Aggression

Some dogs are aggressive towards strangers, even when owners welcome the people as guests. This reaction is often especially strong in dogs whose owners receive few visitors.

Small children are a fairly common trigger for aggression in dogs who haven't been raised around them. Their high-pitched voices and jerky movements are startlingly similar to those of prey animals, so it's not surprising that dogs sometimes react by chasing or nipping children. Young children's faces are at the same level as most dogs', increasing the danger of serious bites to the head.

With positive training methods many dogs can be retrained to be more relaxed and polite around strangers or children, but it takes skill and experience owners often don't possess. If your dog is nervous and unfriendly around people, it may be prudent to enlist help from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist.

If your dog is behaving in any of the following ways, have your veterinarian examine him to detect health problems that might be making him irritable or self-protective:

~ Snapping at people, especially children

~ Stiffening and growling or snapping when approached or handled

~ Biting in defense of food, bed, or other resources

~ Attacking other dogs

If there are no apparent medical cause for your dog's aggression, ask your veterinarian to recommend an experienced trainer or behaviorist who can help you solve the problem.