Evaluating the risks of canines with a history of aggression

It is not uncommon for veterinary professionals to encounter questions about dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior. Although common, there is no single right answer to these questions or a definitive solution when these issues arise. So, what can be done? And what conversations should be had with clients regarding canines with a history of aggressive behavior?

During his lecture, "Risk Assessment of Dogs With a History of Aggressive Behavior," Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC (IAABC), emphasized to attendees why it is crucial to understand the context of aggression, including environmental factors, behavior patterns, and emotional states from the patient, as well as relationships between family members and pets to see whether there is a problem to be worked through.

Talking to clients

According to Pachel, when talking to clients, it can be helpful for the veterinary team to start by discussing with the client what aggression really is and what it is not. Aggression is threatening or harmful behavior that is directed toward another person or group, not an overall temperament or character trait. By providing clients with this understanding of what aggression really is, it can help teams encourage clients to remain more objective and less likely to take any information or recommendations personally, or to interpret them as a comment on their own behavior.

“We know that there are so many factors that impact how and why a dog may show aggressive behavior in one context vs another, and that's why we're really going to be focusing on this risk assessment to identify what those safety concerns [are] and what it would look like to create a management plan, or overall treatment plan, to both identify and address them to the best of our ability,” Pachel said.

A risk assessment is not capable of or intended to provide a completely accurate prediction of future behavior or a guarantee. Instead, the goal of it is to help identify situations, locations, and contexts where the aggressive behaviors could present to help the veterinarian decide whether there are any strategies that will help the pet be treated and managed safely. A risk assessment is a way to identify the “holes in the fence” that may need to be addressed at the time the assessment is occurring, according to Pachel.

Pain, pain, go away?

To begin a risk assessment, age is an important factor because it can be normal to see aggression even at a young age. For puppies presenting with aggression, it can be because of multiple reasons, such as fear, which Pachel said is one of the most common motivations behind growling. For veterinary teams, if you are able to put the appropriate interventions in place, many dogs will go on to have successful outcomes at home.

When it comes to aggression, it is important to rule out pain, especially when the aggression appears to be related to age. Pachel explained that in the case of aggression, it is assumed to be pain until proven otherwise.

“Where that factors into our risk assessments is that even if that owner manages pain appropriately, even if we put appropriate treatment into place, pain is often something that's progressive, as are some of the other conditions that we navigate,” he said.

“So thinking about how we support those clients, knowing that we'll have our point of assessment, we can put some treatment in place, and we may have a much more successful management strategy. But if that osteoarthritis, or whatever the condition is, continues to progress, we may reach a point where there's a breakthrough event again, and there may be an ongoing conversation. So setting the stage for that at the very first conversation can be really helpful,” Pachel said.

Conclusion

Risk assessment for dogs with a history of aggressive behavior is a complex, multifaceted process that requires careful consideration of individual patient factors. By focusing on clear communication, ethical decision-making, and tailored management strategies, professionals can help ensure the safety and well-being of both animals and people.

Reference

1. Pachel C. Risk assessment of dogs with a history of aggressive behavior. Presented at: Fetch Coastal; September 12-13, 2025; National Harbor, MD.