• Licking may be similar to the cotton-mouth in people.
• Ignoring commands. Its not the dog is ignoring you, he's stressed and can not focus
• Pacing back and forth much like an expected father waiting for the birth of their child
• Whining Click here
• Loose stools, diarrhea or vomiting.
• Panting associated with elevated blood pressure.

• Hackles. Probably a premier warning sign the dog is not only stressed but may react aggressive unless the situation is not de-escalated. The first stage is the hackles raised at the dog's withers. The next stage is hackles raised at the dog's withers and top line. The final stage is raised hackles from hips to head. Just like the phrase, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The dog may walk stiff legged in an effort to appear tall and stronger.
• Growling. Is refereed to as Defense Instinct or Guard Drive. It is meant to warn the threat or intruder to back off.
• Urinating on Self. Sign of significant fear, dog is rolled on it's back, tail and tucked, if it urinates it appears to be like an involuntarily action, unlike deliberate marking. Like it scared the piss out of me.
• Dilated pupils. Heighten stress causes the pupils to dilated, the publics will appear very dark.
• Trembling. Not common but I've seen in smaller dogs at the extreme edge of fear. Trembling from fright
• Tucked Tail. If the tail is tucked all the way to the underside of their belly they are REALLY stressed. I once saw a little toy breed so afraid of strangers, it would immediately tucked its tail and run off yelping.

• Hiding. Who wouldn't expect a dog to run and hide like a little scared-cat, but it happens. They pick whatever is closest, handler, vehicle.
• Slip leash. When a dog perceives the chips are down and there is an immediate threat to them, they will do anything to leave the immediate area. If they are onlead, they will trying to tow them in the opposite direction. If that doesn't work they will try to twist out of choker and may try to bite your hand if you try to stop them.

• Avoidance. This is a crisis point. The dog is unable to cope with whatever is causing the conflict. It can be as simple as the umbrella test. The dog will circle the person/object and no amount of coasing will bring them closer. They will hug the wall if inside and ignore commands by the handler.

• Most aggression, unless in the line of duty, is a conflict relating to stress. As with the fear biter, the tucked tail and/or growling is the first stages. If the threat does not diminius and there is no escape route, the dog feels cornered with no alternative but to respond aggressively.

• Travel and staying in unfamiliar places. The dog is out of their comfort zone. The crate can be their 'safe place' but its still not like home. They may have loose stools and their appetite may decrease.
• Competition. A lot of different things happen at competitions. If you have to travel, thats mentioned above. There are a lots of different dogs, if your dogs likes company, they don't get to play. If they are a dominant dog, theres lots of potential aversaries. Competitions are stressful for the handler, the feelings of which the dog will pick up on.
• Illness.
• Injury. Here is where your familiarity in first aid can really make a difference. People who injuried can follow the paramedics commands, dogs have no idea what you are doing, they just know it hurts. This is a time when another handler would be a big help to comfort the dog.
• New Training. People don't like change and dogs don't unless you do make it positive, make it fun.
• New cat or dog in the household. Dogs can adapt to a new dog in the house but cats are a different story. It seems that kittens raised with puppies blend together but adult cats are not too compromising.
• Sirens and whistle. The decibel levels do not effect every dog but some.
• Thunderstorms and Lighting It has been mentioned that besides the noise and sudden flash of light, static electricity may play a part. Dogs who have a phobia to thunderstorms may have a dislike for loud noises.
• Loud or Unusual Noises Can be heredity based or environmentally influence. 4th of July and New Years Eve is not enjoyed by everyone, for some dogs having hearing 3x's as strong as man must be a nightmare.
• Unusual Odors. During our runs, I have seen my dog's hackles raise for no immediate apparent reason, only to see a dog, deer or moose farther down the road.
• Extreme Temperatures. Early warning sign of heat stroke is frantic, stress behavior like pacing, panting, drooling
• Diet. Difficult to measure but if everything else has been ruled out then there is supporting articles that inadequate diet can cause stress, amount other things.

Remember from the dogs' position barking, chewing or jumping are all every natural responses. Some of what is listed here are easily corrected, others take time but others can develop into neurotic behavior. There are two ingredience which assist in a positive resolution, persistence and consistency. You may need professional help. Check more then one source but more importantly do not hope the problem will just go away.

