm.

The safest and most effective way to treat an aggression problem is to implement behavior modification under the guidance of a qualified professional. Modifying a dog's behavior involves rewarding her for good behavior—so you'll likely be more successful if your dog enjoys praise, treats and toys.

The dog breeds that are more likely to have this problem are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Jack Russell Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and German Shorthaired Pointer.