Did you know dog aggression is one of the most googled canine problems?

Terms like ‘dog aggression on walks’ and ‘why is my dog aggressive around food’ are all popular search terms.

The truth is, few dogs are truly aggressive by nature. Aggression is usually the result of other factors which have nothing to do with your pooch being innately aggressive.

All animals have 3 natural responses to danger – fight, flight or avoidance. This means they will either resort to attacking, running away or hiding from what they perceive to be a 'danger'. In naturally fearful or anxious dogs, signs of danger will usually trigger flight or avoidance, however, if they cannot remove themselves from the danger, they can lash out aggressively.

This is often seen when a strange dog approaches you on a walk. If you become apprehensive and pull on their leads, your dog may interpret this as a weakness and may try and 'protect you' from the danger by showing aggression.

When a dog's physical and mental needs are not met, it can become frustrated and act aggressively. This is particularly true if they have not received the right level of exercise or if their exercise routine is disturbed.

Ideally, you should be walking your dog before work and when you return. It’s also a good idea to ensure your dog has plenty of mental stimulation while you’re away – like puzzle games and chews.

Dogs who have not been socialised enough can mistakenly see other dogs as a threat. Dogs will also pick up if you are nervous around other dogs (eg. if you become tense or tighten the lead) you will essentially be teaching them to see other dogs as a threat.

Dogs can’t tell us when they’re in pain, so they can lash out and snap at you suddenly if they are touched in an area that causes pain.

If this happens, your first port of call is the Vet for a check who can diagnose any physical issues and provide the right pain relief.