Before the Bite: What Dogs Are Trying to Tell Us First

Aggression Is Communication, Not Just Behaviour

Aggressive communication in dogs is often misunderstood and heavily stigmatised. Media and popular narratives frequently frame it as “bad behaviour” or a sign that a dog is trying to dominate.

In reality, aggressive signals are a normal part of canine communication and often serve an important purpose: maintaining safety and creating distance when needed.

These signals can include:

• Growling

• Barking

• Snapping

• Lunging

• Showing teeth

Far from being random or “unprovoked,” these behaviours usually develop gradually through a series of earlier, more subtle warnings.

The Evolutionary Role of Aggressive Communication

Historically, humans even selected dogs for their ability to communicate assertively.

Certain breeds were valued for guarding and protection because they could alert humans to threats or deter intruders (Lockwood, 2016; Varner & Varner, 1983). In these contexts, assertive communication was a functional and desirable trait.

Some breeding lines even selected for reduced warning signals, where dogs would act without obvious signs, making their responses more immediate and less predictable (Lockwood, 2016).

This highlights an important point: aggressive communication is not abnormal—it is part of how dogs have historically survived and worked alongside humans.

Misunderstanding “Dominance Aggression”

Many aggressive behaviours were once incorrectly labelled as “dominance” or “alpha behaviour.”

This idea originated from early studies of captive wolves, where unrelated individuals were forced into artificial groups. These conditions do not reflect natural wolf or dog social structures (Bradshaw et al., 2017).

In reality:

• Wild wolves live in family groups

• Aggression is usually situational, not hierarchical

• Dogs are not constantly trying to “control” humans

Most aggressive behaviour is better explained through emotion: fear, frustration, stress, or confusion.

The Communication Ladder: Why Dogs Escalate

Dogs rarely move straight to biting.

Instead, communication usually escalates in stages:

• Subtle stress signals (turning away, lip licking, whale eye)

• Growling or barking

• Lunging or snapping

• Biting (if earlier signals are ignored)

The issue is that humans often miss or misunderstand the early stages (Shepherd, 2009). This leads to situations where people believe a dog “bit without warning,” when in reality, earlier signals were not recognised.

When subtle communication is consistently ignored, dogs may learn that they need to escalate their signals to be understood (O’Heare, 2017).

Play, Miscommunication, and Social Conflict

Even play can involve elements of aggressive communication.

Play between dogs requires:

• Clear signals

• Mutual understanding

• Willingness to pause or disengage

If these signals are misunderstood, play can quickly escalate into conflict (Bekoff, 1976).

Dogs who are poorly socialised or who struggle to read other dogs may misinterpret signals, increasing the risk of reactive behaviour or fights.

Physical traits can also affect communication. For example, dogs with limited tail visibility may find it harder to convey emotional states clearly to others (Bradshaw et al., 2017).

Why “No Warning Bite” Is Rarely True

When people say a dog bit “without warning,” it is often due to missed communication rather than absence of communication.

Subtle stress signals are easy to overlook:

• Turning the head away

• Freezing

• Lip licking

• Tension in posture

If these signals are not respected, the dog may feel forced to escalate to stronger communication to create distance.

In some cases, dogs learn that subtle signals do not work, so they skip straight to more obvious behaviours like lunging or snapping (O’Heare, 2017).

The Impact of Experience and Learning

Dogs learn from experience just like humans do.

If aggressive communication successfully creates space—for example, when a dog lunges and another dog moves away—they may repeat that behaviour because it “works.”

Over time, this can become a learned strategy for coping with stressful situations, even if the original trigger changes.

This is why early intervention, clear communication, and appropriate training are so important.

A Better Way to Understand Aggression

Instead of seeing aggressive behaviour as “bad,” it is more helpful to ask:

• What is my dog trying to communicate?

• What are they responding to?

• Have earlier signals been missed?

• Do they feel safe in this situation?

This shift in thinking allows for better training decisions and improved welfare.

Final Thoughts

Aggressive communication is not a failure—it is information.

Dogs use these signals to:

• Protect themselves

• Create space

• Communicate discomfort

• Avoid conflict

When we learn to recognise and respect these signals early, we reduce the need for escalation and create safer, more predictable interactions.

Understanding canine communication is not just about preventing bites—it is about building trust, reducing stress, and creating a clearer dialogue between dogs and humans.

references

Bekoff, M., 1976. Animal play: problems and perspectives. In Perspectives in Ethology: Volume 2 (pp. 165-188). Boston, MA: Springer US.

Bradshaw, J., Rooney, N. and Serpell, J., 2017. Dog social behavior and communication. The domestic dog: Its evolution, behavior and interactions with people, pp.133-159.

Lockwood, R., 2016. Ethology, ecology and epidemiology of canine aggression. The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior & Interactions with People; Serpell, J., Ed, pp.160-181.

O'Heare, J., 2017. The Science and Technology of Dog Training. Dogwise Publishing.

Shepherd, K., 2009. Ladder of aggression. BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine, pp.13-16.

Varner, J.G. and Varner, J.J., 1983. Dogs of the Conquest. Norman, OK. University of Oklahoma Press.