Aggressive behavior in a dog requires immediate corrective action. Do not hestitate to seek professional help the FIRST time you notice it. Aggressive behavior is a liability and a danger to others. When a study was conducted on societies greatest fears, the result was that we feared wild animals more then the family pet. As you can guess, the highest incidents of attack on people every year, worldwide, is by the family dog.

Most of us grew up with the concept that a dog wailing his tail was friendly. Unfortunately that is not always the case as we have seen that both offensive and defensive canine postures involving a wagging tail.

If you spend a decade or more training dogs, at some point, we will encounter a dog which will be interested in challenging your position as 'the boss'. I've owned a dog like this, worked with dogs like these and I wouldn't go looking for one if I had my choice. I did learn that complusion compliance does not always work, aggression often brings back more aggression and you have to be ready for it.

CAUSES OF AGGRESSION

• Food. I almost got my hand bitten off once when I tried to feed two dogs from the same food dish. Bad etiquette. Dogs don't share well with food, toys or females in heat. Always separate dogs during feeding time.
• Territorial. Lots of dogs bark when strangers approach their grounds. This is the first line of defense, similar to the phrases king of their castle. Which is not to say its harmless but locking them up every time someone comes over doesn't solve the problem either.
• Stuff Rolls Down Hill. An we thought these things only happen at the office. I've seen dominant dogs when corrected by the handler, lash out at subordinate dogs.
• Jealousy. When I had two dogs, they would both via for attention and the older male would always knock the younger dog down a notch if he tried to muscle in.
• New Stranger in Town. Discussed above.
• Fear Discussed above.
• Dogs and Kids. Dogs and kids MUST always be supervisor and babies must always be watched.
• Genetics. As we stated earlier, you ALWAYS want to see BOTH parents but we know many times it is not possible to see the male because no one would knowningly bred inferior, shy, timid dogs but you know, it HAPPENS.
• Socialization. Under the section on Puppies we discussed the work of Scott and Fuller and socialization but there is one area I didn't mention. I once knew a gentlemen who each year imported a new dog from Europe. The new arrival would become part of THE PACK that got to live in the house with him. Unfortunately, his house could only accommodate so many dogs; which meant each year another dog had to be moved out into the kennels. One day, the owner offered to show me his other dogs in the kennel. I have never forgotten the experience. The kennels were large wooden enclosures, each connected to the other, which required you to walk through one to get to the other. The second a dog spied me walking in, they went into meltdown. They hugged the wall opposite my position, head down, tail tucked and moved in an apposing direction as I moved. I saw this was in kennel, after kennel.
• Social Status. Some people never quite get the into the mix of where their pets fits into the social structure of their household. Puppies are born into a social setting. Their mother is top dog, what she says goes. When the puppy enters a new household, they expect the same thing living with people. There has to be a top dog, a second in command and then lower rankings for all other members. When a Alpha member is not readily apparent to the dog, they may feel free to take things into their own hands. Kind of like pushing the buttons until they are told otherwise. It's not uncommon to see a small miniature breed in an elderly couples home, who's kids have since left. The dog rules the roost, if someone tries to correct it, it snarls and bares it's teeth. This assertiveness can starts rather innoncently. A little growl when you try to push the dog off the bed. A growl and a little show of teeth when you take the dog's dish. The problem is one day someone is going to be serious and somebody is going to get bite or worse. This isn't a hissy feat and it wouldn't go away. Click here for more information and Click here
• Maternal Aggression. Mothers are protective and they get worried when their kids whine. So its best that just the designated person, the one the dam trust picks up the littermates.
• Rage Syndrome. I have never seen an example of this type of behavior but current research indicates that it often occurs in spaniels. Click here and if the information there relates to your dog, I strongly suggest you contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Animals Aggression Discussed early.
• Defense of Family. It is not often exhibited but it does exist. Parents or couples talk about the protective behavior they have observed in their pet when it comes to a particular family member, children or in situations involving shouting, screaming or violence.

OTHER BEHAVIORAL SITUATIONS

ESCAPE