What is the difference between hardness and aggressiveness?

[royalarrival]

I am currently attending college. I am doing a argumentative research paper about Rottweilers. I have searched for an answer to my question, but to no avail.

Is there a difference between hardness and aggressiveness? IMO, I would say yes. But I have a hard time explaining the difference. Which has me second guessing myself to say there is no difference.

I am not a novice to Rottweilers, but will admit I don't know everything. I am hoping someone with more experience w/working the breed can explain the difference if there is one.

Thank you in advance!

[JemarsSerena]

I'm no expert here, but I often describe my girl as being very hard. To me a hard dog is affected by very little, always confident. She is never nervous, scared or unsure. When training if I need to give a correction it has be very firm. Mild corrections don't even make her blink.

Aggressiveness tends to stem from a dog being unsure, nervous or scared. (IMO) The two really are polar opposites.

[harleychik66]

I agree with the above. I would equate the word hardness with strength. Mental not physical. The saying "tough as nails" comes to mind. Agressive would equate to weakness.

[Ann Felske-Jackman]

Think of "Hardness" as strong nerved and resiliant. A hard dog can be friendly, outgoing and even easy to manage, while still being "Hard". The "Hard" dog should be able to handle anything, yet doesn't need to be reactive. He has a strong sense of self and knows exactly who he is and what he wants. A "Hard" dog is one with indominable spirit. In my opinion, he is the defnition of the Rottweiler.

[jakesfostermom]

I agree with Ann and I will add to not confuse 'hard' with the term 'sharp' - for a sharp dog could (stress could) be viewed as aggressive, since they can be very reactive.

A wise lady on this forum once told me that having a dog that was both hard and sharp was like carrying around a loaded mouse trap in your pocket ....she gave me this analysis when helping me understand a rescued adult male rottweiler who had joined our home.......

Good luck on your paper - this forum has LOTS of information/discussions about 'hard dogs' - 'sharp dogs' - aggressive dogs, etc.......and lots of members discussing personal experiences with their own dogs.

[Mick Trainer]

Like others have said I do not equate "Hardness" with "aggression" at all. Hardness or being a hard dog relates to the dogs ability to handle stress or duress and not be overly effected by it or is quick to bounce back once the dog does get stressed by something. My fovourite definition when looking at the defintional term of hardness comes from "Armin Winkler" in his article on "Tell me about your dog part 1" where he uses Swiss behaviorist Dr. E. Seiferle's definition "The ability to take negative influences and experiences such as pain, punishment, defeat in a fight without being affected significantly at the moment they happen or in the long term." I too since reading Armin's article break hardness up into three seperate sections in "pain hardness", helper hardness (which I further use to define hardness to external stimulus for dogs outside the working field) and handler hardness. I belive a dog can be hard in all or one of these areas and can further be "soft" in others and find being able to break these up like this a great defining tool when talking to trainers etc.

Aggression on the other hand defines a singular behavior where the dog is communicating with the stimulus/object it is being aggressive towards in order to drive it away or to control resouces etc. A dog can be very soft and stilll be very aggressive due to poor nerve etc.

Where the problem in defintion comes abotu with regards these two terms is that people see a dog that is working very stronglly and handling a lot of pressure but is engaged in the fight vigourously and someone may say "what a hard dog". This is not said because the dog is showing aggression but because the dog is showing real resistance to the pressure being applied. It fights on under great pressure and stress but in real terms a dog does not need to be aggressive to be hard. It could be a very hard dog if under great pressure it does nothing more than stare at you.

In the end I would recommend you read more including Armin's articles. I have found few better to use as a definitional tool. He is very precise with what he writes and they paint clear definitional differences in all such terms.

Mick.

P.S. I am doing a argumentative research paper about Rottweilers. What precisely is your article about regarding the Rottweiler? Can we read it when you have submitted it?

[zorro13]

I would also agree with Ann's and Mick's definition. Mick--gonna have to take a look at that article, I suppose I can google that to bring it up?

[Mick Trainer]

Yeah I'd say so.

Here are the links.

Schutzhund Village
Schutzhund Village

I don't think this site actually sells dogs but it does link to some that do. If this is outside the rules of the forum then my apologies.

Mick.

P.S. At the bottom of these articles there is a link to all Armin articles and I'd encourage those that are interested in truly understanding a lot of what is spoken about in working dogs circles to read the lot. I don't 100% agree with all of it but there is a lot to like here. I got my copy of these articles a long time ago from Armin himslef and I still refer to them often and all my trainers read them in their second year of study.

[royalarrival]

Thank you for all of your responses!

I will read Armin Winkler's article as well as any linking information.

We have 4 papers to write. First one is a 2 page. The next 2 are 4 pages. The final one is 6-10 pages.

The first one will be to argue that Rottweilers are not time bombs. I will attempt to educate the class what the breed is all about. To show responsible breeding, training, handling and ownership is needed in this breed (like any other breed). To make it clear that Rottweilers are not a breed for everyone. To not pass judgement on the breed from isolated negative propaganda. By doing so would be a uneducated assessment of the breed.

The two 4 page reports will be about breeding (the difference between a byb and a COE breeder as well as what should be bred compared to what is bred) and the PA dog Law proposal.

The final report will be on BSL. I have already printed out some research on this topic and set it aside.

My 2 page is due next Thursday. I will be busy this weekend!

I will share my report when it is finished.

Thank you again for the information and leads.

[royalarrival]

Thank you sooooo much Mick Trainer.

WOW!!! A lot of information to digest. Plus, many new leads for my research!

[royalarrival]

I have completed my 2 page research paper and will post it in the general forum.

[Ostory]

Hardness- is a term used to indicate the dog's response to negative stimuli.

Aggressiveness- is the threshold at which a dog moves forward towards a threatening stimuli.

Negative stimuli could be a correction, a fight, rough play, verbal corrections.

Threatening stimuli could be forward approach by others, actual attack by others, precieved attack, Pack conflicts, ect.

Hardness has more to do with a dogs sensibilities to negative stimuli, while Aggressiveness is more of a measure of a dog's level of nerves.

A dog can be hard and not aggressive at all, and a dog can be aggressive and very soft.

[poohbearsmom]

Very well put, Orville.