Dogs, our furry companions, have a way of wriggling into our hearts with their wagging tails and puppy eyes. But, just as the teenage years can be challenging for humans, around the age of two years old, our canine buddies might start to show a bit more... attitude. Let’s dive into why this happens and what you can do about it.

Development of Breed-Specific Motor Patterns

First off, it’s important to remember that dogs aren’t just fluffy balls of sweetness; they’re also little bundles of instincts and breed-specific behaviours. Each breed has its own set of motor patterns that kick in as they grow up. For instance, herding breeds like Border Collies might suddenly feel the need to herd everything from your kids to the vacuum cleaner, while guarding breeds like German Shepherds might start taking their “protect the house” job very seriously. These behaviours are deeply ingrained and can sometimes surprise dog owners if they had assumed their dog would keep their puppy behaviours into adulthood. You can expect any guarding or fighting breeds to have the potential to develop aggressive behaviour when they are old enough to acquire the tools to do the job. In reality, there is a huge amount of work to do when they are a puppy to ensure these behaviours don’t become a problem when the dog matures.

 
Owners Not Reading Their Dog’s Signals

Another biggie in the aggression puzzle is communication – or rather, the lack of it. Dogs have a whole range of signals to show how they’re feeling, from subtle body language to more obvious signs like growling or barking and lunging. However, us humans aren’t always great at reading these signals. We might miss the signs that our dog is feeling stressed or threatened, leading them to escalate their behaviour to get their point across. It’s like if you keep ignoring someone’s polite “no,” and they eventually have to shout it.

 
Maturity and Confidence

Around the two-year mark, dogs are maturing. Think of it as their transition from teenager to young adult. With this maturing process comes a boost in confidence. Your once-timid pup might start testing boundaries and asserting themselves more if their earlier signals have been ignored, or not recognised. This newfound confidence can give them the nudge to use aggressive behaviour, especially if your dog decides to challenge boundaries or push back against things they don’t like. At this age your dog may decide he is not going to let you cut his claws or may push back against a firm “no” that might have appeared to work when he was a puppy because they were too worried to do anything about it. Your dog may no longer tolerate being bullied by other dogs at the park and decide that using aggression is the best way to keep themselves safe. 

 
Learning and Experience

Dogs are always learning from their experiences. By the time they hit two years old, they’ve had plenty of time to figure out what works and what doesn’t. If they’ve learned that a certain behaviour gets them what they want – like growling or barking aggressively whilst rushing at the door to make the scary postal worker go away – they’re likely to keep doing it. On the flip side, negative experiences can also shape their behaviour. A dog that’s been bullied at the dog park might start acting defensively aggressive around other dogs or may start to employ the behaviours of which that they have been on the receiving end.

 
Is There Anything I could Have Done to Avoid this?

The short answer is “yes”. Unfortunately, there are many dog owners who are not aware of factors that could lead to the development of aggressive behaviour and genuinely are shocked when they first see their dog use aggression. There are often pre-disposing factors that would have indicated this was a possibility. Our membership platform www.raisingpawfection.com is designed to help owners foresee factors that may result in their dog developing aggressive behaviour when they mature, including breed or cross breed specific training plans. There is a great deal that can be done to ensure your dog does not grow up to develop behaviour problems. 

 
So, What Can You Do Now?

Understanding why your dog might be showing aggression is the first step in addressing it. Here are a few tips to help you and your dog navigate this stage:

 
Educate Yourself on breed behaviour

Learn about your dog’s breed-specific tendencies and how to manage them. This will help you understand their actions better and provide appropriate outlets for their instincts.

 
Learn Canine Body Language

Invest some time in learning how dogs communicate. Recognising early signs of discomfort or stress can help you intervene before things escalate.

 
Positive Reinforcement

Reward good behaviour consistently. If your dog behaves calmly in situations that usually trigger arousal, reward them. This reinforces the idea that good things happen when they stay chill.

 
Professional Help

Don’t delay seeking advice from a professional dog behaviourist. They can provide personalised strategies to address your dog’s specific issues. If your dog is showing aggression because of fear or frustration, you are likely to need the help of a qualified dog behaviourist.

 
Consistent Training and Boundaries

Establish clear boundaries and ensure everyone in the household is consistent with the rules. Consistency helps your dog understand what’s expected of them and reduces confusion.

 
Desensitisation

Gradual, positive experiences with different people, animals, and environments can help them build confidence and reduce fear-based aggression but you will not be successful if you do not fully understand dog body language and the motivation for your dog showing aggressive behaviour. Also, by this time, it is likely your dog has had negative emotions about these triggers for many months, or even years, so it can take a bit of unravelling.

 
In Summary

Remember, a little bit of understanding and a lot of patience can go a long way in helping your dog transition smoothly through this phase. With the right approach, you can support your dog and strengthen the bond with your four-legged friend. But it is far better to plan ahead and ensure that you raise your puppy well to become an emotionally secure adult dog with clear guidance on how they are expected to behave in challenging situations. A clear plan from the outset will help you to avoid sudden, unexpected aggressive behaviour when your dog reaches maturity.