In ethological terms, aggression is defined as a "physical act or threatening action that one individual commits against another, thereby limiting his very freedom and genetic potential." Several different types of aggressive behavior can be distinguished: predatory aggression, hierarchical aggression, frustration-induced aggression, territorial and maternal aggression and fear-induced aggression. Save for predatory aggression and fear-induced aggression, it is important to look at the entire behavioral sequence. A behavioral sequence has three phases.First, there is a threat or intimidation phase (growling, hackles raised, tail and ears erect, teeth bared), then an attack phase in which the dog charges its adversary and attempts to grab him by the skin of his neck, his breast or his fore legs. He tries to make his adversary fall and pins him down until he adopts a submissive posture.Finally, there is the appeasement phase. The triumphant dog either bites the vanquished dog on the top of the head, or he places his paw on the withers, or he straddles him. The attack varies according to the hierarchical relationship that already exists between the two dogs. If the attacking dog is dominant, the bite will be inflicted quickly and will be followed by a second round of intimidation. If, however, the attacking dog is in competition, he will maintain his hold until his adversary submits. If the sequence is complete, it is known as reactional aggression. If the threat or appeasement phases are not carried out, it is known as instrumentalized aggression or secondary hyper-aggression.
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