Every dog has a unique personality. Some dogs get overly excited, and may even become aggressive, when encountering strangers or other dogs. Even if your dog isn't the one initiating the aggression, there's still a chance you might encounter a situation where your dog is attacked. Therefore, as a dog owner, it's crucial to learn how to safely separate dogs that are fighting, in order to protect yourself, your furry friend, and other dogs.
Why Do Dogs Fight?
There are many reasons why dogs fight. Most of the time, it's a reaction and behavior based on instinct, and these instincts are usually triggered by the following reasons. When these situations occur, even dogs that are usually very friendly can suddenly change their demeanor, catching you off guard!
Reasons for Dog Fights
- Territorial Invasion: Dogs are very territorial animals. When other dogs step into their territory, such as running into their home or yard, your dog's emotions will usually be very agitated.
- Protective and Possessive Instincts: Dogs inherit the habits of social animals from their ancestors, wolves. Protecting members of the group, food, and young are their instincts and natural responsibilities. Therefore, when dogs feel that you or your family and children are in danger, they will not hesitate to attack the other party. Of course, they also have strong possessive desires. If other dogs try to snatch their toys, food, or favorite items, even the friendliest dogs will instantly turn hostile.
- Excessive Stimulation: Excessive stimulation and emotions can also cause dogs to suddenly switch to attack mode. The most common situation is when two dogs are playing with each other, and they suddenly start fighting after playing too hard.
- Redirected Behavior: Redirected behavior often occurs in close-knit dog groups or dogs raised together. When a dog sees a threat or attack target, but that target is far away or out of reach, the aroused aggressive emotions will cause it to attack the nearest target. For example, a dog sees another dog outside the yard wanting to step into your yard, but it is locked in the house and can only bark at the dog wanting to step into its territory through the door. If another dog suddenly approaches it at this time, it is likely to turn around and attack the nearest dog, and sometimes it may even accidentally bite the owner.
- Compatibility Issues: Like humans, dogs have different personalities, and of course, there are cases where they are naturally incompatible. When your dog constantly clashes with the same dog, it may be because it doesn't like the other party's personality or smell, meaning they naturally hate each other.
Understanding these triggers can help prevent fights between dogs. Always supervise interactions and seek professional training advice when needed.
How to Stop and Separate Fighting Dogs
What should you do if dogs start fighting during a walk or a visit to a friend's house? Never assume that a dog will soften upon seeing its owner and reach directly near the head of a dog that is biting. When emotionally charged, dogs don't recognize anyone! If you get bitten, it will be even harder to effectively separate the fighting dogs, potentially leading to injuries for everyone involved. Therefore, if you encounter dogs fighting, try the following steps to separate them:
Steps to Separate Fighting Dogs:
- Stay Calm: It's understandable to feel stressed and worried when your dog is involved in a fight or even being attacked. However, shouting, yelling, or panicking will only make the situation worse. Dogs won't calm down if the humans around them are not calm, so staying composed is the first priority.
- Ask Others to Leave, Except the Owners: When dogs are fighting, try to clear the surrounding area of people, especially children, to prevent any unforeseen dangers. Ideally, only one owner per fighting dog should remain.
- Spray Water or Essential Oils: If there is a water source nearby, spray water directly at the fighting dogs, aiming for the eyes and head of the more aggressive one. If there's no hose, use water bottles, buckets, or other containers to splash water on their heads. Additionally, most dogs dislike the scent of citronella, so spraying citronella essential oil can be effective as most dogs will avoid it, and it won't harm their eyes or skin. If your dog tends to be aggressive, consider carrying some with you on walks. However, if the dogs are fighting very intensely, water and essential oils may not be enough to distract them.
- Use Stronger Sprays If Necessary: If available, use a fire extinguisher or pepper spray. Aim the spray towards the fighting dogs. However, be aware that pepper spray and fire extinguishers can harm the dog's skin and eyes. Therefore, these options should only be used as a last resort.
- Create Noise: Sudden loud noises like car horns can briefly divert the attention of fighting dogs, potentially startling them enough to stop. However, the owner's shouting doesn't count; human screams and calls to the dog's name will only agitate an attacking dog further.
- Use Objects to Intervene: If you have items like automatic umbrellas, open the umbrella between the dogs or throw objects to separate them temporarily while maintaining a safe distance. You can also use boards to separate the dogs, but ensure your hands are not too close to the dogs' heads and mouths to avoid being bitten.
- Enter Intervention: If none of the above methods stop the fight, direct intervention is needed, preferably by the dog's owner. The owners should slowly approach their respective dogs from behind and simultaneously grab the dog's hind legs, pulling backwards. If multiple dogs are fighting, one adult must hold each dog. It's crucial to grab and pull the dogs simultaneously; otherwise, the dog that is grabbed first will continue to be attacked by the uncontrolled dog. Once you have a firm grip on the dog's hind legs, quickly move backwards and start circling (be careful not to pull too hard). A dog with only its front paws on the ground cannot move forward to attack. Also, minimize any eye contact between the fighting dogs. Continue circling until the dog calms down or is in a safe indoor space, car, yard, or anywhere you can safely leash it.
Conclusion
Many factors in life can trigger a dog's instinctual aggression. Even extremely docile and non-aggressive dogs can be attacked by other dogs. Therefore, when taking your dog out, owners should always be prepared to protect their dogs and must keep them on a leash. If your dog is particularly prone to aggressive behavior, in addition to keeping them leashed and being vigilant, you can also seek professional training to help correct the dog's behavior. This can prevent your dog from injuring people or other dogs, which could lead to legal liabilities.
