Idiopathic is defined as, “relating to or denoting any disease or condition which arises spontaneously or for which the cause is unknown.” Idiopathic aggression occurs spontaneously – there are NO triggers.
Unfortunately, there is an incorrect or incomplete understanding and usage of the term “idiopathic aggression” among some professional dog trainers. Although it is genetic in origin, it must not be confused with other types of genetically influenced aggression. Keep in mind that all behavior is a combination of nature and nurture. It is fair to say that there are genetic components to every aggressive dog’s behavior. But just because there is a genetic component, that doesn’t mean that it is accurate to identify the aggression as “idiopathic.”
Dog owners have a very difficult time identifying triggers. They will often tell the trainer that the bite came out of nowhere, with no warning, completely out of the blue. But that doesn’t mean that there were no triggers. It simply means that the owner was unable to identify the triggers.
In our franchisee training program, we don’t spend a lot of time discussing idiopathic aggression, since it is unlikely that the average trainer will encounter more than a few true cases of idiopathic aggression over a lifetime of training experience. Nonetheless, it is important for professional trainers to use terms correctly. So let’s take a closer look at idiopathic aggression.
Unprovoked aggressive episodes appear first at puberty and increase in intensity with age. The disorder is common in springer spaniels, cocker spaniels and bull terriers, and is often referred to by breeders as "springer rage." Cases of springer rage (AKA “rage syndrome”) have declined in recent years, as the breeding community has learned more about it. Studies have been done identifying similar behavior in cocker spaniels. A form of aggression with similar signs was also noted in Saint Bernards in the early 20th century. Although this rage was believed be to “bred out” of Saint Bernards, the breed is still prone to epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
The behavior comes on almost like a seizure. Rage syndrome is characterized by sudden, unprovoked aggressive attacks. A dog suffering from rage syndrome will lunge without giving any warning signals. While in a rage, the affected dog bites any human (or other animal) in its path. The dog bites down and facial muscles often spasm, preventing the dog from opening its mouth until the spasm relaxes. Some neurologists believe that this “lock jaw” is in fact a localized petit mal seizure. Observers may report that the dog’s eyes appear “glassy” or “cloudy” and the dog may exhibit other neurological signs such as “fly catching” and “shadow chasing” within minutes to hours prior to a rage. (Dodson, N. and Shuster, L., Psychopharmacology of Animal Behavior Disorders, 1998).
The exact etiology of these rages is unknown, hence the name “idiopathic aggression.” One theory holds that the “rages” are a form of temporal lobe epilepsy (or TLE). “[Human] patients [with TLE] may lash out with hands, feet or other objects. This aggression appears to be random and undirected” (Dodman and Schuster, 1998, P 69).
Some researchers and observers have noted a predictable time cycle to the “rages” - often about 1 month. Because of possible cyclic nature of the rage episodes, this disorder may sometimes be referred to as “episodic dyscontrol”
Recommended treatments for rage syndrome vary from the use of anticonvulsants (Dodman and Schuster, 1998), to medications which increase serotonin levels (Johnson, 2001), to euthanasia (due to the safety concerns presented by dogs with unprovoked aggression).
Conclusion:
• All idiopathic aggression is genetic, but not all genetic aggression is idiopathic.
• Idiopathic aggression is rare. It is unlikely that the average professional dog trainer will encounter more than a few true cases of idiopathic aggression over a lifetime of training experience.
• The ABCs (before, during, after) of rage syndrome are different from typical dog bites.
• Since there are no triggers, there are no effective behavior modification protocols.
• Owners often insist that there are no triggers to their dogs’ aggressive behavior. But with patient, attentive and skillful listening, a good trainer should be able to identify the triggers with relative certainty, ruling out idiopathic aggression as the cause.
