Dr. Ian Dunbar
SEX & AGGRESSION (plus a little “Dominance”)
Thursday 11th - Sunday 14th October 2012
St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center
22 Prospect Street, Madison NJ 07940
I spent ten years at the University of California Berkeley researching the development of sexually
dimorphic behavior and especially the development of social hierarchies and aggression in dogs. I
find these topics to be fascinating to the extreme and I absolutely love talking about them!
The reproductive endocrinology and behavior of both male and female dogs are quite unique from
other mammals. (Only kangaroos, hyenas and elephants are more intriguing.) The bitch’s
receptive period is longer than her fertile period and so many matings are unsuccessful.
Additionally, her seasonally monestrous cycle is longer than pregnancy and consequently, it is
impossible to diagnosis pregnancy on the basis of a missed cycle. However, simple behavioral
observation is the key to pinpointing the transition from proestrus to estrus and hence accurately
predicting ovulation fertilization (within 24 hours) and hence, expected whelping dates.
Male dogs are equally unique. Male secondary sexual characteristics appear to be relatively
emancipated from testosterone-control in adulthood. Many castrated male dogs retain the ability
to mount and mate, lift their legs when urine-marking and to relish the smell of female urine. Also,
castration seems to have little direct effect on aggression towards other dogs or people.
Domestic dogs living together develop extremely complex and sophisticated social structures. The
social behavior of dogs is utterly fascinating — special friendships, preferences and allegiances
and special animosities. Dogs develop hierarchical relationships when growing up which serve to
prevent the need for fighting (physical “dominance”) as adults. In fact, when left to their own
devices, dogs get along quite amicably. It is surprisingly, therefore, that so many dogs living with
people become dog-dog reactive.
Dogs living alone need to acquire impeccable social savvy to meet, greet and get along with every
unfamiliar dog that they meet. (Human social skills pale in comparison.) Teaching dogs to get
along with every other dog is difficult. Puppy socialization is pretty easy but dog-dog socialization
deteriorates during adolescence, often at an alarming rate. A dog’s first adolescent fight often
marks the beginning of the end of its socialization with other dogs. This is especially true for very
small and very large dogs. Owners of small dogs are understandably concerned about their dog’s
safety and may be disinclined to allow their dogs to run with the big dogs. Here is where
socialization starts to go down hill and the small dog becomes increasingly snappy and scrappy.
Similarly, owners of large dogs (especially the working breeds) are understandably concerned that
their dogs might hurt smaller dogs. Here too socialization goes downhill and the big dog becomes
increasingly snappy and scrappy. Now we’re in vicious circle: the less the dog is socialized, the
more likely it is to fight and thus be less socialized.
However, whereas it can be a challenge to raise a dog to be friendly and sociable to all other dogs,
(especially, if the dog is male and extra-especially, if he still has his goolies), raising a dog to be
friendly and sociable towards people and preventing the development of fearfulness and aggression
is as easy as it is enjoyable.
The whole point of early socialization is that when dogs develop temperament problems, the
prognosis is good and trainers can help the owners resolve the problems quickly, easily and safely.
Successful rehabilitation usually only takes a few days with a three-month old dog that is fearful
around people. However, it would take several weeks for a five-month-old dog and many months or
a couple of years for an eight-month old dog. And for dogs that are fearful of people, their life
becomes a living nightmare.
The training protocols for treatment are pretty much the same as for prevention, it’s just that
rehabilitation takes much (MUCH) longer. Resolving temperament problems in adult dogs is timeconsuming, difficult and sometimes potentially dangerous — often well beyond the budget and
capabilities of many owners. For trainers to be able to help owners resolve aggression towards
people, the dog must have acquired bite inhibition during puppyhood (during socialization and play).
When dogs have good bite inhibition, the prognosis is good and the problems may be resolved fairly
quickly and safely. Such cases are the most rewarding and fulfilling in dog training. They are pretty
straightforward but the owners are relieved and thankful. However, if the adult dog does not have
bite inhibition, the dog is dangerous and there is not much that you can do to help.
“Dominance” is most certainly the most misunderstood topic in dog behavior and training. A
woefully simplistic interpretation of wolf behavior has been applied to dogs, and then a
misunderstanding of dog-dog behavior has been cavalierly extrapolated to dog-human
interactions and training. These silly views of behavior are an insult to dogs and advertise a
complete misunderstanding of their social structure. More disturbing though, misunderstood
notions of supposed physical dominance-hierarchies are often used as a rationale (excuse) for
physical manhandling and painful punishment when training dogs and especially when attempting
to resolve biting and fighting problems. The unwarranted application of physical domination (by
humans) in training has had an extreme negative impact on the quality of life of dogs and their
unsuspecting owners.
Most so-called “dominant” behaviors, such as jumping-up, pulling on-leash, housesoiling, barking,
chewing, humping, eating first and going through doors first, may be quickly and easily resolved
by mind-bogglingly simple training techniques, i.e., by teaching basic manners. Certainly some
dogs have pushy personalities but calmly insisting on compliance usually puts the dog back on
track.
The mere use of the term “dominance” biases the training arena, encouraging an adversarial
relationship between people and dogs, prompting owners to attempt to physically dominate their
dogs. Physical domination causes resentment, mistrust and fear, exacerbates existing problems
and ultimately creates more problems. Without a doubt, all too often, the “treatment” is the cause.
Indeed, most categories of aggression, especially including dominant, territorial and idiosyncratic
(?) aggression, appear to be fear-based, as diagnosed by successful treatment — primarily by
classical conditioning and progressive desensitization. The dominance perspective is just so
wrong. And the mere suggestion of physically dominating dogs is downright dangerous in pet dog
training in which a good third of our clients are children.
