Witnessing a dog fight can be terrifying. Sometimes we get a second dog to keep our first dog company, but when a fight breaks out we question that decision. Dogs of the same gender are more likely to get in to it, especially if both are adults when brought together. There are various reasons why your two dogs may fight. Here are a few examples:
1. Establishing hierarchy
2. Play gets rough and out of hand
3. Insecurities about resources (toys, beds, or food)
4. Small space or no place to retreat from other dog
5. Lack of proper early socialization or removed from mom and litter-mates before 8 weeks of age
6. Lack of boundaries
7. Vying for owner's attention
It is helpful to introduce a new dog slowly to your existing dog, and in a neutral area. Also, provide some separate area for each dog. Perhaps feed them in their own crate away from the other dog. Each dog should have his own food and water dish, bed, crate, and even it’s own special toy(s). There are some toys that are comforting/calming to a dog and resist an aggressive chewer. Each do should have their own bed and belongings in their own space. Buy a couple of pheromone diffusers (Adaptil is one brand and Therapet is another) as these naturally help to calm a dog. Calming chews are good to have on hand as you are working to get each dog to learn to calm themselves. If you will be gone for awhile, do not leave dogs loose unattended- separate for safety. If dogs get into a fight, try to not respond by hitting, yelling, or kicking as this only adds fuel to the fire. Command “Time out” firmly and crate the dogs (or crate the instigator & remove the other from the area). The time out may need to be a couple of hours if the fight was heated. Training the dogs can help so one dog is on a brief sit-stay while you pet the first dog, then, switch for the other to be on a sit-stay. Being observant of your dogs when they are together by watching their body language and noting any “triggers”, you should be able to split them up before it gets full-blown. Give petting and attention separately at first and the same with play time. Avoid games that would over arouse your dog. Dogs will often naturally establish a pecking order. I make sure that I give a bit of preference and extra attention to my existing dog to help communicate that order. I do not allow the new dog to pester or get on my existing dog’s bed at first. As time goes on, they may decide to share on their own. I permit my dogs to communicate with each other as long as it is a mild warning. Should one dog be playing with her toy and the other approach to try to take it, it is acceptable for my dog to give a little growl or bark, but not okay to lunge and snap. It is natural to have little squabbles, but that is where it should end. If problems occur over a particular toy, remove the toy altogether. Having previously trained the command to drop it will come in handy.
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