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

Aggression is the most serious and dangerous behavior problem that dog owners may need to face. Since there are many different types of aggression, making a diagnosis, determining the prognosis (the chances of safe and effective correction), and developing an appropriate treatment plan are usually best handled with the help of a veterinary or applied animal behaviorist.

When household dogs fight, it can be physically dangerous and emotionally disturbing. An accurate assessment is critical to learn the motivation for the aggressive behavior. Often, a treatment strategy that includes behavior modification, management, and medication can create a positive outcome by improving predictability and safety. In some serious cases, permanent separation or rehoming should be considered.

When household dogs fight, it can be physically dangerous and emotionally disturbing. An accurate behavioral assessment is critical to learn the motivation for aggressive behavior. Both dogs should be screened for medical and behavioral illnesses that may be causing or contributing to aggressive behavior.

If your dog has threatened or displayed any signs of aggression, the problem is likely to continue until appropriate steps can be taken to identify the cause and modify the pet’s behavior. A necessary first step is prevention and avoidance of further incidents. Not only is this essential to ensure safety, but each aggressive display may actually serve to increase the chances that the aggressive behavior will continue.