Fighting between dogs: How do you manage this problem? How do you behave with your dog and other dogs?
Your little companion may be the sweetest of all, but he is likely to
fight with a congener at any time. Conflicts between dogs are not new and the
causes are many. Territory, possessiveness, hierarchy, lack of education... it
is important to understand the sources of a fight to better prevent the
following ones. Nevertheless, in the heat of the moment, there is room for the
right "reaction". It is difficult for the owner to know how to behave
to prevent dogs from getting injured sometimes seriously and not being
bitten as well. Discover our solutions to better manage dog fights.
Why do dogs fight?
Fighting between dogs is not a marginal phenomenon. Males and females
have multiple opportunities for conflict, as there are many reasons for these
disputes. In fact, fights between two dogs have four main causes:
- Defending one's territory is important for many dogs. When a congener enters his home, the softest animal can become aggressive in seeking to hunt him, regardless of his own size and the size of his opponent.
- Possessivity is also a common motive, as a fight can break out between two people if one refuses to share his bowl, toy, space, or even the favors of his master.
- Hierarchy does exist in dogs, and a dominant animal can impose itself on others by force.
During breeding, two male dogs can compete for favors from a female in
heat, even if they are two friendly animals.
These four reasons for fighting are the most common and can occur at any
time, even in a balanced animal. On the other hand, a doggie whose
socialization has not been carried out correctly or who lives or has lived in a
harmful environment can be aggressive towards his fellow members.
- When a puppy is removed too early from the presence of his mother and siblings, he has not had time to learn the rules of behavior and attitudes he must adopt towards his fellow puppies. Indeed, the mother educates her puppies by teaching them the limits not to be crossed.
- However, the mother is not the only one to educate the puppy. If his master neglects the education of his animal, even if it has been properly socialized in contact with his brothers and sisters, the result will be identical. A lack of education on the part of the human being, which does not teach the limits not to be crossed, can lead to fights when the doggie meets one of its congeners. Some owners do not impose clear limits on their animals, thinking they are doing well or refusing to be too strict, but firmness is essential to avoid deviant behavior.
- Of course, the violence experienced by the dog is a major factor in the fight because it incorporates the fact that communication necessarily involves aggression. The animal that is the victim of brutality, humiliation, punishment, and other forms of ill-treatment cannot have the keys to interact with others. These human behaviors are absolute to be banned and have no place in dog education and animal welfare.
How to handle dog fights?
Avoid dog fights: how do we do that?
Whether your dog tends to fight easily or not, it is important to avoid fighting. There are many solutions to avoid conflicts.
- When walking with your pet, do not stop or slow down when passing another dog, even if the pups come into contact peacefully. Their meeting must seem like a mundane event so keep going.
- Do not let your dog come into contact with another dog, especially if they are both on a leash. Indeed, if you pull on the leash to separate the two animals, you will send your little companion a bad signal that means danger is possible. So he can suddenly be aggressive towards the other doggie. In addition, the latter being on a leash, he may feel trapped. As a result, even the mildest dog can become aggressive if it feels threatened and unable to flee.
- Pay close attention to your own behavior. If you intervene, you can transmit your stress to your pet, which can trigger a fight. On the other hand, if you pet your dog when he grumbles at another dog, he may legitimately think that you are condoning and encouraging his belligerent attitude.
- Your dog must master the recall order very early. If you feel that the situation is tense, remind him in a firm tone that will not allow him to leave room for disobedience.
- If the fight starts or is likely to start for a reason of possessiveness, remove the source of the conflict. Be careful not to get bitten if tensions are already there.
How to react in case of a fight?
Your primary goal in the event of a fight is to prevent dogs from
seriously injuring themselves. However, you cannot intervene in any way or risk
worsening the situation or even getting bitten yourself.
Here's how to do it:
- Try to keep calm and cool to help soothe your dog. If you are tense, stressed, or screaming, you may increase the aggressiveness of the rivals.
- To surprise and distract animals, simply water them with cold water. A bucket of water, a pressure jet, or even a bottle of water will do the trick.
- You can also try to catch their attention with a sudden sound, such as a whistle, garbage lids, or pots. Any loud enough noise can interrupt the fight between the two animals, surprised.
- It is also possible to blind rivals by throwing a blanket over them or a coat. Surprised, they will seek to find their way back to the light and will no longer think about fighting.
- As a last resort, if one dog bites the other, it is possible to grab the hind legs to destabilize it. Nevertheless, this technique remains risky. It is preferable, of course, that each master take care of his dog.
How to react after the fight?
The fight is finally over. First of all, tie up your pet and move it
away from each other, or to ease tensions.
Then, when you are calm and your dog has calmed down, carefully examine
your little companion to make sure he is not injured. If you notice any wounds,
take him to the vet for an examination.
If your dog is well and not injured, keep walking and let it get on with
its work. This will allow him to evacuate the tensions and stress he has just
experienced more healthily.
On the other hand, there is no need to lecture or cajole him
excessively, because you would be sending the wrong message. The event must be
dedramatized. Do not pat or comfort him, as you may make him think he was right
to fight or communicate your anxiety to him. In addition, punishment or
reprimand has no effect.
On the contrary, you should try to handle the situation intelligently to understand the origin of this conflict. This will allow you to better
detect it on a future occasion and to act accordingly to avoid the fight before
it starts.
Remember that your dog needs to be in contact with other dogs to
tolerate and accept them without difficulty. However, it must be a quality
meeting, not a quantity one, because your dog must be able to follow the
example of dogs with exemplary behavior. Better to keep it away from the poorly
educated dogs.
What mistakes should be avoided in the event of a fight?
If conflict cannot be avoided, you must avoid some mistakes that may
make the situation worse.
- Do not intervene by trying to separate dogs with your hands or feet or by placing yourself between opponents. You could get bitten.
- No need to yell, because you will not be heard in most cases, the two being primarily focused on their dispute. Moreover, your screaming and irritation are likely to excite them more.
- Do not catch dogs by the tailor testicles, as the pain can make them turn against you or excite them more against their opponent.