What to Do When Dogs Get Into a Fight
📝 Summary
In a dog's mind: play equals fight. If two dogs meeting have rich social experience and friendly temperaments, they usually control the scale. But you cannot walk by the river without wet feet - sometimes it flares up.
1 Overview
A brief analysis of why dogs fight
Dog fights mostly come down to these reasons:
1. Asserting rank. Dogs meeting for the first time assess each other through body language and butt-sniffing; if they dislike something, they use force to conquer, showing: I am the boss, you obey.
2. Play got out of hand. The most common cause – one plays too hard, hurts the other, and it turns into a real fight.
3. Strong possessiveness. Some dogs are very possessive – their own or others’ things, no other dog may touch, or it fights to the bitter end.
4. Heat season. With a female in heat, males usually duel fiercely for her favor.
5. Jealousy and protectiveness. A dog’s jealousy rivals a harem’s; when the owner plays with another dog, it rushes in to bite. Its protectiveness is strong, not wanting strange dogs near the owner.
Signs before a fight
Before fighting, dogs usually show these signs:
Lips curled, low growl, sudden loud bark, back hair raised, tail stiff, body tense, charging at the other.
How to tell play from fight: see if the dog reacts to the surroundings.
Fighting dogs see only each other.
Ways to stop a dog fight
Of course do not stand by; we can:
1. Loud command. For obedient, well-trained dogs, the owner can loudly order down or sit to restore calm.
2. Turn and leave. For dogs that rely on their owner’s presence, loud shouts or screams only worsen it – they think you are cheering. Just turn and leave; but check if the dog leaves the fight to follow you.
3. Water method. Needs a bucket or hose. Water harms nothing and instantly breaks the fight, making them forget hostility.
4. Block the eyes. A dog that cannot see the other stops fighting; cover one or both with an opaque object.
5. Separation. If your hands are safe, use a trash-can lid or cardboard to separate them and let them calm.
6. Pull apart. The safest way to separate is to grab the rear or hind legs and pull back quickly. But this is very dangerous; ensure your own safety first, no accidental injury.
Actually no method is absolutely effective. When breaking up, never do anything that shifts the dog’s aggression onto you. Assess your ability first; if not, get help. Of course, daily education so they know civilized play and peace is best – then no breaking up needed.
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