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Here at the pets blog we’ve published many articles on dog aggression. It seems like one can never have too much advice on how to handle it; anyone who’s seen dogs fighting, and not in the playful way, knows how upsetting it can be.
Today I’m going to focus on how to handle aggression between dogs in a multiple canine living situation. If you’ve already one dog and you want more, you need to be ready for the possibility of the rare or occasional spat between them. If at all possible, introduce the dogs before adopting your second, to make sure that they get along.
But what if they got along in all introductory sessions, and have been doing so at home for a while, then seemingly out of the blue start fighting? First, make sure it’s a real fight and not play time. You can tell by their body language and the sounds they make.
After you’ve broken up the fight, determine what type of aggression was on display. Were the dogs fighting over food (did one sniff around the other’s bowl, or did they both go for the same piece of fallen food on the kitchen floor), was one protecting what it thought its territory or person, did one feel cornered, etc.
Many types of aggression start because the dogs aren’t sure who is dominant. Canine social structure works on a hierarchy, and in order for that structure to work the identity of the top dog needs to be clear.
If your dogs have started to fight recently when before they used to get along, something may have shifted in the power structure. You can take some steps to help them determine the identity of the alpha.
First watch your dogs’ body language; which dog pushes the others around, goes for food first, gets a choice napping spot first. That is the most likely dominant dog, and it won’t always be the biggest.
Size is often the determiner of dominance, but not always; attitude is important as well. You might have a gentle giant dog that shies away from all conflict; it might not be the best choice of the dominant dog.
Once you’ve determined which dog ought to be dominant, start treating it as such. Feed it first. Give it treats first. Clip it on its leash for its walk first. Make sure the other dogs see this. Soon they will learn who, after you, is the boss.
If the fighting doesn’t cease, it’s time for professional help. Seek out obedience classes or an animal behaviorist. The problem might arise from just one dog with a behavior problem, or your attempts at selecting the dominant dog haven’t worked. A professional can help.
What happens if you’ve brought your dog to visit friends with other canines and they start fighting? The best thing to do in a short-term situation is to separate the dogs.
If you have the time and willingness to perhaps risk another fight breaking out (which won’t necessarily happen; if the dogs were fighting over food, for example, make sure they eat separately and don’t let any of them go for picking fallen food off of the floor), try choosing a dominant dog and begin treating it as such.
It’s always terrible when dogs fight, especially if those involved used to get along. Bringing in a professional is always the wisest idea, but there are some ways for you to handle the situation on your own.
Related Articles:
What to Consider When Getting Another Pet
Female Dogs Might Think Differently from Male Dogs
*(This image by Douglas Haase is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
