Why Dogs Fight With Other Dogs

Interdog Aggression: Why Dogs Fight With Other Dogs

Anyone who has ever witnessed the horrifying experience of their dog attacking another dog knows all too well the terror of the moment. Most interdog aggression is displayed towards other dogs and not toward people. Even though the attacking dog may be acting out of a sense of territorial protection, the owners of the “offender” are plagued with many conflicting emotions as a result of their dog’s “crime.” On one hand you, the dog owner, feel angry at your dog for attacking the other dog that you want to punish your dog. However, on the other hand, you might feel sad or guilty because you realize your dog was only trying to protect you. At all times, it is a nightmare to live through for both you and the dogs involved.

How to Recognize Interdog Aggression:

* Your dog growls at other dogs, nearby. Growling indicates your dog’s desire to attack.
* Instead of eating a treat immediately upon receiving it, your dog is overly possessive of the treat and hides it or stands guard over the treat so that other dogs or pets won’t take it away. This is also a form of antagonism that your dog is displaying toward your other pets which is another way of saying: your dog is picking a fight.
* What started out as usual playing among your dog and another dog, turns into a hostile fight or growling match. If your dog is not aggressive, they will submit and not growl back.

Reasons for Interdog Aggression:

* Fear of being attacked by the other dog, though there may be no indication of aggression made by the other dog.
* Insecurity. Your dog’s insecurity is different than a human’s insecurity: If your dog doesn’t spend his days burning off energy hunting and chasing vermin in the yard or critters in the forest and doesn’t have a good foundation of obedience training and socialization, (s)he doesn’t have the self-confidence necessary to know how to have a balanced relationship with another dog, or how to act when one on one with another animal. This lack of experience causes to insecurity which turns into aggression. Note: allowing your dog to hunt in the woods or in your yard is not suggested to solve insecurity. A professional dog trainer or professionally-advised handling tips must be used to strengthen your dog’s sense of self so (s)he won’t have to resort to violence against every dog encountered.
* Your dog’s natural sense of being territorial. Protecting your home and property might not be behavior that you want to change. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs that come near your home but is not aggressive when away from your home, you’ll need to make sure that your yard is well-fenced. Also, for some flock guardian breeds, this behavior is encouraged.
* Suffering from previous owner’s over-socialization with older dogs, as a puppy. If you have a rescue dog that is displaying strong dog aggression, chances are high your dog was not socialized properly. (S)he has learned to defend themselves with violent means. If you are an owner of a rescue dog, you probably don’t need to be told that you should start your dog on a “Nothing In Life Is Free” program and begin obedience training exercises so that your dog develops a vocabulary and relationship with you, that will allow you to communicate with your dog that fighting with other dogs is not tolerated.
* Some breeds are more prone to this form of aggression. For some dogs, there may be a genetic component to the aggression.
* Dogs that are often bred to fight are certainly more susceptible to fighting. Dogs like Pit Bulls, Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Akitas and Shar peis come from a long line of fighters. They have the thrill of the fight in their blood and though they are not natural hunters or have not been abused as puppies, they may (but not always) have a natural instinct to fight with other dogs.

Examples of Interdog Aggression

* While walking on a leash, your dog sees another dog and makes every attempt to wiggle out of his leash in order to attack another dog.
* When you open your front door, your dog tries desperately to run out to attack another dog.
* At the dog park, your dog starts out playing with another dog but begins to fight physically with that other dog over a toy, bone or area of the park.

Precautions to Take if your Dog Displays Interdog Aggression

* Choose a leash and a training collar. Learn the right technique to teach your dog to walk on a loose leash. This can be learned in less than an hour, and for some dogs… in less than 10 minutes. If your dog is not pulling on the leash, there is a 90% chance he won’t be aggressive toward other dogs.
* Hold the leash by putting your thumb through the loop, and then folding the leash in half and close your fist around both strands of the leash. Do not simply grasp the ring of your dog’s leash to hold on to him/her. This is the number one way a dog gets lost. If your dog is prone to running, bring your other hand up under your first hand (two hands, together) which gives you firmer control of the leash.
* Break in the use of a muzzle on your dog, before you encounter another dog.
Note: never force your dog to wear the muzzle for longer than five or ten minutes the first several times. A muzzle can be a stressful experience for your dog.
The first five or six uses of the muzzle, only keep it on your dog for ten minutes and keep your dog inside. Reward them with a treat upon removing the muzzle. After the sixth use of the muzzle, venture outside with your leashed dog and only keep him or her out for 20 minutes maximum. Increase accordingly.
Let me reiterate that interdog aggression (more commonly known as just “dog aggression”) is distinct from “handler aggression” in that the dog is aggressive toward other dogs, and this behavior may be completely devoid of handler aggression.  In other words: Sometimes we’ll see dogs that are perfectly fine around adults, children, babies … even other types of animals.  But when it comes to interactions with other dogs, you’ll see the aggression come out.
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