How to stop dogs from fighting? It’s a question no one wants to think about but which every dog owner needs to know the answer to.
Dog fights are terrifying. They’re also all too common.
- A stray dog approaches you on a walk and says hello to your dog with its teeth.
- Your own dog goes crazy whenever another dog approaches its food.
- A friendly tussle escalates into bared teeth and raised heckles.
Regardless of how it starts, a dog fight is never pretty.
If a large dog decides to pick a fight with a small dog, the consequences can be lethal. Even fights between similarly sized dogs can lead to a rush visit to the vet.
Knowing how to deal with a dog fight is crucial. Knowing how to prevent one from starting is even more so.
Before we start looking at how to nip a dog fight in the bud (and some of the methods you can use if war breaks out), a quick heads-up…
Dogs who fight all have one thing in common. They’re not in control of their emotions.
Before you do anything else, teach your dog self-control. It’s one of the best ways of avoiding the problem entirely. If you’re not sure where to start, check out these 5 step-by-step calming exercises from the Online Dog Trainer, Dan Abdelnoor.
The course will talk you through exactly how to teach your dog to reign in their emotions and take control.
Once you’ve introduced the exercises into your routine, you’ll be rewarded with a calmer, more controlled dog who’s ready and willing to learn.
Anyway, check out the video link below to take a look…
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Why Do Dogs Fight?
Dogs can fight for a myriad of different reasons. In most cases, fights can be explained by one of the following…
Predatory Aggression
Some dogs have strong predatory tendencies. All breeds are susceptible, but it’s particularly common among terriers and ‘primitive’ breeds like the Husky, both of which are bred to ‘go for the kill.’
When this type of dog attacks another dog, it’s less like a dog fight and more like a predator going after their prey.
If your dog has predatory tendencies, you might notice that they ‘stalk’ other dogs and animals.
While predatory dogs will usually choose smaller breeds as the target of their aggression, they’re not averse to taking on bigger dogs if they have to.
Poor Social Skills
Dogs who’ve never been taught how to behave around other dogs can become overly excited or nervous in social situations.
Poorly socialized dogs don’t know the difference between normal, acceptable behaviors and behaviors that are guaranteed to annoy.
Without any experience to draw on, they can miss social cues from their partner and end up inadvertently causing a fight.
Resource Guarding
Some dogs just hate sharing.
No matter how well they get along with their buddies usually, they’re not prepared to give up an inch when it comes to their food, their toys, or anything else they value.
Left unchecked, resource guarding can be a major problem. It’s also one of the primary causes of fights in a multi-pet household.
Fear
Fear is one of the main motivators for aggressive behavior.
It can affect any breed but is most often seen in dogs with a history of trauma or abuse who haven’t received proper socialization. Or who’ve spent their lives moving between different homes and shelters.
When a fearful dog feels threatened, cornered, and lacking an escape route, they attack.
Dominance
While dogs can live happily enough under the same roof, those with a pack-like mentality will always need to establish a pecking order first.
Most of the time, that pecking order is established quickly enough.
Other times, it takes longer. This is particularly the case for packs with 2 or more dogs of similar status.
Until they figure out where in the hierarchy they stand, don’t expect much peace.
Frustration
If a dog wants something but can’t get it, they become frustrated.
Maybe they’ve spotted a dog on the other side of the fence. Maybe they’ve seen a cat among the top branches of a tree.
Whatever it is, if they want it but can’t get to it, they lash out at the nearest target. In a multi-pet household, that usually means their best pal.
Pain
If one of your dogs is feeling under the weather, they might lash out in pain or frustration if another dog approaches them when they’re resting.
Similarly, an older dog with age-related aches and pains might not take too kindly to a younger dog’s constant attempts to play.
Hormonal Aggression
Unneutered dogs get a little crazy around a female in heat.
In an attempt to attract her attention and see off the competition, they won’t think too long or hard before getting physical with other males in the vicinity.
Territorial Aggression
Territorial dogs don’t like it when an intruder invades their space.
If a dog accidentally wanders into a territorial dog’s kingdom, they’re soon going to know about it.
Jealousy
If you’ve recently introduced a new dog into your home, your attention is probably a lot more divided than it used to be.
If the other dogs in your house are feeling neglected, they might take their jealously out on the interloper.
How to Stop Dog Fights Before They Happen
Regardless of whether they happen in your home or in public, dog fights can be frightening.
Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to minimize the risk of one breaking out.
The first step? Identify the root cause of the behavior.
Once you know exactly what drives your dog to fight, you can jump in with the appropriate solution.
Now you’ve worked out what’s triggering the fights, stop them in their tracks with the following methods.
Keep Resource Guarding in Check
Resource guarding can be a big problem in multi-pet households. These suggestions will help you keep a check on it:
- Spread food out over 2 to 3 meals a day. Small meals that can be finished in a few minutes reduces the risk of a fight breaking out over leftovers.
