ALWAYS REMEMBER DOGS ARE PACK ANIMALS
It’s one thing to watch dogs play and roughhouse it together but it’s another thing when one dog gets carried away and gets vicious. Not only could your dog be a threat to another canine and to itself, but it could also be a threat to yourself.
Fighting is a natural instinct in canines that comes from their days in the wild. But unlike digging, jumping, and getting into things, relatively harmless instinctive behaviors that you can accommodate more, then to stop altogether, fighting between dogs in one pack behavior you DON’T want to see taken to the next level,
You don’t want this to happen and here are some tips on how to stop dog on dog aggression before it becomes an issue.
EARLY PREVENTION TECHNIQUES
You can start by getting your dog neutered, especially male dogs because they “suffer” from a surge of testosterone when they reach the age of six months. This can lead to not only aggression against other dogs, but also aggression towards humans! It is not a foolproof technique but neutering has been shown to reduce the chance of dog on dog aggression and other forms of aggressive behavior, such as biting and lunging.
Consider using a muzzle. Maybe your dog isn’t known to be a biter or fighter, if he has a muzzle on when you take him for a walk, he’ll be much less prone to lash out at other dogs, knowing he can’t use his teeth as a weapon of combat.
A check or choke collar can be used. This allows you to stop your dog from even considering a fight before it’s too late. As soon as your dog even looks like he wants to “meet and greet” other dogs, give the check chain a sharp tug. Then make him SIT at your side. Then if he obeys you, give him a reward and praise for his obedience. This will give your dog a clear message that dog on dog aggression is unacceptable, while forming a more positive association with being passive. It also asserts YOU as the alpha dog who decides when it is and isn’t appropriate to meet other dogs.
An obvious solution is simply to walk well away from other dogs when your are walking your dog. This is the most foolproof method of all, and should ensure that two dogs never get close enough to sniff each other and start combat.
GETTING YOUR DOG TO BE USED TO THE PRESENCE OF OTHER DOGS
Find a treat your dog REALLY likes, more than any other treat, and offer it to him as a reward for not attacking (or being provoked) other dogs. Then, whenever the dog is in the presence of strange dogs, he gets the special treat. Every time he looks at another dog, give him a treat (no clicks at this time because you are not shaping a behavior yet). Every time another dog passes by, give him a treat. At this point his behavior is not important. You give him the treat REGARDLESS of what he is doing. You are simply trying to make him associate seeing a strange dog with receiving these fantastic treats.
How come this works. It is because dogs learn through association. What you are trying to do is to change the dogs ‘perception’ of the strange dogs. Instead of getting upset at the approach/presence of other dogs, the dog learns to anticipate good things. You want the dog to learn that, “when other dogs are around – good things happen to him.
Now, the only thing you have to remember with this tip in order for it to work is this: Whatever the treat is that you are using, your can NEVER present it at any other time. It has to be associated exclusively with other dogs, otherwise it won’t have the desired effect, and you dog just may get into a vicious fight. Keep this special treat, special! This can also ensure your own safety.
But, if your dog does get into a fight, it is CRUCIAL that you not get involved. Just like us humans when we get into a rage, dogs, as well, do not listen to commands when in a fight and will lash out at anything that holds him back – even their owners. There are many stories of owner’s who have received vicious cuts on their hands, legs, and even necks from trying to break up a dog fight. Instead of throwing yourself into the middle of the melee, try the following tips below.
BREAKING UP A DOG FIGHT
HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN SAFELY BREAK UP A DOG FIGHT, WITHOUT SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS INJURIES
Instead of throwing yourself into the fight, throw a heavy blanket over the dogs. This will confuse both of them and usually break up the fight.
You can also shoot both dogs with a hose or large bucket of water. Like the first technique, this will confuse and startle them out of fighting.
Lift one of the dog’s back legs up above your waist and pull them apart. Make sure you approach the dog from behind and do not put yourself in any position where you can get bitten or scratched.
Lift the dog’s tail up, so that their hind legs are off the ground, and drag them apart. Keep you hands away from their jaws, and again, approach from behind.
And one last method is to use a broom handle to pry the dog’s jaws open. Make sure it is a long handle that won’t get your hands too close to the snapping jaws, but instead just separate the dog’s jaws to end the fighting.
Always remember that with dog fights, the key is to put yourself in a position of safety, while doing everything you can to stop the dog’s fighting in a reasonable, humane way to them.
When taking your dog for a walk, keep him on a short leash and check collar so that he can’t get too close to an aggressive dog. As soon as your dog or the other dog starts growling, immediately say “NO” and command your dog to “Sit” so you can maintain control over him. If you force your dog to think of something besides fighting, he will quickly forget the idea of combat and focus on more important things – namely, obeying his master.