Why Dogs Are Aggressive About Their Territory

Dogs are territorial and display dog aggression whenever they feel that their personal space is threatened. This type of aggression is an inherent feature as all dogs are extremely protective about their space. Most household pets are better behaved and calm when they are amongst family members or familiar faces. But once they sense a stranger in their space, they become anxious and bark incessantly till the person moves away. Domesticated pets are territorial about their home and this type of aggression is decidedly difficult to handle as they turn very hostile when strangers come near their homes.

Possible reasons for displaying territorial aggression:

If you are wondering why your dog starts barking furiously and straining on his leash when people approach your home, you should understand that he is merely defending his territory. Here are some situations that contribute to dog aggression in pets:

1. Dog aggression is a natural trait further reinforced by small incidents like the postman or delivery boy dropping a letter or parcel at the entrance and then leaving immediately. Your dog thinks he is responsible for driving away the delivery boy, causing more aggression.

2. Suppose you take your pooch with strong territorial tendencies for a ride in the car, he is going to bark furiously at every person passing by the vehicle. This display of aggression is to warn people not to encroach into his space. Obviously nobody would go near the car, encouraging the dog to think that he has successfully protected his space. The dog will then emit a soft growl to indicate that he is satisfied.

3. When your dog is frantically barking on hearing the doorbell ring and you yell to keep him quiet, it is unlikely that he will stop. Dog owners should be aware that their shouting leads to more aggression. The dog misinterprets your yelling as an act of aggression against the stranger at the door and thinks that you are encouraging his aggressive behavior towards the stranger.

4. Another reason why dogs get aggressive is when you have friends or relatives visiting and you lock up your dog. Most dog owners feel that it is a sensible decision to lock up their dogs when there are guests visiting. The dog senses that there are strangers in the house and feels helpless locked up in a room or kennel. This contributes to uneasiness and tension, aggravating dog aggression.