Let's talk piloerection! Unsure what piloerection is? I am sure you have heard of or even seen the 'hackles' up on a dog. This is piloerection. The dog's version of goosebumps, simply where the fur stands up on end.
Piloerection or the hackles going up is an involuntary reaction, a reflex reaction. I am sure you have had that moment when your hair stands up on your arms? It is exactly like that.
Piloerection is often associated, and wrongly so, with aggression in dogs. But that is not true at all and happens for a number of reasons such as:
- Change in temperature
- Excited
- Aroused
- Nervous
- Shocked/startled
- Fear
- Aggression
To help determine what emotional state your dog is in when you see piloerection, you need to be looking at how to read your dog's body language. Don't just assume your dog is 'being aggressive'.
Written by Leanne McWade