{"id":1613,"date":"2016-05-31T14:17:03","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T18:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2018-11-14T15:31:08","modified_gmt":"2018-11-14T20:31:08","slug":"dog-fights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/dog-fights\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Up is Hard to Do: \u00a0Preventing and Dealing with Dog Fights"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cordova_iStock_000028058734_Large\"<\/span><\/b>It is a scary experience that, unfortunately, many pet owners have experienced first-hand: Dog fights. Be it between your own pets, at the dog park, or with a stray animal coming into your yard, dog fights are one of the leading causes of injuries that we see. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is important for pet owners to be know how to help prevent aggression problems where possible and know what to do when dog fights do break out.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Drive to Fight<\/b><\/h3>\n

Inter-animal communication can be a complicated thing, and sometimes fighting is a way for pets to sort out issues. In order to prevent fights where possible, it is important for dog owners to understand why dog fights occur. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the most common reasons inter-dog aggression occurs include:<\/span><\/p>\n

Social conflict teamed fighting\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 Dogs are social animals and they use body language to display appeasement and distance-increasing signals in order to naturally live peacefully within a group. Growling is a way to say “please get back.” Confusion and aggression may occur when a dog is not skilled at “speaking dog”. Normal canine communication is best learned as a puppy from the mother and litter mates. A severity of bites and level of impulsivity influences whether dogs that fight are\u00a0able to remain in the same household. Aggression between dogs of the\u00a0same-sex may be most severe. Elderly dogs or those whose senses are impaired may be victims as their ability to read complex body language and canine signals may be diminished. It is a common myth that aggression between housemate dogs is related to dominance and this misconception is unfortunate and sometimes leads to harsh correction methods. Dogs should not be punished or reprimanded for aggressive displays. Dogs should never be alpha rolled<\/a>. Never. Resolution of social conflict between housemate dogs depends upon a true understanding and appreciation of canine communication.<\/p>\n

Dominance fighting <\/b>\u2013 Dogs are pack animals, and some degree of fighting is a natural way of sorting out who is on top. Sometimes, however, pets are unable to come to an agreement. This happens particularly in same-sex pet households. In a dog pack, males and females have their own ranking order, so a very dominant male and female may live together relatively peacefully. If you happen to have two dominant animals of the same sex, however, there is a higher likelihood that one of the two pets will refuse to submit to the other. <\/span><\/p>\n

Items of value <\/b>\u2013 Items such as toys, food, affection, or even a highly prized resting spot may trigger problems. Dogs will often defend resources that they find valuable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instinct <\/b>\u2013 A dog with motherly instincts will often have a strong drive to protect her pups and may even strike without provocation if she feels that she or her young ones are threatened. Likewise, a male dog may feel the urge to protect his pack if he feels it necessary. <\/span><\/p>\n

Fear <\/b>\u2013 A fearful animal may be on the offensive. This is particularly true of pets who have had bad experiences and feel the need to defend themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Play <\/b>\u2013 Sometimes a dog fight isn\u2019t a fight at all. Some doggy play can look rough but, if you learn a little about dog behavior and body language, it isn\u2019t hard to tell the difference. <\/span><\/p>\n

Preventing Problems <\/b><\/h3>\n

Not all dog fights are preventable but, with a little effort, many can be avoided. Be on the lookout for fight triggers, and be sure to:<\/span><\/p>\n