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Consider how instinct can exert control over certain aspects of animal behavior. So how does any of this relate to dog attacks? Let us examine this more closely.
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Aggressive Instincts Can Cause Violent Effects
Animals, notably dogs, attack due to the same instincts that force you to shield your eyes from the light or cradle an injured limb. When a dog perceives danger or insecurity, his basic impulse is to defend. Although external stimuli and provocations activate aggressive instincts, the instincts themselves are motivated by three fundamental primordial protective needs: personal protection, property protection, and territorial protection.
Personal Protection
When a dog perceives that he is being attacked or abused, his natural response should be to protect himself—violently, if necessary. The issue comes when a dog perceives something as innocuous as another dog walking too close to him as a threat and decides to attack.
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Property Protection
Dogs, like humans, develop strong attachments to items, toys, beds, food, and even other people. This connection leads them to believe that these objects are his (his owner is his property). As a result, a dog may interpret imagined threats to these objects as an attack on his own property.
Territorial Defence
Certain breeds of dogs have an unusual sense of personal space. When they’re in a nice mood, you can snuggle up to them, wrap yourself in blankets, or even sleep on them. Coming within ten yards of a dog, on the other hand, can be deemed a breach of their territory when they are exhausted, worried, or ill. If a dog believes you are in an area where you should not be, he may attack to defend his territory. This also applies to other pets and children.
Generally, dogs attack when they feel threatened or provoked. Regrettably, it might be difficult to determine what a dog considers to be menacing. This is why you must be vigilant for distress signals or aggressively defensive behavior. Additionally, regardless of the reason for the dog attack, it is critical to seek medical assistance promptly if you or a loved one sustains any form of harm as a result.