What is 'frustrative aggression'?

Studies show that dogs who are regularly tied, or walked on a tight leash, or those who are restricted mostly to their yards, have a significantly higher number of incidents involving unprovoked aggression than those who are not.  It appears that a dog's social nature is so innate, that attempts to restrict this natural desire only result in aberrant behaviour.  However, the solution is not simply allowing dogs to run free.  To better understand the cause and effect of inappropriate aggression in dogs, we must first understand what makes dogs 'tick'. 

Dogs are social animals.  They absolutely require a pack structure to survive.  Dogs also naturally crave interaction with other dogs.  So why, if dogs are so social, do we sometimes see dogs behaving badly?

Part of living in society is behaviour modification.  Humans don't trespass onto their neighbours' properties simply because it is convenient, nor do we play loud music at all hours of the day and night because we enjoy it.  We modify our own behaviour so as not to inconvenience other citizens.  When we choose to bring dogs into our homes, we accept responsibility for teaching them how to behave in human society.  Similarly, dogs have their own social rules.  They use body language to signal their intentions to other dogs.  However, dogs are not born knowing these signals.  They must learn from other dogs.

Sadly, because all too many dog owners fail to train their dogs adequately, most communities require dogs to be leashed when in public.  This is unfortunate because it sometimes leads to inappropriate use of that training tool.  Which brings us to the concept of 'frustrative aggression'.

The term 'canine frustrative aggression' was coined when studying aggression in dogs.  Researchers noticed that dogs who were not allowed to interact "naturally" or "on their own terms" with others, via physical restraint (in most cases a leash or tether, but can also refer to a fence line), developed behaviours which led to aggression.  By the same token, they noticed a much lower incidence of these kinds of behaviours amongst dogs who had been trained to control their own behaviour through obedience training and regular socialization.  Click here for tips on 'heeling'.

In practical terms, this is almost intuitive.  A dog who heels, for example, is not merely being physically manipulated by way of a tight leash.  Rather, that dog has learned to control her own behaviour.  A dog who is always physically restrained never learns how to control its behaviour.

The researchers also noticed that the longer a dog was physically restricted from normal interactions, the more intense was the desire to gain contact.  This increasing excitability would grow from mere exuberance to overwhelming agitation, and sometimes even aggression.  When dogs aren't properly socialized, they misinterpret the signals given by strangers.  Sometimes they interpret these unfamiliar signals as threatening.  The concern for society is the danger these dogs pose, should they find themselves loose, one day.

'Frustrative aggression' essentially refers to domestic dogs who have not been allowed to develop normal social behaviours as a result of always being physically restricted from such interactions.  This form of aggression is entirely induced by humans.  'Frustrative aggression' is unknown in wild canids.  As a result, we know the only way to prevent this kind of aggressive behaviour is to teach basic obedience (heeling), combined with regular socialization experiences.  Doing so results in a dog who can be trusted to interact with others without becoming overly excited, and never threatening, whether on-leash or off.

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