Are We Seeing An Increase in Aggression Cases?

Our answer: yes. At Amanda Gagnon Dog Training, we’ve seen an increase in reactivity, particularly of the dog-dog variety. In 2021, we offered one Anger Management course per quarter. Fast forward to 2022/23: we now hold 3 to 5 classes per quarter which frequently sell out.

To get to the bottom of this, we called our friends at the Animal Care Center of NY, other trainers, and colleagues in the petcare community. People seem to agree–regardless of the cause, dogs across the board seem to be struggling with reactivity, separation anxiety, and other behavior issues.

From a canine perspective, quarantine had a lot of positives. People brought dogs into their homes and out of shelters, while existing pets enjoyed the benefits of having their humans home all day. But, from a behavior perspective, quarantine made it difficult for new dog owners to socialize their puppies sufficiently. As restrictions lifted and people began trickling back into the office, the first wave of separation anxiety cases began.

While the exact causes of separation anxiety have not been pinpointed, this doesn’t come as a surprise to us. Between 8 months and 2.5 years of age, dogs can start exhibiting the long-term effects of early socialization deficits.

So what’s going on?

In general, we’ve seen a big shift in dog culture over the last few decades. We’ve increased our expectations around canine behavior while placing more restrictions on our pets, and reduced the opportunities for relaxed socialization. Is it any wonder that we see more frustrated dogs in the city?

One Size Does Not Fit All

If you’ve spent any time in the company of dog lovers, the phrase “There are no bad dogs, only bad dog owners” probably sounds very familiar. To a certain extent, dog trainers agree—there aren’t really any bad dogs. But that doesn’t mean they have bad owners, either.

As popular as the quote is, it’s misunderstood. It’s commonly attributed to British dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse, who added the caveat, “Some people get dogs they don't deserve; hereditary faults play havoc with some dogs, and the poor owner can do nothing.”

Genetics play a large role in shaping canine behavior and temperament, though the extent of their influence is hotly debated.

Dogs historically bred as watch dogs are less likely to welcome strangers; livestock guardian breeds may be aloof or aggressive towards other canines. While these behaviors were desirable in their original contexts, in your average urban or suburban household, these dogs may develop reactivity. With that said, every dog is an individual–we’ve all met quiet hounds and couch potato huskies who defy breed standards.

Drew Watson, a local trainer and long-time friend of AGDT, agrees and believes it boils down to the question of how well the dog fits the family’s lifestyle. During quarantine, he worked with a family looking for what most people would consider a pretty standard dog–good with kids, medium-sized, medium-energy, biddable, and generally appropriate for a first-time dog family.

However, this ended up being a more Herculean task than anticipated. Demand far outpaced supply, benefiting the animals in question, but left families searching for the right fit for months. There’s a happy ending–Watson’s client found a great dog–but Watson adds that it took months of searching, required a good amount of luck, and was an exorbitantly expensive process, making it inaccessible for your average would-be dog owner.

In his opinion, quarantine, COVID-19, and placement/fit issues have created a perfect storm of events for an increase in aggression cases. Puppies introduced to new homes made quarantine standards their baseline of normal and have struggled to adapt as restrictions lifted. Expectations have changed dramatically during a sensitive period in their lives–dogs have been taken from suburbs to the city, family members are suddenly gone all day, strangers are coming in and out…

Ultimately, there are no easy answers. While trainers may agree that they’re handling more reactivity cases after quarantine, the causes vary from household to household. Most likely, a combination of these factors and other unknown ones are all contributing.

In the end, one of the most important rules of dog ownership is to train the dog in front of you.

How Do We Help Our Dogs?

If you are seeing reactivity in your own dog, consider attending our Anger Management class or consulting a private trainer. Aggression does not go away on its own. The sooner you start developing the skills to manage and reduce it, the higher your chances of success. And, if you’re in the process of adding a puppy into your household, we can’t stress the importance of early socialization enough.

The best socialization is free. Take your dog to Central Park and, if you’re comfortable, let them loose. If your dog lacks strong recall, use a long line to keep them safe. There’s nothing better for a dog than the opportunity to exercise their own choices about where to go, when to stop, and how fast to move.

Another great option is puppy socialization class. Make sure it’s run by a certified trainer who can monitor puppy play while educating you on how to intervene, so that you can apply those skills outside of class.

Dog parks can be a great tool for socialization, provided you know how to use them. Work with a trainer to learn how to assess a dog park before entering. If you plan to use dog parks regularly–they’re one of the few safe off-leash opportunities for dogs to run and interact–work on instilling the behavior cues to teach your dog how to disengage from play and calm down in the presence of other dogs, and practice in and out of the run.

And, finally, if you want to set your puppy up for success in an urban environment, don’t be afraid to use what’s around you. Open a window and let them hear the honks and sirens from a young age, or put them in a sling and go for a walk around the block. Spotify and YouTube boast massive archives of sound effects: city street noises, fireworks, dogs barking, etc.