The fact that a dog does not tolerate babies is not unusual and such intolerance is not even considered aggressive in many breeds. Luckily, Labs are known for their tolerance of children, but this type of warning growl should not be ignored in any dog. It is important to understand that when a dog displays truly aggressive behavior, that behavior is intended to maintain, change or enforce the dog's view of its environment, pack or family by intimidating or harming a person or another dog. Viciousness, an extreme variation of aggression, is characterized by unprovoked attacks on animals or people. This behavior must not be ignored or excused.
Health authorities report more than one million dog bites per year.
Of these, at least half of the victims are young children under 10 years of age. By understanding the more common aggressive behaviors, we can more easily recognize warning signs, thereby avoiding serious or potentially life-threatening situations. Several forms of aggression have been well documented and are briefly described below. Dogs may exhibit more than one type of aggressive behavior. Many dogs are dominant but do not exhibit dominance aggression.