ARE AGGRESSIVE DOGS AND CATS ABNORMAL?
Aggressive behaviors may be “normal”, but when they result in human or animal injury, the behavior is dangerous and unacceptable. Human safety must always be a primary consideration when discussing aggression. It is estimated that from two to five million human bite wounds occur annually across North America. Most people are bitten by animals they own or are known to them. It is important to be able to identify aggressive dogs and cats to prevent injuries wherever possible. Some aggression in dogs and cats may have abnormal components as when the pet is excessively anxious or unable to control the initiation, termination or intensity of its response. These problems may arise from genetics, lack of sufficient socialization, insufficient maternal care, and excessively fearful events, particularly from development to maturity. However, even though health problems and degenerative changes may be present, they may or may not contribute to the aggressive behavior.
