Assessment, management, and prognosis of canine dominance-related aggression

Aggression directed toward owners is a common complaint, and one that causes a great deal of emotional conflict. Assessment and treatment of this disturbing behavior problem must address owner safety as well as realistic expectations for improvement. Relatively mild aggression may be treated with a combination of prevention of injury, increased structure in the home, and safe control of the dog, including obedience training to reward the dog for deference to the owner. Disproportionately severe or unpredictable aggression is less likely to respond to treatment. Mounting evidence exists that aggressiveness is genetically and neurobiologically driven. Research in other species, and early research in the dog, suggest that aggression may be reduced by drug therapy to modify brain neurochemistry. Such treatment is not a cure, however, and should be paired with a lifelong, systematic program of safety and control in the home.