![]() ![]() Hopefensperger evaluated Ruby, interacted with her, and ran a series of tests, it was confirmed that she was diagnosed with Conflict Aggression. ![]() She solicited attention from both owners but spent most of the time on the female owner’s lap. Marie Hopfensperger, veterinarian for the Hospital’s Behavior Services. She was appropriate but not overtly social with Dr. When the Behavior Service team met Ruby, she was anxious, alert, and responsive. She also cowered after episodes of aggression. In all incidents of aggression, Ruby was reported to first bare her teeth, lay her ears back and tail down, and then lunge toward the victim. Ruby also was reported to bite when either owner attempted to place the harness on her. Growling, lunging, and snapping directed only toward the male owner included being approached while at rest on an elevated resting place, while on the female owner’s lap, or when in the kitchen during meal preparation. Persistent triggers of growling, lunging, and snapping at either owner included petting of her back and physical contact with her while she was at rest. Unfortunately, aggression toward the male owner remained consistent. Aggression toward the owners was noted within the first few days of adoption however, aggression toward the female owner subsided over the two months prior to coming to the MSU Behavior Service. In addition, her two owners (both retired adults) Ruby also lives with an eight-year-old neutered male Jack Russell Terrier. Ruby was adopted from a local humane society three months prior to her visit to the Hospital. Ruby was brought to the Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center’s Behavior Service for complaints from her owners regarding her aggression. These dogs are not dominant but are emotionally torn during moments of confrontation or discomfort. Dogs with this diagnosis often learn that aggression is an effective tool for ceasing uncomfortable interactions. Episodes of aggression tend to be related to predictable triggers over resources, invasion of the dog’s personal space, and grooming or handling. Dogs with Conflict Aggression tend to exhibit somewhat ambivalent body postures (e.g., tail tucked while lunging forward) and tend to display warning signs (e.g., growling) prior to a bite incident. In comparison, Conflict Aggression is the diagnosis of the more typical variant of owner directed aggression. Many dogs do not have dominant behavior, but likely have moments of mental “misfiring” due to underlying neurochemical abnormalities in their brains. After episodes of aggression, dogs seem to not be fully aware of what just happened. This intense aggression contrasts with the dog’s otherwise pleasant personality. Affected dogs often freeze, stare, and may rapidly escalate to biting. These episodes also tend to be large dramatic responses relative to a seemingly benign situation. The behavior associated with Rage Syndrome includes outbursts of aggression that are intense and at times unpredictable. Owner-directed aggression is problematic for any dog and owner it most commonly comes in two forms: a genetic disorder referred to as Rage Syndrome, and a more typical diagnosis called Conflict Aggression. Look for the following credentials: CAAB (Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists), CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant), CBCC-KA (Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed), CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed), and/or KPA (Karen Pryor Academy). These are dog trainers with additional expertise in helping change how the dog feels about challenging situations they are not focused on obedience training.
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