| There are many forms of dog aggression. The | | | | snarling, barking, curled lips, lunging and an overall |
| distinguished police dog trainer Ed Frawley of | | | | menacing posture, where the dog is tensed and |
| Leerburg Kennels names 16 forms in his training | | | | ready to snap. (Note: there is also something known |
| guides, accounting for everything from the dog's | | | | as a "submissive smile" exhibited by some dogs, |
| gender, to their possessiveness, territoriality, | | | | whereby the animal actually shows its teeth as it |
| dominance, or fear. The residential dog owner doesn't | | | | approaches. I've seen this behavior confuse many |
| necessarily need to be so academic, but they should | | | | owners, but it can be dismissed as such by the dog's |
| always be able to recognize aggression and deal with | | | | lowering its head as it "smiles," and often wag its tail |
| it appropriately. Aggression is always one step away | | | | too). There are other indications, such as jumping or |
| from a dog bite, which is itself one step away from | | | | mounting, or even standing in your way that are |
| a vet bill and a lawsuit. | | | | much less of a problem and often go ignored when |
| The common signs of aggression are growling, | | | | not accompanied by the other more severe signs. |