Interdog aggression is frequently dismissed as behavioral but often has medical components including pain, endocrine disease, and neurological conditions that require diagnosis before behavioral intervention.
Interdog aggression that develops in previously compatible dogs or that shows sudden onset should always prompt medical investigation before behavioral labeling. Pain from arthritis, injury, or dental disease can make a dog intolerant of physical contact or proximity that was previously accepted, creating aggression that appears behavioral but resolves with pain management. Endocrine and neurological conditions affect impulse control and emotional regulation in ways that manifest as aggression. The welfare implications of misclassifying medically-driven aggression as behavioral are significant — affected dogs may receive inappropriate behavioral modification, may be surrendered or euthanized, or may suffer from undiagnosed painful conditions. Thorough medical workup is therefore both an ethical and practical prerequisite for any aggression intervention.