Pet Talk: Bad doggie, sit: Behavior can create problems

He may be your best friend, but when your pet’s behavior leaves you with Band-Aids and bruises, it may be time to consult a professional, says Dr. Lore Haug, an animal behaviorist at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

“If a dog is growling, lunging, snapping or biting, or a cat is hissing, swatting or scratching, even in play, its behavior is aggressive,” Haug explains.

Aggression can be a natural response for your pet, such as when a stranger bangs on your window in the middle of the night.

However, when a pet is aggressive at inappropriate times or to excessive degrees, it is not normal and requires attention.

Animals may react aggressively if they feel frightened or defensive in a situation, if they are protecting something, such as a food bowl, toy or even a person or another animal. Playing too much or very rough may also conjure up aggressive tendencies.

If your pet has ever directed aggression toward you, you know it can be a tense moment.

“When this happens, the safest thing to do is to get out of that situation as calmly as possible.

“You cannot teach the animal anything productive when it’s in the middle of an aggressive outburst,” says Haug.

After the outburst, however, when your pet’s normal demeanor returns, don’t forget what has happened and seek help as soon as possible.

“Aggressive behavior does not spontaneously disappear and a pet usually does not outgrow it,” Haug warns. “Many times, the animal’s aggressiveness progressively worsens and it becomes more difficult for the animal to unlearn bad habits.”

A behaviorist can help an owner set up an individualized behavior modification program to help break the pet of unhealthy aggression, she adds.

With the right treatment and care, most pets can dramatically improve, she believes.

“Though the owner must maintain a certain level of vigilance, it is possible to come to a point where the pet is unlikely to display aggression again,” Haug notes. Most behaviorists avoid using the word “cure” in reference to aggression because it is a natural behavior and only problematic when it occurs too often or in an abnormal context.

Being careful about where you acquire your pet and at what age you bring it home are good ways to limit the possibility of getting a pet with aggressive tendencies. A puppy or kitten should not be taken home until it is around seven to eight weeks old.

When you get your new pet, you should start it on a training and socialization program as early as possible. “Socialization is one of the most important preventative factors for behavioral problems,” says Haug.

Pet aggression is not a hopeless situation but it should not be ignored, either.

With proper treatment and care, Haug says, your best friend usually can learn how to behave appropriately around both people and pets.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.