- Stick to a set schedule. If your dogs can predict when their next meal is due, they’re less likely to get possessive about it.
- Consider feeding your dogs in separate rooms.
Clear Away Toys Before You Leave
If your dogs get possessive about their toys, it’s worth keeping them in separate rooms while they play.
If that’s not possible, only give them toys or treats while you’re around to supervise.
Even if you’re only going into another room, clear away the toys beforehand – remember, it only takes a few minutes for a fight to break out.
Work on Obedience Training
Obedience training won’t make your dogs so well behaved and well-mannered that they never have another fight again.
What it can do, on the other hand, is make them more inclined to quit fighting when you tell them to.
Teaching the basics at home is easy enough. An obedience class is also a great option to consider.
To help get your dog in a calm, ready-to train state, work these 5 step-by-step calming exercises into your routine.
With practice, you should notice a marked improvement in your dog’s control and trainability.
Speak to Your Vet About Spaying/Neutering
Although neutering/ spaying isn’t a miracle fix for all kinds of aggression, it can help slash the risk of hormonally motivated behaviors.
Speak to your vet about whether it could be a good choice in your dog’s case.
Related Post: Will Neutering A Dog Stop Aggression – The Answer Might Surprise You
Use Crates When You’re Away
If you can’t trust your dogs to get along nicely when you’re not around, keep them separated in individual crates.
If you’d rather not use crates, consider leaving them in separate rooms instead.
Use Calming Techniques
Decreasing stress and encouraging your dog to take control of their emotions can reduce the risk of a dog fight. Particularly if your dog has fear-based aggression.
Calming pheromone diffusers are readily available online and in pet stores. Simply plug the diffusers into the wall and refill when empty.
Try to work these 5 step-by-step calming exercises into your dog’s routine. You should notice a big difference in excitability and nervous tension once you do.
Once your dog has a tighter grip on their emotions, you’ll also notice a big improvement in their trainability.
Choose the Dominant Dog
It’s natural to favor the underdog. If we feel that one dog is getting a rough deal in comparison to its partners, we’ll try and elevate their status by rewarding it first.
Without realizing it, we’re messing with the hierarchy. Once we do that, the dogs in the pack will have to fight it out to re-establish the natural pecking order.
While it’s easy to assume the most assertive dog is the most dominant, that’s not always the case.
Giving the pushiest dog everything first is just as risky as giving the most submissive dog the same treatment.
As working out dominance can be tricky, simply look for the calmest and most patient dog and reward them first.
How To Stop Dogs From Fighting – Breaking Up A Dog Fight
Much though we try, we can never predict or prevent every scuffle.
Knowing how to react and what to do in case the worst happens is vital.
If the fight is minor, make as much noise as you can by shouting and clapping. If that doesn’t work, you might need to call on one or more of the following techniques.
Throw a Blanket Over Them
Startling a pair of fighting dogs will often be enough to break things up. Try throwing a blanket over them.
If you don’t have one to hand, use a jacket, a coat, or a sweater.
Blast an Air Horn
Blasting an air horn at a couple of tussling dogs will startle them enough for you to grab their collars and pull them apart.
If you have two or more dogs in the house, or if your dog reacts to other dogs on walks, it’s always a good idea to keep an air horn to hand.
Hose Them Down
If a fight breaks out in the yard, spraying the dogs with a hose will startle them enough to break things up.
Douse Them With Citronella
Dogs really hate citronella.
If an aggressive dog starts heading for yours on a walk or if a tussle breaks out at home, a few blasts of citronella spray should stop the fight in its tracks.
Use Break Sticks
Break sticks are placed between a dog’s jaws and twisted. The action forces the dog to release its hold. From there, you can use another technique to separate the fighting dogs.
While break sticks can be incredibly useful, they can be dangerous in the wrong hands.
Don’t use them if you’re not an experienced dog handler.
Try the Wheelbarrow Method
In the wheelbarrow method, two people are needed. Each person grabs hold of the back legs of one of the fighting dogs and pulls them apart.
Although the wheelbarrow method can be very effective when it’s used correctly. It’s best left to experienced dog handlers.
If it’s not used wisely, the method can do more harm than good, particularly if it’s a grab and hold type fight.
Even more importantly, it could lead to the dogs turning their aggression on you. While the safety of your dogs is obviously important, yours is paramount.
If you’re not 100% sure of what you’re doing, don’t attempt this method.
Final Thoughts
Dog fights can be terrifying. They’re terrifying if they happen in public between unfamiliar dogs, and they’re equally terrifying if they happen at home between your own dogs.
If a dog has any hint of possessiveness, territorialism, or any other form of aggression. It’s vital to learn how to manage those traits.
In case the worst does happen, have a few techniques up your sleeve to deal with it.
You can’t avoid each and every fight, but knowing you have the right resources to handle it can go a long way to restoring your peace of mind.
