What Causes a Dog to Raise Their Hackles?
The term “hackles” refers to the hair along the neck and spine. Not all animals have hackles, but dogs do, and they use them to communicate with the people and other animals around them.
There are five reasons dogs commonly raise their hackles:
1. Fear
2. Anger
3. Assertion of Dominance
4. Excitement or Eagerness
5. Mating
We’ll look at each of these reasons in more detail below, but first, let’s look at the physical process of raised hackles. When a dog’s fur stands up, it’s known as piloerection. It’s an involuntary reaction to another physiological stimulus. Depending on the type of coat a dog has, it’s not always possible to see raised hackles, while in other dogs, it’s extremely obvious.
The fur stands up in response to a hormone signal from the brain that’s releasing adrenaline. While we usually see raised hackles as negative, it’s important to understand the message in context.
Fear
Fear, a feeling of insecurity, or feeling threatened can lead to aggressive behaviour. When this happens, dogs will raise their hackles.
Some dogs are naturally more anxious or fearful than others and experience fear in situations where there is no actual threat. Looking at a dog’s other body language can give you an idea of whether fear is the cause of their raised hackles. Context is important too. If you’ve entered the dog park and there is a growling dog present, this is an appropriate context for your dog to exhibit fear.
Fear often causes dogs to be reactive and even aggressive. They may bare their teeth or growl. This behaviour is often misinterpreted as anger or aggression. While it is aggression, it frequently comes from a place of fear rather than anger or dominance expression. However, some fearful dogs will hide behind their owners, tuck their tails between their legs, or try to otherwise escape the situation.
Dogs who have had a previous traumatic incident, been abandoned, or were poorly socialized as puppies are more prone to developing fearful behaviours. Others are just more fearful by nature.
Anger
Dogs who raise their hackles in anger are sending a warning to other dogs, but it’s usually one of the last signs of aggression you’ll see. Dogs who are angry bare their teeth, growl, wag their tail and point their ears forward. The progression towards an aggressive behaviour can happen in stages over a period of time, or it can happen very quickly and seemingly all at once.
Dogs and other animals know the signs of aggression instinctively, but we humans often miss the warning signs that something is about to go wrong. This is why it’s important to understand the ladder of canine aggression and be aware of their body language in any situation. Sometimes activities that we see as fun or unimportant can trigger anger in dogs.
If you notice your dog’s fur standing up or think they are expressing anger, you can try to divert their attention from the provoking stimulus. Giving them space to remove themselves from the situation is a good idea, too. Most dogs will choose to retreat rather than attack if they have the opportunity to do so.
If your dog regularly exhibits anger or aggression, you may need to seek help from a veterinarian or a canine behavioural expert for assistance.
Assertion of Dominance
A dog may raise their hackles in a show of dominance over other dogs. Dogs have a social hierarchy that drives their behaviour when they are in the company of other dogs. They will be either dominant or submissive, depending on who they interact with and the situation.
Dogs may only raise their hackles temporarily during interactions with other dogs, and it usually isn’t a serious situation.
Excitement or Eagerness
Sometimes your dog may raise their hackles out of excitement. A dog’s brain secretes adrenaline during times of stress and also in times of excitement. This is why it’s so important to look at the context of the behaviour. A dog who is happy will wag their tail quickly, jump around, bark, or play bow.
Mating
Unneutered male dogs are prone to a number of negative behaviours, including hyperactivity and aggression. This is due to the abundance of sex hormones they produce that instinctively drive them to seek out a mate. Their fur standing on end often occurs when unneutered male dogs are in competition for a mate. It also happens when they are around a female in heat, as they get excited to mate, producing adrenaline in their body and raising their hackles.
Final Thoughts
Dogs’ fur stands up for a number of reasons in response to the release of adrenaline. It can happen in both positive and negative situations, so it’s extremely important to interpret your dog’s other body language and the context of the situation.
If you are unsure why your dog’s hackles are raised, the best thing to do is to distract them or remove them from the situation. Learning to understand what our dogs are trying to communicate is crucial to helping them live healthy, happy lives and learning to cope with their emotions.
