Note: I am still working on this page. The info I currently have below will be very helpful for many people. This is why I put it up before finishing it.
 
 

Aggression is when a dog growls, bites and snarls with or without hackles up and wide eyes.

Barking is an alarm of being fearful of something. The fear level is low. This doesn't hold true for a dog trained to bark on command.

Growling means the dog is insecure of the situation. There is moderate to high fear level.

Snarling is when the dog is growling with a nose sound added to it. There is an extremely high fear level and a high level of insecurity of the situation.
 
 

Proper Aggression - the dog displays aggression behavior when threatened.

Improper Aggression - the dog displays aggression behavior when it's not a true threatening situation eventhough the dog may feel that it is threatening.
 
 

Fear Aggression - a fear aggressive dog will have a tucked tail between it's legs, move stiffly, freeze still and have widely opened eyes.

Threat Aggression - this dog will growl, bark very much, raise their hackles (hair on back) to appear bigger, carry their tail low toward the ground diagonally or pointing it down vertically between it's lags. These are all signs of a very unsure and unconfident dog. Leave this dog alone as it will likely bite you if you go closer.

Extreme Fear & Threat Aggression - this dog will attempt to appear smaller by crouching down, tucking it's tail between it's legs while growling, snarling * and barking. These dogs are extremely unsure and unconfident of the situation. They very likely to bite, if confronted further.

*Snarling is a dog scared stiff with their mouth closed while it growls and the dog may pull up it's lips, which makes a nose (snorting like) sound to the growling.

Moderate Fear & Threat Aggression - These dogs will also crouch down with barks and growling without any snarling. They aren't as unsure and unconfident as the one above, but they are still very dangerous to approach.

Low Fear and Low Aggression - A dog which is trying to appear bigger by raising their hackle (hair on back) to appear bigger, and carry their tail high (level with their body or higher) with a slow wag. These dogs will not likely be a threat toward people. They will only appear to be threatening toward people. They are confident and very educated about human behavior. They will usually bark continuously with a monotone bark, stand their ground and will attack only when they are provoked by a stranger who shows threatening behavior with anger and/or hitting the dog. The high tail is a sign that this dog has confidence. If your dog doesn't have a tail, you can only go by their constant bark with no growling. If your dog does most of this and also growls some in between the barks, then your dog is not as confident and sure of how to react. This can easily be helped through training. Low Fear and Low Aggression applies to properly trained Protection and Police Dogs. To read more about Protection and Police Dogs go here.
 
 

Fear Biter or Nipper - bites in situations where the dog feels fear but may not be a true threat. Usually bites at the fearful object, person or pet.

Threat Biter - bites when it feels some fear and threatened. Usually threat which is not warranting the need for a bite. This may be due to rank establishment. If you try to dominate the dog the dog may protest bite you to keep this higher rank. I explain the protest bite next.

Note: both will bite when cornered. Fear Biters will display the Fear Aggression behavior. The Threat Biter will show the Threat Aggression or either of the two Fear & Threat Aggression behaviors, which I explain above.
 
 

A protest bite is when your dog bites out of trying to dominate you to become the boss. When you try to down an aggressive dog, he or she will growl which is his way of gaining control over you and doing what he or she wants instead of what you want. Your dog doesn't like being the submissive one so he or she growls at you. If you ignore the growl and try to down your dog further he or she may bite you or try to because your dog is protesting that act. For dogs that protest bite I suggest the use of the Halti head halter.
 

CLASSIFICATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS OF DIFFERENT AGGRESSION AND DOMINANCE BEHAVIOR

Note: THESE CLASSIFICATIONS ARE FROM VARIOUS BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. If you haven't heard of these don't worry, this is only here for those who do know.

Dominance, Leadership, Pack Hierarchy, Social Status, Discipline, Competition, Resource Guarding, Rivalry, Group Socialization, Undersocialized, Intraspecific, Frustration Aggression, & Displacement.

Fear Aggression, Pain, Pain-induced, & Self-protective.
 
 

In my opinion all can be Learned, Environmental and Genetically based aggression.

There are several different types of dominance behavior which dogs display. Some people may classify these separately but they are really the same in my opinion. Plus classifying them differently only confuses people more.

Dominance is when the dog displays the need to be the boss, alpha, or top dog toward other dogs, pets, and humans. The different behavior which they may do is claim your bed and guard it from you (aggression). Keep other dogs away to keep you as their own (aggression and jealousy). Putting paws up on you, your arms and jumping up (pure dominance; no aggression). Getting in between you and another dog or pet (pure dominance; no aggression). Your dog is growling at you to show or tell you what you should do or should not do like a dog growling at you when trying to put him or her into a down (dominance and aggression). Food and toy guarding (dominance and aggression) when not being teased. A dog that goes into a down instead of going into sit when you command, "Sit" and refuses to move (pure dominance; no aggression). This is also classified as being stubborn but stubbornness is also dominating behavior because they are refusing to do what you want.

Dominance with aggression can be Threat Aggression, both Fear & Threat Aggressions and Low Fear and Low Aggression.  Body posture displays depend on the dog. Read the descriptions above to see what body postures your dog displays.
 

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