By Ella Rayment-Ward|
A vet is urging pet owners to look out for the key warning signs that indicate their dog might be dangerous.
Speaking to The Mirror, Dr Emma Chandley for Perfect Pet Insurance shared the alarming behaviours that can be noticed "before your dog has bitten anyone".
"Owners need to be aware of these signs so that they can intervene and get help before their dog hurts or kills another animal or human," she urges.
According to Chandley, growling is a typical warning sign that could point to your dog becoming aggressive.
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Growling is a response that indicates the dog feels "threatened or frightened" and is "ready to harm", she says.
While not all dogs will attack, it's important for owners to recognise the switch in their dog's demeanour as a potential cause for concern.
Growling can also be a warning sign of dangerous behaviour outside of your dog's interactions with other pets.
When it comes to sleeping, Chandley warns dogs can becomes aggressive when moved or disturbed from their sleep.
Many pet owners will allow their dogs to sleep on their bed, but the vet reveals growling when being woken or moved can be alarming behaviour.
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"They may become territorial over who sleeps on the bed with them, for example accepting one partner but objecting to another," she added.
In addition to sleeping behaviours, the vet shares that growling over food and eating can be a common sign of aggression in dogs.
As well as snarling and growling, Chandley urges pet owners to look out for warning signs such as becoming aggressive when their owner tries to get back stolen food, or "they might stop eating when they are approached".
How your dog interacts with other people can also be a big indicator of their personalit,y according to Chandley.
"Alarm bells should be ringing if the dog won't allow certain people to touch them," she says, adding some aggressive dogs wont handle any kind of physical contact.
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Lunging at people or dogs while on a lead can also be cause for concern the vet reveals, explaining it can be a sign that they are "overly protective".
Additionally, becoming possessive of their toys and not letting humans or dogs touch them can be another sign of aggressive tendencies the vet warns.
A 2022 study by Sydney Children's Hospital revealed one child is admitted to hospital every single week from a dog bite in NSW.
The study then found the 10 dog breeds most frequently involved in attacks in Australia from the data.
According to Sydney Children's Hospital's findings, Pitbulls are the most prolific with attacks, contributing to 10.3 per cent.
Labradors were a surprising runner-up, with 8.5 per cent of dog bites recorded.
Other dogs listed in the study were the Rottweiler, Bulldog, Border collie and Jack Russell, among others.
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