There are many types of aggression among dogs. Classes of aggression include the following (Borchelt, P.L. and Voith, V.L. 1982. "Classification of Animal Behavior Problems," Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 12:571-585):
- Dominance aggression: aggressive behavior usually directed to family members who take something from the dog, pet it, hold it, pick it up, or disturb it while it is resting.
- Defensive or fear aggression: directed to family or strangers who approach too quickly or too closely when the dog is afraid.
- Protective/territorial aggression: directed to strangers to approach the owner or the home of the owner.
- Predatory aggression: directed to small, quickly moving animals and children, especially where more than one dog is involved.
- Pain-elicited aggression: directed to family or strangers who approach or touch when the dog is in pain or injured.
- Punishment-elicited aggression: directed to family or strangers who hit, kick or verbally assault the dog.
- Redirected aggression: directed to family, strangers and animals who approach or touch the dog when it is aggressive in another context
