Six reasons your dog may be oddly aggressive when touched
Does your dog actually hate or love being petted, and is there an underlying condition?
“I’m never walking this dog again,” was my first thought after a Shih Tzu tried to bite me when I attempted to remove a dog sweater. The price for a 20-minute walk was not worth a doctor’s visit for dog bites, so I bailed and left that dog looking like a ‘90s hip-hop fan in overalls — one strap (sleeve) on and the other hanging. I warned the dog owner, rolled my eyes at the three-star review afterward and blocked future walks with this dog.
Fast forward three years later, and my own dog did the same thing once I bought her a dog sweater. Considering my Hound mix Junee was long ago trained to not bite and I’ve never been one to put my fingers anywhere a dog doesn’t like, I had to come to terms with one thing: Either I suck at dressing dogs or something else was wrong. (In Junee’s case, I learned she genuinely was worried that I would not put another sweater on her while I handwashed the one she was wearing. She treats dog sweaters like a fiancée with a new ring.)
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In addition to these four reasons why dogs may freak out when a dog owner takes off their dog coats or dog sweaters, here are six other reasons to be aware of about sudden aggression in dogs who are usually friendly.
1. New dogs recognize new touch
On countless occasions, my father has mentioned how Junee doesn’t like her ears to be touched. I scratch my head each time. I clean Junee’s ears, massage her ears and sometimes flap them up and down like Dumbo. (Floppy-eared dogs entertain me.) She’s unbothered. But I’ve also been doing this almost five years (next month) on a daily basis. She’s used to my hands.
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Just like going to a new beautician or barber, everybody has a different way of handling your head. New dogs — or new dogs to you — may not feel comfortable with you touching their heads. If you can demonstrate on another dog or pet them enough so they get used to your touch, which very well could be rougher or bigger than the owner’s hands, that may help.
2. Injuries may be hidden in a dog
While some dogs make it known when there is a sore spot, skin irritation, nausea or less-noticeable paw injury, other dogs treat ailments like somebody who hates going to the doctor. They’ll try their best to avoid the threat of the vet!