Day One: SEXUAL BEHAVIOR & REPRODUCTION
Topics include:
Female Seasonally Monestrous Cycle — Proestrus, Estrus, Metestrus, Anestrus
Behavior Tests to Pinpoint Ovulation and hence, Fertilization (to within 24 hours) which facilitates
Confirmation of Pregnancy and Prediction of Whelping Date
Mating Behavior in Male and Female Dogs
Sexual Preferences (Quality vs. Quantity) vs. Social Preferences
Pregnancy, Parturition and Maternal Behavior
Secondary Sexual Characteristics — Urination Postures, Olfactory Preferences, Social
Hierarchies, Fighting and Aggression
Sexually Differentiation — How males and females develop differently
And most probably, random anecdotes about hyena, elephant and kangaroo sex
Day Two: SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND “DOMINANCE”
Topics include:
True Top Dogs — cool and confident — they seldom growl or fight; they don’t need to!
Alpha Dogs? Dominant Dogs? Or insecure, growly, middle-ranking males?
Linear male hierarchies and less-linear female hierarchies. Female amendments to male
hierarchical law. Development of social hierarchies in litters — dyadic, triadic and group
relationships. Puppy/adult relationships. Puppy license to misbehave. Developmental nolo
contender — you could say, mental “dominance” is involved here but physically, there is simply no
contest and hence, never any physical force or damage.
Sirius (the beagle) and the notion of Temperament Training
Complexity of cooperative social structure — special friendships, allegiances, and sharing and
special animosities — so unbelievably cool! Policing dogs. Pack harmony.
The crucial importance of play, especially play-fighting and play-biting. Atmosphere cues. Good
and bad play groups
The purpose of Adolescence
Day Three: FIGHTING — DOG-DOG AGGRESSION
Topics include:
Causes of Dog-Dog Aggression — marginal socialization, lack of representative feedback for
appropriate social behavior, i.e., — absence of classical conditioning when the older puppy/young
adolescent is friendly plus negative classical conditioning when dog acts fearful, i.e., highlighting
occasional fearful and antisocial behavior by punishing the dog for growling or fighting. At this
point, all dog-dog socialization stops because, "He fights all the time and he’s trying to kill the
other dogs!"
Fight: Bite Ratios — to ascertain whether or not fighting is dangerous. Objective quantification of
severity and hence, prognosis for resolution — based on damage done, or more likely, the lack
thereof.
1. How many times has your dog been involved in a fight?
2. How many fights resulted in the other dog being taken to the veterinarian?
Classical Conditioning and Stimulus-Blocking
1. One-on-One
2. Growl Classes — Flooding? All-or-None Reward Training
Bill Campbell’s Jolly Routine
Day Four: BITING — DOG-HUMAN AGGRESSION
Topics Include:
Misleading breed biting statistics and unrepresentative and sensational media coverage.
Hypothetical and practical behavioral models for the causes of dog bites, including instincts,
drives, traits, interactive traits, situational behavior, subliminal bite stimuli, superstitious bite
stimuli, and provocation.
Behavior vs. Temperament
The real reasons why dogs bite
The relative danger of four types of dog based on whether or not they are socialized and whether
or not they have well-developed bite-inhibition
Four stages of bite-inhibition training during early development
"Temperament" Tests — Reactivity vs. Danger; condemning occasional “bad” behavior (reactivity)
vs. identifying dangerous dogs
Friendly Quotient — Objectively quantifying good behavior by counting number of
friendly/appeasing behaviors per minute
Rank-Reduction Programs — What’s important and What’s not
Assessment of the severity of biting problems based on an objective evaluation of wound
pathology (see below)
Prevention vs. Treatment
Bite Inhibition
Socialization and Classical Conditioning
Approach and Proximity — Treat & Retreat, Come Here, Sit & Stay.
Hugging and Handling (Restraint and Examination).
Progressive Desensitization of “Hot spots” (collar, ears, paws, muzzle, tail, rear end + hugging
and “kissy face”).
Valued objects — Delinquent Waiter Routine
Assessment of Severity of Biting (and Prognosis)
— Based on an Objective Evaluation of Wound Pathology
1. Barking, growling, lunging, snarling and snapping etc. but no skin-contact by teeth.
2. Skin-contact by teeth but no skin-puncture. However, may be skin nicks (less than one tenth of
an inch deep) and bleeding caused by lateral movement of teeth against skin, but no vertical
punctures.
3. One to four punctures from a single bite with no puncture deeper than half the length of the
dog’s canine teeth. Maybe lacerations in a single direction, caused by victim pulling hand away,
owner pulling dog away, or gravity (little dog jumps, bites and drops to floor). Sometimes,
lacerations without puncture.
4. One to four punctures from a single bite with at least one puncture deeper than half the length
of the dog’s canine teeth. May also have deep bruising around the wound (dog held on and bore
down for N seconds) or lacerations in both directions (dog held on and shook its head from side to
side)
5. Multiple-bite incident with at least two Level 4 bites
6. Victim dead
The above list concerns unpleasant behavior and so, to add perspective:
Levels 1 & 2 comprise well over 99% of dog incidents, i.e., no damage done. Each year in the
United States, approximately 20 people are killed by dogs, half of whom are children. However,
each year in the United States, approximately 2000 children are killed by their parents! Dogs are
not the threat. Balloons, slippers, swimming pools, playgrounds, parents, people, handguns and
cars are MUCH more dangerous. (Please see, DOGS BITE: But Balloons and Slippers are More
Dangerous by Janis Bradley.)