Fear Aggression in Dogs and Cats and the Groom Shops

Vanity With Humanity Pet Grooming Services Welcomes all Special Needs Pets including fear aggressive!

Lesha is a 3 yr old rescued German Shephard that due to severe physical abuse (including a broken jaw and an ear staple gunned to a wall and torn free before she was 6 months) and neglect, was diagnosed with fear aggression at a very young age. Visiting a shelter to assess a dog for a client, noticed her and was told "If you can get her out of her kennel, you can HAVE her" Rescued by myself she is now working successfully as my service dog and has been for over a year currently waiting to pass her access test.

Dogs with fear aggression have quickly become my most common and regular clients and are often an unnecessary source of embarrassment and stress for the owner. Most of these pets are turned away from regular groom shops or sedated due to lack of experience and skills on behalf of the groomer. My 10+ years of experience training dogs with this condition brings a unique ability to grooming these pets safely and humanely. ALL pets with this condition are welcome in my shop.

The Merck Veterinary manual defines fear aggression as: "Fear aggression has the following necessary condition: aggression that consistently occurs concomitant with behavioral and physiologic signs of fear as identified by withdrawal, passive, and avoidance behaviors associated with the sympathetic nervous system. The following condition is sufficient: as above and the aggression is accompanied by urination or defecation, or when the aggression is only active (beyond just posturing) when the target of the aggression is not interacting with the subject. The actual behaviors associated with fear, fear aggression, and any other aggression that is primarily driven by anxiety are poorly qualified and quantified.

However, in contrast to dominance/impulse control aggression, the dog relinquishes control and withdraws. Only when the dog can no longer avoid or withdraw does frank aggression occur. Also, unlike dominance/impulse control aggression, these dogs never deliberately provoke a situation or initially and voluntarily contribute to its escalation. In extreme cases, the sufficient conditions are clear; in less clear situations, which could be due to uncertainty on the animal’s part, caution is urged in ruling out all other aggressions. The most likely diagnosis is the one that is most consistent with all signs and criteria. Fear aggression does not have to occur consistently, although identification of the fearful stimuli will permit assessment of the extent to which the behaviors are consistent and pose a predictable risk. "

Fear aggression is also seen in cats, in which it is one of the most common types of aggression, both toward other cats and people. "Typically these pets present a quick aggressive episode as a result to a confined and controlled experience ie: on the grooming table. However, this is a PREDICTABLE response in most pets and with caution and watching for signs of stress- licking of lips, urination, defecation, stiffness and avoidance- many fear attack episodes can be avoided with breaks and caution on behalf of the groomer watching for tell tale signs. With time although fear aggression cannot be cured it can be controlled and managed and with calm, consistent HUMANE handling by a groomer, incidents become less and less frequent. In some cases sedation is safer for both the pet and the groomer but this decision must be made by all parties including a veterinarian experienced in aggression.

Ketny, now a 12 yr old German Shepard came to me when she was 9 with serious inter-dog aggression, fear aggression and the worst case of separation anxiety I had ever seen including jumping out of second floor glass windows. After three years of training she became a successful therapy dog visiting secure wards (Alzheimer's, strokes, mental illness patients) for several years. She became quite attached to her regulars and them to her until she retired as required at the age of 12.

Cats can also be fear aggressive especially if they have never been groomed before and then are suddenly held down for a shave down due to matting. Cats have very thin skin and therefore a lot of training and skill is required by the groomer to shave them with out tearing and/or burning their skin. They are the most dangerous fear aggressive pet to groom for the groomer as a cat bite, especially a puncture usually requires 14 days of antibiotic intravenous treatment and can end a groomers career. Gentle, human, quiet and preventative handling (e-collars etc.) are of utmost importance for both the cat and the groomer. They are of course welcomed into my salon and often after several human visits are quite easy to groom and seem to enjoy the process and attention!

With time, human consistent, and empathetic handling while being groomed even the most fearful pets can become relaxed and even doze off after their spa days!!