Humankind has used cannabis for thousands of years to treat various illnesses. There is evidence suggesting its use in present-day Romania dating back more than 5,000 years. Some ancient texts point to the use of medicinal marijuana as early as 400 AD.
Evidently, marijuana's medicinal properties have been the subject of mankind's curiosity and interest since the early days. Today, ongoing research on cannabis and its constituent compounds continue to yield valuable insights about this plant and its capabilities.
Its two most common and well-studied compounds —cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—are believed to have wide-ranging physical and mental health effects. Consequently, their use, particularly CBD, has sky-rocketed in recent years, with more people dropping their prejudicial stance about the plant.
But while marijuana use among humans is commonplace, its extended use to pets is unprecedented. An increasing number of pet owners are embracing CBD pet products to help their animals deal with certain health conditions.
From separation anxiety and aggression to arthritis and chronic pain, pet owners have gone all out to fully exploit CBD's seemingly endless effects.
So, how are pet owners using CBD for aggressive dogs? Let's get started.
Key takeaways
- Dog aggression is a common behavioral trait in canines that can lead to destructive and/or harmful outcomes.
- The causes of dog aggression are many and varied, with fear being the leading cause, i.e., fear-aggression.
- CBD oil demonstrates significant potential as a treatment for dog aggression thanks to its calming effects.
What is dog aggression?
Aggression is a behavioral trait associated with potentially injurious and/or destructive outcomes. It often manifests as growling, snarling, lunging, baring teeth, nipping, or even biting. An aggressive dog could be willing to attack, and such symptoms are often the precursor to an impending attack.
Aggression happens to be one of the main reasons pet owners seek help from pet experts. Dog aggression is particularly worrisome because these animals can grow large and powerful.
Large dog breeds such as Bernese Mountain Dogs, Black Russian Terriers, and Great Danes have imposing physiques. While these breeds are generally calm when cared for properly, they would be an unimaginable nightmare for any pet owner if they become aggressive.
The thing with dog aggression is that it can be directed at anything and everything – people, other pets, and even inanimate objects like furniture, yard equipment, or cars.
Obviously, we'd prefer its redirection toward inanimate objects, but even then, sometimes the destruction can be substantial. You don't want to return home from work only to find your couch shredded to pieces.
However, you can do little to help an aggressive dog if you don't know what's causing the aggression. So, naturally, the first step is figuring out the reason behind the aggressive behavior.
Causes & types of dog aggression
There are many factors that can cause aggression in dogs. However, dogs, like humans, have different personalities. So, what makes one dog aggressive might not make another behave similarly. It is crucial to make this distinction.
Nonetheless, here are the top reasons dog experts believe can contribute to the development of aggressive behavior in dogs.
Fear
It may sound ironic because we often rely on them for security, but dogs can be fearful too. In fact, fear is considered a prevalent cause of dog aggression. When a dog feels threatened or scared, it can either run away from the stressor or attack. In most cases, dogs choose the former option.
This type of aggression is called fear-aggression. Fear-aggressive dogs usually flee from the supposed threat but attack when cornered. Cases of people being bitten by dogs are often due to miscommunication between dogs and humans.
A friendly gesture like leaning over to pet a dog on its head can be misread as a threat.
Poor socialization is a leading cause of fearfulness in dogs. It could be that they had negative experiences with other people, noises, or strange places when young, and these became ingrained into their minds. Dogs of this nature typically require more time to overcome aggression.
Resource guarding
Dogs love people, toys, bones, and objects/spaces to which they attach value. As a result, they may sometimes get overzealous when protecting such things.
It is a habit that links to their evolutionary trait to protect resources necessary for survival. This type of aggression is also known as possessive aggression.
Defensive aggression
Dogs also have a "flight or fight" response mechanism, as we do. It basically means dogs will first try to run away (flight) from a potential threat or attack (fight) when cornered.
This type of aggression is usually a last-resort response to an aggressor. The dog may have indicated that it wanted to be left alone but was ignored.
Protective aggression
This is often seen in mother dogs with young pups. They can become overly aggressive when someone or something tries to go near their puppies. This type of behavior comes down to motherly instincts.
Dogs can also get aggressive when protecting a family member or a member of their dog pack. Also, sometimes, a dog becomes aggressive when guarding what it considers its territory (territorial aggression).
This is pure animal instinct – all animals protect their territories.
Frustration aggression
If you have noticed your dog acting out when you want to leash it, it may be telling you it doesn't want the leash. Dogs often associate leashing with restrained movement and helplessness.
Due to their typically high energy levels, dogs love being free to run and play around. So, when they are not able to do so, they can become frustrated and aggressive.
