Some Aggression Is Normal — Context Matters
Aggression is a scary word.
When people hear it, they often jump straight to panic.
They worry about safety.
They worry about the future.
They worry that something is “wrong” with their dog.
But one of the first things I do when working with a reactive dog — or even a dog that has bitten — is slow everything down and ask a simple question:
In what context did this happen?
Because sometimes, given the situation, the behaviour actually makes sense.
Behaviour Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum
Dogs don’t just “be aggressive for no reason.”
Their behaviour shows up:
somewhere
with someone
at a certain distance
under certain conditions
at a certain stress level
When we ignore the context, we miss the most important part of the picture.
Normal vs Abnormal Aggression
Part of my job is working out whether a dog’s response could be considered somewhat normal for the situation — or whether it’s out of proportion to what’s happening.
That distinction matters a lot.
For example:
A dog growling when a stranger grabs them suddenly
A dog snapping when cornered with no escape
A dog reacting when in pain, frightened, or overwhelmed
These responses may not be desirable — but they can be understandable.
They are often self-protective, not malicious.
On the other hand, aggression that shows up:
with no clear trigger
at very low levels of pressure
in many different situations
without warning or recovery
is something we manage very differently.
Why This Distinction Matters
If we treat all aggression as the same, we make mistakes.
We might:
push dogs into situations they’re not ready for
train skills instead of changing environments
expect tolerance where fear is still present
ignore safety signals until something escalates
Understanding context helps us decide:
how much we need to change a dog’s world
what situations should be avoided for now
what skills need to be taught
how much recovery and support is needed
Context Shapes the Plan
When behaviour makes sense given the situation, the focus often becomes:
reducing pressure
increasing distance
improving predictability
supporting the dog’s nervous system
teaching safer coping strategies and alternative behaviours
When behaviour is less predictable or more extreme, we may need:
stricter management
clearer boundaries
more controlled exposure
longer recovery periods
more careful safety planning
The plan changes based on why the behaviour is happening — not just what it looks like.
Aggression Is Information
Aggression is not a personality trait. It’s information.
It tells us:
something feels unsafe
something hurts
something is overwhelming
something crossed a line
there is an unmet need
Our job isn’t to punish the message. Our job is to understand it.
The Takeaway
Not all aggression means the same thing.
Some aggressive responses are signals that the dog was pushed too far, too fast, or without support.
All aggression points towards an unmet need, whether that is safety, control, frustration or even joy. To address aggression fully, we have to understand the context of when it happens and address the need the aggression met in the first place.
It means we respond to it intelligently.
When we understand context, we make better decisions. Safer decisions. Kinder decisions.
And that’s what actually leads to change.
If you’d like help applying this and in doing so, improving your and your your dogs lives, I can support you in a few different ways.
Through Canine Caregivers, I offer online courses and webinars to build understanding, structure, and consistency at your pace.
If you’re based in Sydney, I also offer 1:1 training across Sydney, socialisation and puppy classes, and can provide all recommended training equipment to support the work we’re doing.
I offer The Complete Care training program that covers every single base you will need as well as The Starter Program which allows you to tailor the training and support you need with flexibility.
👉 Join Canine Caregivers
📞 Or get in touch for 1:1 help in Sydney
— Ian
Bondi Behaviourist
“A healthy dog is a happy dog and a happy dog is great to live with”.
