Dogs in the same household can become aggressive toward each other for a variety of different reasons. Aggression may be dominance-related, territorial, possessive, or caused by fear/anxiety. Some dogs have “alliance aggression”.
A long-lasting fear of other dogs can result, and this fear can trigger an aggressive response. Because genetic and early environmental factors contribute to behavior, even well-socialized dogs can develop aggression toward other dogs.
"Dogs often fight over access to a resource that is perceived to be valuable." Some dogs fight when moving through or contained within a tight space or during rough play. This aggression may be excitement-related or related to frustration or fear.
The answer, in the vast majority of cases, is fear. Not aggression, viciousness, nastiness, defiance, stubbornness - just plain, tail-wetting fear.
Can dogs live together after fighting? The answer is, most of the time, YES. There are times when dogs may be like an incompatible couple and need to divorce, but in general, there are things you can do to help combative pups get along.
They don't hold grudges and once the fight has passed the dogs have moved on. It's really quite remarkable how quickly they move past. Don't: Isolate the dogs from one another. If you don't get the dogs back together after a fight a bit of scar tissue develops in their mind, and in your emotions.
Fights can last just a few minutes or several hours. Both animals may suffer injuries, including puncture wounds, lacerations, blood loss, crushing injuries and broken bones. Although fights are not usually to the death, many dogs succumb to their injuries later.
If the dogs are not showing any negative behaviors, reward them with treats just for seeing each other. For example, when the dog you're walking looks at the other dog, you can say “Good boy!” in a happy, friendly voice and give him a treat. Repeat often.
Instead of using your body to stop the fight, use a broom or chair or spray water on the dogs with a water hose to separate the dogs and stop the fight. Try making a loud noise such as slamming a door. However, don't yell at the dogs; your excitement can add to the dogs' excitement and escalate the fight.
Start by establishing separate areas of the house for each dog using Dog Gates, Dog Crates or other equipment to keep them apart. Do not let the dogs interact again until both have a very strong understanding of the “Leave it” cue (see below). Above: Keeping dogs apart using a crate is a solid idea.
Don't Let the Dogs “Work It Out”
Years ago, people used to believe in letting dogs fight to work it out between them. This is dangerous for both dogs and for nearby people. Also, the dogs may never get along after such a fight.
The safest and most effective way to treat an aggression problem is to implement behavior modification under the guidance of a qualified professional. Modifying a dog's behavior involves rewarding her for good behavior—so you'll likely be more successful if your dog enjoys praise, treats and toys.
The behavior associated with Rage Syndrome includes outbursts of aggression that are intense and at times unpredictable. These episodes also tend to be large dramatic responses relative to a seemingly benign situation. Affected dogs often freeze, stare, and may rapidly escalate to biting.
Let your dogs sniff each other and greet each other normally. Give them positive reinforcement through calm verbal affirmations. After letting them play for a while, put both dogs in a “sit” or “stay”, then let them interact again. Finally, take them on walks together, allowing them to sniff each other along the way.
They have conflicting personalities…
Like humans, dogs' personalities likely change over time. Maybe one dog likes to wrestle, and the other doesn't. Some dogs may be more interested in toys, food, space, attention, or any number of things, while others are wholly unconcerned.
Remember, it's okay if your dog doesn't enjoy playing with other dogs. Many puppies start off very dog-social and will engage in play with lots of different dogs, but as dogs mature it's normal for them to become a bit pickier with their playmates or not want to play with other dogs at all.
Whether you rescue an older dog or a puppy, a lot of dogs tend to follow the 3-3-3 rule when getting acclimated: 3 days of feeling overwhelmed and nervous. 3 weeks of settling in. 3 months of building trust and bonding with you.
It can take up to one month for an old dog and new dog to really settle in and accept each other's position in the pack. If you want a second dog, you need to be ready to commit to this process and not panic.
Whether the dog was a bait or fighting dog, many of them can be rehabilitated and end up in loving homes and have a brand-new start at life - however, this normally means a huge amount of work, total consistency, and working at a pace the dog can cope with - to go into trying to rehabilitate a dog such as this, without ...
Washtubs and sponges for bathing dogs.
Handlers wash and examine their opponent's dog in order to remove any poisonous or caustic substance that might have been applied to a dog's coat (a method of cheating).