Redirected aggression
This happens when a dog cannot access the source of its anger. For instance, it may be offended by a neighbor's dog on the other side of the fence, and since it cannot reach the other dog, it redirects its anger at the nearest object.
This is why you are likely to get bit when trying to separate fighting dogs. In the heat of the moment, it may not be able to distinguish between the offender and someone trying to help.
Pain aggression
When your dog is in pain, it is likely to be in a foul mood. If you are the touchy type who likes to pet dogs, you may accidentally touch a painful area and force the dog to react. You may not like its reaction, though!
Predatory aggression
Ultimately, we should all remember that dogs were once wild animals. So, deep within their psyche, that predatory instinct remains hidden somewhere.
Sometimes, these instincts reawaken, and a dog suddenly goes berserk without warning. So, you may be playing with your dog, and it suddenly bites out of the blue!
Treatment of dog aggression
The first step toward treating dog aggression is making a mental note of the circumstances that trigger that behavior.
Does your dog get aggressive when strangers are around? Do other pets make it aggressive?
Identifying your dog's real cause of aggression is the key to determining what steps will follow.
Use medication
When a once docile dog suddenly becomes hostile, it could be a medical problem. This requires professional expertise, so we recommend checking it out with a vet to uncover the underlying condition.
Health problems such as hypothyroidism, neurological problems, and painful injuries can cause aggression.
Your veterinarian is best placed to identify the exact medical condition making your dog hostile. After that, they can prescribe medication to improve the dog's behavior.
Reinforce positive behaviors
If the veterinarian rules out medical problems, dog trainers or animal behaviorists are next in line. Dog aggression is a serious canine problem, so don't attempt to go about it alone if you're not a dog expert. You may make it worse or get seriously hurt in a worst-case scenario.
You see, most people may want to punish a dog for aggressive behavior (like if you find it has damaged your sofa). This usually backfires and can worsen aggressive behavior.
For example, if you yell (or another aversive technique) at your dog for growling, it may think you are a threat.
Dog experts help you develop the best plan to manage your dog's aggression. They can recommend various techniques, such as positive reinforcement, to teach the dog new behavior. For example, if your dog gets overly worked up in the presence of strangers, use that occasion to rewire its response.
Remember Pavlov's dog experiment? Excellent! You can make your dog respond favorably by giving it treats when strangers are around. In due course, it begins to associate strangers with food and attention. This approach can work for other situations too.
Consider natural supplements
Natural supplements are an excellent option for dealing with dog aggression. They come in all shapes and sizes, implying there is no short supply of supplements you can use for your pet.
One natural supplement that's all the rave right now is CBD. It is derived from cannabis and is believed to have health-impacting qualities that can be used to alleviate many symptomatic conditions, including aggression.
Once you've identified the cause of your dog's aggressive behavior, you can use CBD oil for dog aggression to help reduce the symptoms. Among others, CBD has analgesic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties that may help canines with wide-ranging health problems.
Why CBD for aggressive dogs?
One of CBD's top selling points is its excellent safety profile. For starters, it is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not induce a "high." In humans, THC's psychoactivity is associated with many adverse effects, including mental and physical health problems.
In dogs, THC is highly toxic and potentially fatal. That's because dogs have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains, so a small dose of THC can have a profound effect.
On the other hand, CBD is generally well-tolerated by humans and animals due to its low toxicity levels. So, considering its safety profile and wide-ranging health effects, it makes perfect sense to use CBD for dog aggression.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your vet first.
Benefits of CBD for dogs' mood and aggression
CBD is a natural anxiolytic, meaning it may help reduce anxious behavior in dogs.
Research shows that CBD's mood-enhancing effect is dose-dependent in a bell-shaped manner. In other words, acute CBD doses have been shown to calm the minds in animals and humans with minimal side effects.
Its calming effect on the central nervous system is thought to induce a sedative effect, hence helping to calm nerves and improve sleep. For this reason, CBD is widely used to help with cases of sleep issues.
A calmer dog is less likely to be aggressive, so CBD for dogs' mood and aggression may just be what your dog needs for behavioral issues.
Best CBD oil for dog aggression
Our Premium CBD Pet Drops are undoubtedly one of the best CBD oils for dogs with aggression. They are made with premium hemp CBD and organic ingredients to help support calm and relief from symptomatic ailments such as aggression.
You have three different flavors and two strength levels (300 mg and 600 mg) to choose from to ensure you give your pet exactly what it needs. So, wait no more, get this product. Our high manufacturing standards easily make it the best CBD oil for aggressive dogs.
For further information on how to use CBD for aggressive dogs, watch this video:
