De-Escalation Techniques for Handling Aggressive Animals

Aggression is a common and serious behavioral problem in dogs and cats. Animal shelter workers are likely to encounter aggressive animals, and these situations can be tense, stressful, and dangerous. This article will explain the types and causes of aggression, as well as how to safely and effectively de-escalate situations in which an animal is displaying aggression.

Understanding Animal Aggression

Aggression refers to threatening or harmful behavior that’s directed towards another animal or a person. Aggressive behaviors are within the normal range of behaviors for dogs and cats, and an animal isn’t necessarily misbehaving by showing aggression. By understanding the types and causes of aggression, shelter workers can learn how to safely approach an aggressive animal.

The following are types of aggression that animal welfare workers should be familiar with:

Fear-based aggression: Fear-based aggression in pets, which refers to aggressive behaviors that are displayed when an animal feels threatened, is very common. In a shelter setting, examples of triggers could be feeling cornered in a kennel, veterinary visits, getting caught by animal control, or being handled by unfamiliar people.
Territorial aggression: This type of aggression occurs when the animal feels a need to defend its territory, whether that be a yard or a kennel.
Protective aggression: Animals who become aggressive as they defend their people or other animals in their social circle may be displaying protective aggression.
Possessive aggression (i.e. resource guarding or food aggression): The animal guards their food, toys, bedding, or other possessions.
Pain-induced aggression: Animals show aggression when experiencing pain or discomfort. Medical staff may experience this while examining an injured animal.
Redirected aggression: The animal feels aggressive towards one target but redirects towards another person or animal. A common way shelter workers experience redirected aggression is by getting bitten by a dog while trying to break up a dog fight.
Maternal aggression: A female dog or cat may become aggressive in their defense of offspring.
Disease-related aggression: Some diseases, such as hyperthyroidism or brain tumors, may cause changes in behavior, including increased aggression.
Inter-dog or inter-cat aggression: This is aggression directed towards animals of the same species. For example, a dog who growls and lunges at other dogs may be referred to as “dog aggressive.”
Idiopathic aggression: This is aggression that occurs without a known cause or trigger. Idiopathic aggression is rare.

It should be noted that predatory behavior is not generally considered a true type of aggression. Prey drive is normal for some dogs and cats, though it should be considered an important factor in animal placement and handling within the shelter. For example, large dogs and small dogs should generally not be placed in play groups together.

When identifying the type of aggression and its potential triggers, shelter workers should keep in mind the animal’s history (both known and unknown), medical conditions, and how the shelter environment may be contributing to aggressive behaviors.

Early Warning Signs of Aggression

Most animals give warning signs before progressing to attacking the person or animal triggering their aggressive behavior. It’s essential that shelter workers know the early warning signs of aggression in both dogs and cats, including aggressive animal body language.

Warning Signs in Cats

Crouching low
Stiff posture
Puffed-up tail
Tail twitching or lashing
Ears flattened sideways or backwards
Dilated pupils
Avoiding eye contact
Direct or hard staring
Growling, hissing, spitting, or low yowls
Swatting

Warning Signs in Dogs:

Freezing or stiff posture
Tail held high and still or slowly wagging in a stiff manner
Lip licking and yawning
Raised hackles
Visible whites of eyes (i.e. whale eye)
Hard staring
Tensing the muzzle
Growling
Showing teeth
Snarling
Barking

If an animal’s early warning signs are ignored, they are likely to escalate to behaviors that can cause injury to you, other people, or other animals. For dogs, this usually means biting. Cats will both bite and scratch.

De-Escalation Techniques That Work

Shelter staff should be trained in de-escalation techniques for animals. When you are calming aggressive pets, you should prioritize reducing perceived threats and the safety of people and animals in the area.

Consider the following techniques for both dogs and cats:

Remain calm. As long as the animal is only giving warning signs, do not yell or move suddenly.
Avoid direct eye contact. You should not stare at an animal. You’re not trying to challenge them or exert dominance.
Give the animal space. Cornering an animal is often perceived as threatening. Step away if you can and consider turning your body sideways so that you’re not facing the animal directly.
Do not reach or loom over the animal. If an animal is displaying aggression, it’s not an appropriate time to try to pet or grab them. A slip lead may be a good option for gaining control without having to place your hand next to the dog’s face.
Redirect the animal. You can try to distract the animal by tossing high value treats or toys.
Plan your exit. If the animal does not calm or continues to escalate, you should leave the area. Make sure to prioritize the safety of yourself, other people, and animals.

While you should avoid using loud noise or spraying animals with water, if the animal is actively attacking a person or another animal, it’s appropriate to use a blow horn or spray water from a hose at the animal.

Tools and Safety Equipment

Shelter staff need to be trained in how to use appropriate tools and safety equipment for aggressive animals.

Examples of tools and safety equipment that shelter staff should be trained to use or understand include:

Bite-resistant gloves (i.e. feral gloves)
Long sleeves, pants, close-toed shoes
Muzzles
Slip leads
Leashes, collars, and harnesses
Crates, kennels, carriers, cages
Guillotine gates
Baby gates and barriers
Towels and blankets (especially for cats and small dogs)
Toys and treats for redirecting
Spray bottles and air horns
Catch poles
Cat nets or nabbers
Sedatives (with veterinary direction)

If an animal is showing warning signs of aggression, you should try to defuse the situation rather than restrain the animal unless it’s necessary for safety or the animal’s health.

A leash and collar or harness should be used for basic control of dogs. When a dog is restrained for something like a vaccine or medical exam, there should be one arm around the dog’s neck or chest and one around the rump or under the waist to prevent the animal from whipping their head back and biting. Scruffing should not be used for dogs.

When handling aggressive dogs, slip leads can be used to effectively gain control without reaching towards a dog’s face. If the dog is extremely aggressive, a catch pole may be necessary.

Cats should be transported in cat carriers. If you are handling aggressive cats, consider using gloves or cat muzzles. Wrapping cats in a towel is good for gentle restraint, and scruffing should be avoided in cats as much as possible. Nets or nabbers may be used for cats that are fractious.

Environmental and Situational Control

The shelter environment can be stressful for animals, and there are many potential triggers that could exacerbate aggressive behavior.

The following tips can help with control of the shelter environment to decrease fear, anxiety, and stress.

Identify stressors or triggers and then alter the pet’s environment to avoid those triggers. For example, if a dog reacts to other dogs being placed in the kennel across from them, consider changing the dog’s housing situation to avoid this stressor.
Avoid overcrowding whenever possible. Utilize fosters to help get animals out of the shelter environment. Understand what your capacity for care is and strive not to exceed it.
House dogs and cats in separate areas of the shelter. If possible, try to prevent cats from being exposed to the sights, sounds, and smells of dogs.
Make sure cats have hideaways and dogs have a safe space that they can retreat to if they’re overstimulated.
Consider the use of pheromones, especially for cats. Feline-appeasing pheromones may help reduce aggressive behavior.
Play gentle music or white noise. Loud or upbeat music may be stressful for some animals.
Do not allow visitors to handle animals without the help of a staff member.
Feed animals, especially dogs, separately from one another to prevent resource guarding.
Try to keep a regular schedule in terms of feeding, time outdoors, and walks.
Ensure staff members are trained in appropriate animal restraint techniques, animal handling safety, pet behavior de-escalation, and how to perform controlled introductions between animals.
Ensure there are enough resources to prevent resource guarding or territorial aggression if you have animals housed together or in play yards together.

What Not to Do When Handling Aggression

You can unintentionally escalate aggressive behavior with your reaction. Do not use the following methods to address aggression in dogs or cats:

Yelling or physical punishment, which can increase fear-based aggression
Punishing warning signs, which are the animal’s way of telling you they’re uncomfortable
Challenging the animal, staring them down, or trying to physically dominate them
Cornering the animal
Trying to calm them with physical touch on their head or face
Pushing boundaries or ignoring warning signs
Grabbing an animal’s collar or scruff to pull fighting animals apart

Long-Term Strategies for Reducing Aggression

For some pets, aggression is a recurring behavioral problem. Changes are difficult to make in a shelter setting, though not impossible. Consider the following long-term strategies for animal aggression management.

Rule out medical conditions. Before focusing on behavioral modification, consider whether the animal is in pain or has a medical condition that contributes to aggression.
Use your fosters. Consistency in training is easier when you can rely on a trustworthy foster rather than all staff members and visitors.
Develop a behavior modification and training plan. If possible, it’s best to do this with the help of a certified or veterinary behaviorist. If the environment cannot be changed to avoid triggers, consider desensitization and counterconditioning.
With desensitization and counterconditioning, you slowly introduce a previously stressful stimulus, gradually increasing the intensity while pairing the experience with positive reinforcement. This process can be very time-consuming but is often rewarding.
Provide structured socialization. Socialization should occur in a controlled environment, and interactions should be positive.
Consider pharmacologic intervention. Some pets do well when behavioral modification is paired with medications to reduce anxiety or fear. Consult with a veterinarian to determine if pharmacologic intervention is right for the animal.

When to Seek Professional Help or Consider Euthanasia

If you have the budget or space to work with an animal behaviorist or veterinarian, consider consulting with a professional if the animal’s aggression:

Seems to have no trigger or occurs without warning signs
Escalates over time
Has not responded to previous interventions
Has resulted in injury to people or other animals
May have a medical cause

If the shelter has limited resources, is concerned about liability or insurance, or fears serious injury to other people or animals, it’s appropriate to consider euthanasia for these cases. Animal shelters not only have a duty to the animals but also to public health.

Consider these sources for locating a professional in your area:

For other animal shelter aggression tips, consider speaking with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist, especially one experienced in working with shelter animals.