In this review, information on the concepts related to aggression and its causes has been gathered. In particular, the focus was placed on nutritional additives such as fatty acids, amino acids, and probiotics. Recently, apart from the use of appropriate training for behavioral disorders, the diet and physiology (including the endocrine system) of dogs have also come to be seen as an aspect of the disorders. In addition, the definition of the underlying cause of aggression has not been fully explained, as it can be both behavioral (related to unmet needs, especially in the early time of life, anxiety or stress, poor socialization, etc.), diseases (such as cancer, brain disorders or diet, etc.) or genetics. Many types of aggression can be distinguished in dog behavior depending on motivation (defensive/offensive), target (other animals, owner, unfamiliar people), etc. Additionally, in North America, aggressive behavior is strongly contributed toward the abandonment and/or euthanasia of animals, especially dogs. In the circumstances in which a dog shows undesirable aggression, they can inform the competent caregivers about the disposition of the animal, as well as take appropriate measures to eliminate aggressive behavior. Understanding the causes of the occurrence of aggression in dogs is crucial to both animal welfare and the safety of their caregivers. The combination of the dietary aspect, physiology (endocrine system), and neurocognition may allow for a thorough understanding of the impact of aggression on the dog’s body and to obtain more detailed information on the basis of its occurrence. Additionally, in recent years, new methods have been developed to help understand how a dog’s brain works: neurocognition. Dog ethograms include affiliate, agonistic, defensive, sedative, sexual, demonstrative, warning, stressful, playful, grooming, exploratory, related to hunting, or related to the reduction of stress. An ethogram is a species-specific list of natural behavior. Communication of any kind, including aggression, is a natural part of a dog’s ethogram. To aim to generalize the dogs’ behavior and understand their behavioral needs, ethograms have been developed. In addition, keeping dogs was associated with the need to learn about their behavior in order to maintain proper relations between the dog and the owner, as well as to eliminate the undesirable behavior, such as aggression. As a result of selective breeding, about 400 different breeds of dogs are recognized around the world, representing a large variety in terms of size, use, or weight. It is estimated that dogs are the first animal species domesticated by humans. In addition, the possible influence of diet and hormones on aggression in dogs has been discussed, as well as the application of neurocognition in the possibility of its diagnosis.

In this review, the concepts related to aggression and its potential causes have been gathered. In addition, the possibility of using neurocognition in the observation of abnormal behavior in dogs has also been discussed, which may allow for a more detailed determination of the basis of aggressive behavior in dogs. In particular, the emphasis was put on nutritional additives such as fatty acids, amino acids, and probiotics. In recent years, many studies have focused on the influence of diet and physiology (including the endocrine system) on the emergence of behavioral disorders. Aggression is not a fully understood phenomenon. However, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unwanted aggression in domestic dogs. Aggression as a behavior is not always desirable, often ends in abandonment and/or euthanasia.

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