Dog aggression causes welfare harm to other animals and people while creating severe stress for the dog - proper assessment and management is essential.
Dog aggression creates welfare harm for the dog, other animals, and people. Aggressive dogs live with chronic fear or frustration as the underlying emotional states driving their behaviour. Punishment-based management worsens fear-based aggression by increasing the negative emotional state. Effective welfare management requires accurate assessment of the type and trigger of aggression, a tailored behaviour modification programme delivered by a qualified behaviourist, and environmental management to avoid trigger exposure during treatment. Rehoming aggressive dogs without appropriate disclosure and behaviour management support creates additional welfare harm. In severe cases, euthanasia may be the most humane outcome.