FEAR & AGGRESSION
Guidance, training, coaching, and support you can trust
While fear is a normal and necessary emotion there is a point at which is can begin to have welfare implications. For fear and aggression cases we first complete a full functional analysis of your dog's behaviour with you. Then we put together a holistic multimodal plan to ethically and humanely improve your dog's behaviour. Learn more about fear and aggression in dogs below and get in touch so we can help!
Click the sign up button below to book an appointment for a private training consultation to get started.
INITIAL CONSULT* (up to 90 min)
Virtual $179 +GST
In-Home $229 +GST
TRAINING SESSION** (60 min)
Virtual $139 +GST
In-Home/Mobile $189 +GST
**Price per hour decreases based on volume purchased. Training Session expiration dates apply. Travel fees are included for all mobile/in-home appointments within range - click here to view policy on FAQ page.
Fear & Aggression in Dogs
Evolutionarily Adaptive
Both fear and aggression play a critical role in a dog's ability to survive. Without it they might find themselves in dangerous situations that could result in injury or even death. Fear keeps curiosity at bay and aggression may help stop a dangerous situation from getting worse - both function to protect the dog.
Nature & Nurture
Domestication has done it's job and increased the tameness of dogs - meaning their natural inclination for fear has been diluted through generations of less fearful dogs breeding with other less fearful dogs. Fear is the default emotion in all animals, including us, but it is essentially on a spectrum spanning low fear to high fear. Genetics contribute a huge part to who a dog is, or is going to be when they grow up, but the story isn't written from day one. Nurture (environmental learning) always works in conjunction with nature (genetics) and that is where our opportunity lies to help them develop confidence with their world via pleasant experiences.
Psychological & Physiological Effects
When a dog's fear response is ignited, it triggers a physical domino effect throughout the brain and body. The part of the brain responsible for conscious thought (aka the thinking part) takes a back seat to the part responsible for processing strong emotions and activating the physical fight-or-flight response. In life there is good stress and bad stress, the former helps us grow confident and resilient, while too much of the later can lead to long term physical and emotional problems. Chronic feelings of stress and fear leads to frequent cortisol spikes which has compromising effects on the immune system creating susceptibility to disease and infection.
Recognition & Understanding
Recognize that behaviour is functional and yes dogs can and do make conscious choices about what behaviour to do when based on historical outcomes. However, just like in people, a dog is not always making a choice to perform certain behaviours when they are experiencing an emotional state of panic and truly believe their life may be in danger (even if we know that it's not). Understanding that a dog is not choosing to behave the way they do when filled with fear or anxiety is key to helping them change their feelings and also their behaviour in the long term.
ASSESS
A private consult is the place to start if you are seeing consistent signs of fear from Fido with or without signs of aggression. The trainer will observe and collection information to design a training program to help you both.
PLAN
Together we’ll come up with a plan that’s best! Our in-depth discussion will allow us to determine goals and the strategies we will use, align expectations, establish the time investment, frequency and most efficient format for training delivery.
IMPLEMENT
Start your program!
Step by step, we will work toward your goals for Fido. We'll troubleshoot any thing that may arise and make adjustments as needed to support you and Fido in your journey.
“When animals express their feelings they pour out like water from a spout. Animals' emotions are raw, unfiltered, and uncontrolled. Their joy is the purest and most contagious of joys and their grief the deepest and most devastating.
Marc Bekoff Ph.D., professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder
