Body Language: The Ladder of Aggression
If you've ever been caught off guard by a dog growling—or worse, biting—you’re not alone. But here's something that might surprise you: dogs rarely “snap out of nowhere.” In fact, most dogs give us many clues that they’re uncomfortable long before it gets to that point.
These clues are part of what trainers call the "ladder of aggression"—a sequence of escalating behaviors dogs use to communicate increasing stress, discomfort, or fear. Understanding this ladder can help prevent conflict and ensure that they have safe interactions with both humans and other dogs.
What Is the Ladder of Aggression?
Think of it like rungs on a ladder. At the bottom are subtle, low-level signals that say “I’m unsure” or “please give me space.” If these are ignored, the dog may climb the ladder to more obvious behaviors that eventually lead to biting.
Here’s a simplified version of that ladder:
Yawning, lip licking, showing belly
Turning head away
Walking away
Whale eye (showing the whites of the eyes)
Freezing or tensing, hard stare
Growling
Snapping
Biting
Each rung represents an opportunity for the dog to be heard—and for us to intervene before things escalate.
Why You Should Never Punish Warning Signs
One of the biggest mistakes well-meaning dog guardians make is punishing dogs for growling, snarling, or other “scary” behaviors. While it may seem like you’re correcting the behavior, what you’re really doing is removing a rung from the ladder. And that’s dangerous.
I recently fostered a sweet but scared little dog named Jen. She was a mix of nervous energy and heart-melting eyes. But Jen had one big issue: she would jump straight from subtle signals like a whale eye or lip lick directly to biting—no growl, no snarl, no snap.
She had been punished in her previous home for growling. Every time she tried to say “I’m uncomfortable,” she was told off. So, like many dogs in that situation, she learned to skip that step. After all, why warn if warning gets you in trouble? This made her unpredictable and hard to place safely- she couldn’t be homed with children or inexperienced owners. She eventually found a home that was suitable but her journey would have been much smoother if she’d had her growls respected instead of punished.
What If a Dog Skips Rungs or Doesn’t Understand Others?
Some dogs, like Jen, have been taught (intentionally or not) to skip steps. Others may struggle to read or respond appropriately to other dogs’ signals—especially if they weren’t properly socialized as puppies- and this can lead to them getting hurt.
These dogs aren’t “bad” or “broken”—they just need training support. A trainer, with the help of well-socialised dogs, can help them relearn how to communicate safely and understand others. It takes patience, but it’s worth it—for their safety and everyone else's. Impackt Behaviour has lots of good examples of this on her Facebook page if you’d like to see how we can help dogs make progress with their communication.
What You Can Do
Here’s how you can support healthy communication with your dog:
Learn to spot the early rungs. Start noticing things like yawning, lip licking, or turning away. These are polite requests from your dog, not signs of disobedience.
Respect the signals. If your dog growls, pause and assess the situation. What made them uncomfortable? Can you remove the trigger or create more distance?
Avoid punishment. Instead of suppressing behaviors, work on creating positive associations and teaching alternative coping strategies.
Get help if needed. If your dog’s reactions seem extreme, sudden, or confusing, don’t go it alone. A trainer can make a world of difference.
Communication Is a Two-Way Street
At the end of the day, the ladder of aggression is not a roadmap to violence—it’s a guide to communication. Dogs don’t want to bite. They want to feel safe. And when we learn to listen at the lower rungs, we rarely see them climb to the top.
Let’s give our dogs permission to speak—and the safety to be heard.
