Why do dogs fight and how to prevent a fight?

Dog fights are a scary sight. Including because it can happen suddenly, and the consequences can be the most unpleasant. Unfortunately, dogs have many reasons to start a squabble, and even the most well-mannered pet is not immune from fights. But there is good news: your correct approach will reduce the likelihood of fights to a minimum, and a quick reaction will help resolve the conflict quickly and without serious consequences. But before we talk about the actions of the owner, let’s look at the main reasons that force dogs to use their teeth. Here they are.

Puberty. If your pet is about 6 months old and he suddenly started to clash with recent mates on the site, it is most likely puberty. During this period, the puppy becomes restless and naughty, and other dogs begin to see him as a rival and seek to defend their interests. Don’t worry, your dog’s behavior will improve over time.

• Fight for the female. If a dog in heat is nearby, unneutered males may get excited and begin to sort things out with rivals.  

• Dominance. Some dogs are leaders by nature, others are followers. The two leaders can check each other out when they meet to establish their status. Fortunately, if the dogs are balanced and well-mannered, such checks end more or less peacefully.

• Division of territory and owner. Quarrels also happen in dogs that live in the same apartment for a long time and usually get along well. Living together is not an easy thing. Dogs may not share a bone or a toy, they may be jealous of the owner, or they may simply not be in the mood.

• Lack of activity. Dogs can fight out of… boredom. This happens if the pet has nowhere to throw out the accumulated energy. Therefore, the dog should always be “in business.” The lack of physical and intellectual stress is a direct let to destructive behavior.

• Incorrect upbringing and socialization. Dogs that have been improperly raised and socialized can have difficulty building relationships with relatives. Often they behave aggressively, bullying other dogs and ignoring the commands of the owner.

• Mental problems. Serious, but, fortunately, not the most common cause. A dog can attack other dogs because of a moral injury, and without the help of a specialist, it cannot be done here.

• Wrong actions of the owner. And we saved this point for last, as it deserves special attention. Dogs may be in conflict because their owners are “pushing” them without realizing it. Even a strong pull on the leash or your approaching the dog at the wrong time can be an incentive for him to start a squabble. We’ll talk more about this below.

The best thing an owner can do to protect his dog is not to break up the fight, but to prevent it.

Learn to read dog body language. Dogs in a calm state do not rise on their toes, their back is not tense like a spring and the hair at the withers is not raised. A similar condition occurs at an early age: when an unknown object appears in the puppy’s field of vision. If you learn to recognize this tension, you will be able to react in time and distract the dog without allowing a fight.

– Educate properly. The foundation of good dog behavior is correct upbringing and socialization from childhood. If you have a strong dog of large or medium size, you need to take a professional course in its socialization. It will tell you in detail how to prevent conflicts between dogs and what to do if a squabble does take place.

– Try to stay away from aggressive dogs and dog packs.

– Walk your dog on a leash and, if possible, with a muzzle to always control the situation.

– Listen to other dog owners. If another person with a dog asks you not to approach him, don’t ignore his words, don’t experiment.

– Introduce dogs exclusively on neutral territory.

– Don’t let the dogs get to know each other. Acquaintance should take place on equal terms. If a dog runs up to you without a leash, unfasten the leash of your pet too. A more acceptable option is to introduce dogs on a free leash. But both dogs must be on a leash. While the dogs are sniffing each other, stand a little apart and do not interfere with the process.

– If you want to make friends with dogs, walk them together side by side, avoiding “head-on collisions.” Try to engage them in the game more often so that they focus on a common goal, and not on each other.

Learn to recognize the dog’s intentions. If the opponents are barking and grinning, most likely there will be no fight. Such behavior is a way of self-presentation, debriefing. It is quite possible, having shown off in front of each other, these dogs will chase one ball on the court.

But if the dog is tense, aggressively tuned (the hair on the withers is reared, the tail is raised, the ears are directed forward), does not take its eyes off the enemy and resolutely moves towards him, then a fight cannot be avoided.

– If your dog is attacked by another dog without a leash and a muzzle, unfasten or release the leash immediately. A dog on a tight leash cannot defend and maneuver. Of course, we are talking about dogs of approximately the same weight category.

– Keep calm. Don’t yell or get nervous when another dog approaches you. Your panic only increases the likelihood of a fight. It is not uncommon for a larger dog to get acquainted with a smaller one, and the owner gets frightened, abruptly grabs the pet in his arms, starts screaming … Unfortunately, all these actions only provoke an attack.

– Set aside a territory for dogs. If fights occur between dogs living in the same room, try to minimize the causes of their conflicts. For example, each dog should have its own bed and bowls, and you should give equal attention to all pets.

Praise and reward dogs with treats for good behavior.

What to do if the dogs still grappled? The most important thing is not to panic. In such a situation, it is, of course, difficult to do this. But it is important to understand that rash actions can lead to terrible consequences not only for the dog, but also for you. So, what to do if a fight breaks out between dogs?

• If your dog is attacked by an off-leash dog in the same weight class, first unfasten (or release) your dog’s leash. This will allow her to defend herself and maneuver.

• Work together. Quickly call the owner of the attacked dog for help, and if he is not there, other people.

• The correct tactic is when two people take two dogs by the hind legs and at the same time, on command, pull them away from each other. Ideally, everyone pulls their own dog. You need to pull when the dogs change position. It is necessary to delay and hold the opponents until the moment they stop seeing each other.

• It is possible to douse dogs with water, but this method is not always possible and does not always work.

• If your leash has a loop handle, then you can make a noose. To do this, quickly wrap around the neck of the attacking dog and thread the leash through the loop. By tightening the noose, you can neutralize the attacker and prevent the dog from switching to you.

• Beat the attacking dog. By hitting you can only increase her aggression. In addition, the dog may attack you.

• Trying to open the jaws with your hands, trying to hurt the dog. All these gestures are highly likely to lead to the fact that the dog will bite you. And this is where you need help.

• In some cases, it is really necessary to open the jaw and “take off” the dog from the opponent, but only a trained owner of this dog can do this.

• Pull only one dog when no one is holding the other. Thus, you will provoke lacerations.

• Pull dogs by their collars. It will only irritate them.

If the fight between the dogs ended without consequences, continue the walk as if nothing had happened. Accept the situation – this happens sometimes, the disaster did not happen and you should not be afraid of interacting with other dogs because of this incident.

Let all conflicts be resolved quickly, simply and without consequences. Happy and peaceful life to your dogs!